▁the ▁selection ▁of ▁a ▁trait , ▁as ▁bi ological ▁tra its ▁can ▁have ▁functions , ▁even ▁if ▁they ▁have ▁not ▁been ▁selected ▁for . ▁Ben ef icial ▁mut ations ▁are ▁initially ▁not ▁selected ▁for , ▁but ▁they ▁do ▁have ▁functions . ▁ ▁Go al ▁contribution ▁▁ ▁Go al ▁contribution ▁theories ▁seek ▁to ▁car ve ▁a ▁middle ▁ground ▁between ▁caus al ▁role ▁and ▁selected ▁effect ▁theories , ▁as ▁with ▁Bo or se ▁( 1 9 7 7 ). ▁Bo or se ▁defines ▁the ▁function ▁of ▁a ▁bi ological ▁trait ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁statist ically ▁typical ▁caus al ▁contribution ▁of ▁that ▁trait ▁to ▁surv ival ▁and ▁reprodu ction . ▁So ▁for ▁example , ▁z eb ra ▁stri pes ▁were ▁sometimes ▁said ▁to ▁work ▁by ▁confusing ▁pred ators . ▁This ▁role ▁of ▁z eb ra ▁stri pes ▁would ▁contribute ▁to ▁the ▁surv ival ▁and ▁reprodu ction ▁of ▁z eb ras , ▁and ▁that ▁is ▁why ▁confusing ▁pred ators ▁would ▁be ▁said ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁function ▁of ▁z eb ra ▁stri pes . ▁Under ▁this ▁account , ▁whether ▁or ▁not ▁a ▁particular ▁caus al ▁role ▁of ▁a ▁trait ▁is ▁its ▁function ▁depends ▁on ▁whether ▁that ▁caus al ▁role ▁cont ributes ▁to ▁the ▁surv ival ▁and ▁reprodu ction ▁of ▁that ▁organ ism . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁P read apt ation ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : Bi ology ▁termin ology <0x0A> </s> ▁T etten hall ▁College ▁is ▁a ▁co - ed uc ational ▁independent ▁day ▁and ▁board ing ▁school ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁Wol ver ham pton ▁sub urb ▁of