What is Suggested by the Hypothesis of Punctuated Equilibrium

Question

What is suggested by the hypothesis of punctuated equilibrium?
A) There's been no change in life on Earth.
B) There's been gradual and steady change in life on Earth.
C) There have been short periods of dramatic evolutionary change separated by long periods of no change.
D) Life on Earth changes dramatically most of the time, but there are short periods when there's no change.

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis of punctuated equilibrium suggests short periods of dramatic evolutionary change separated by long periods of no change. This is in contrast to the gradual and steady change suggested by the theory of gradualism.