[heavyset_go]

Evolution as we know it works on Earth because it is a relatively protected and stable environment, giving genes the time they need to explore a space and adapt to the relatively slow and small changes on Earth.

[NonHyloMorph]

Imho genes are not what if at all should be attributed aggncy here (that might, if at all, be the decentralised sympoietic process of ecosystems)

Just wanted to add this, i see where the formulation is useful as a figure of speech.