I think most everybody already knew that mutations are generally not beneficial ~ presumably some are, but they are very rare.
Then, there's another possibility ~ that you get some of your genes (speaking of species now) from exogenous sources ~ e.g. viruses.
The oceans are full of them ~ millions have been identified, but there may be billions or trillions of different genes already produced that can survive and reproduce in bacteria or algae, and they're just floating around out there waiting for some mechanism to transport them right into your genome.
It has been proposed by highly experienced DNA researchers that we simply construct ourselves an "artificial life form" and start plugging these wild genes into it to see what they do.
This, of course, reduces "evolution" to an afterthought that may or may not have some sort of effect on critters, but which is, in any case, not terribly necessary for there to be genetic change in a species.
It also addresses the "parallel evolution" question quite directly ~ rather than arguing that somehow "natural selection" (at best a "force", and at worst a "supernatural being") drives critters to adapt with similar solutions, all we have to do is find the "gene" in the vast viral reservoir in the surface of the ocean and plug it in.
In the long run it's all probably much more like changing sparkplugs in a car than relationships with invisible forces.