"Just not so stories" Exaptations, spandrels, and constraints

Aurelio José Figueredo, Sarah Christine Berry

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is anthropomorphic to speak of Nature designing adaptations for a specific function, as if with conscious intent. Any effect constitutes an adaptive function if it contributes to survival and to reproduction. Natural selection is blind to what might have been the original function. Mutations arise by purest accident and are selected based on whatever fortuitous effects they might produce.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)517-518
Number of pages2
JournalBehavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Physiology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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