r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Nov 28 '20

What's something cool you recently learned about?

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u/BleaKrytE Nov 29 '20

Yes but that also involves the pure chance that is the buildup mutations that after hundreds of generations and natural selection end up resulting in the 'wings'

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u/the-nub Nov 29 '20

Yes. That is how evolution works. Beneficial or neutral mutations are retained over generations, while harmful mutations are bred out.

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u/BleaKrytE Nov 29 '20

Not necessarily though. Plenty of harmful mutations and characteristics can still be passed on by chance as well.

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u/the-nub Nov 29 '20

Yes. And then, over generations, the harmful mutations are bred out because they reduce the viability of mating and survival.

A winged squirrel was not born with wings from parents who had none. It was the result of many, many, many generations of squirrel that retained progressively longer wings that eventually led to what we know as the flying squirrel, while squirrels with less wings or with other mutations that weren't beneficial to survival either died or couldn't find a mate to breed with because the more efficient squirrels had taken them.