NTA Abhyas NEET2020ZoologyEvolutionPractice
Which of these was not conceived by Hugo de Vries to explain evolution?
Options
- AMutations are large and discontinuous changes
- BMutations are random and directionless
- CMutations are heritable and establish new species
- DA single step large mutation to produce a species can never occur
Correct answer
D. A single step large mutation to produce a species can never occur
Step-by-step solution
Hugo de Vries based on his work on evening primrose brought forth the idea of mutations - large difference arising suddenly in a population. He believed that it is a mutation which causes evolution and not the minor variations (heritable) that Darwin talked about. Mutations are random and directionless while Darwinian variations are small and directional. Hugo de Vries believed saltation (single-step large mutation) caused formation of species.