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(iii) Anthropogenic action can enhance the rate of evolution. Explain with the help of an example.

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Anthropogenic factors, such as industrial pollution and excessive use of antibiotics, accelerate evolutionary changes.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Human actions generate significant selective pressures, thereby accelerating evolutionary processes. Illustrative examples include: \begin{itemize} \item Antibiotic Resistance: Excessive antibiotic use promotes the survival and proliferation of resistant bacterial strains, complicating infection management. \item Pesticide Resistance: Pests develop immunity to pesticides, diminishing their efficacy over time. \item Industrial Melanism: Industrial pollution conferred a survival advantage to darker phenotypes in species such as the peppered moth. \item Climate Change: Accelerated environmental alterations compel rapid species adaptation, resulting in discernible evolutionary shifts.\end{itemize}These instances underscore the impact of human activities on evolutionary trajectories and highlight the necessity of sustainable methodologies to mitigate their effect on biodiversity.% Quick tip
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