An Increased Susceptibility to Developing Myopia, Shortsightedness, Is Thought to Be

question 30

Multiple Choice

An increased susceptibility to developing myopia, shortsightedness, is thought to be a consequence of spending time doing "near work," in which the eye is focused on an object, such as a book or computer, less than two feet away. What is the most likely evolutionary explanation for this phenomenon?

• A) Natural selection has not had time to catch up with rapid changes in the environment, for example, humans' work environments.
• B) Humans are locked in a coevolutionary arms race with pathogens.
• C) Natural selection favors reproductive success, even at the expense of vulnerability to disease.
• D) Some defenses may be unpleasant to experience, but they are beneficial adaptations rather than maladies.

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