Teleology

Traps in Teleology

• Explains by need or purpose
  Variation comes first (by chance mutation and sexual reproduction); selection then favours what already exists. Replace 'it needs to' with 'individuals that happened to have it survived and reproduced more'.
• Uses an everyday idea instead of the biology
  Translate everyday words into the textbook definition before choosing. If the only reason an option attracts you is its name or looks, test it against the definition in the stem.
• Confuses continuous and discontinuous variation
  Continuous: range of values, many genes + environment (height, weight). Discontinuous: distinct categories, few genes (blood group, tongue rolling).
• Thinks enzymes are used up or destroyed in the reaction
  A catalyst is unchanged at the end: the enzyme–substrate complex forms, the products leave, and the same active site takes the next substrate. Activity stops only if the enzyme is denatured (heat, extreme pH) or slowed (cold), never because it was used.
• Microorganism misconceptions
  Bacteria: prokaryotes (no nucleus). Fungi: hyphae, spores, chitin walls (yeast, Rhizopus). Viruses: non-cellular, reproduce only inside host cells. Many microbes are useful (decomposers, fermentation, nitrogen fixation).