Development of the human body from a single cell provides many examples of the structural richness that is possible when the repeated production of random variation is combined with nonrandom selection. All phases of body development from embryo to adult exhibit random activities at the cellular level, and body formation depends utterly on the new possibilities generated by these activities coupled with selection of those outcomes that satisfy previously built-in criteria. (from The Engine of Complexity: Evolution as Computation by John E. Mayfield)
Among the two things, 'possibilities' and 'activities', which does the bolded phrase 'coupled with ~ criteria' modify?
If the bolded phrase modifies 'possibilities', 'the new possibilities generated by these activities' is modified by the bolded phrase. If the bolded phrase modifies 'activities', 'these activities coupled with selection of those outcomes that satisfy previously built-in criteria' is first formed. Then this noun phrase is connected with 'by'.
Which is appropriate in terms of meaning?