Concept explainers
To explain: Whether the pattern of rate of evolutionary changes over time intervals holds true for most characters.
Introduction: The degree and rate of evolutionary changes vary in all organisms. For example: the rates of evolutionary change measured over short time intervals are often very high. However, rate of evolutionary changes that is measured over long time intervals are generally much lower.
To explain: Whether this pattern of rate of evolutionary changes over time intervals implies that the evolution of major new characters, such as the wings of bats, should occur very rapidly.
Introduction: The degree and rate of evolutionary changes vary in all organisms. For example: the rates of evolutionary change measured over short time intervals are often very high. However, rate of evolutionary changes that is measured over long time intervals are generally much lower.
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Evolution
- Scientists have long believed that the 14 species of finches on the Galapagos Islands evolved from a single species of finch that migrated to the islands one to five million years ago. Recent DNA analyses support the conclusion that all of the Galapagos finches evolved from the mainland warbler finch. Different species live on different islands. One of the major changes in the finches is in their beak sizes and shapes. How would an evolutionary biologist today best answer the following question? In the finch population, what are the primary changes that occur gradually over time? A. The proportions of finches having different traits within a population change. B. The traits of each finch within a population gradually change. C. Mutations occur to meet the needs of the finches as the environment changes. D. Successful behaviors learned by the finches are passed on to offspring.arrow_forwardAnole lizards can be found on many islands in the Caribbean that share similar environmental habitats. Anoles on the different islands share similar ecological morphotypes because of their similar habitats. Anoles on each island have evolved from a common ancestor into a variety of different species that occupy different ecological niches as shown below. Which of the following statements explains how the morphotypes found on one island, and shown in the figure, occurred as a result of speciation? Convergent evolution occurred, causing new species to evolve based on diverse new habitats. Phenotypic diversification occurred as a result of divergent evolution as the anoles adapted to new habitats. Natural selection occurred, so individual anoles with certain phenotypes can survive and reproduce only in a specific ecological niche. Reproductive isolation occurred as a result of habitat isolation since the anoles are unable to move into different ecological niches to breed.arrow_forwardScientists have long believed that the 14 species of finches on the Galapagos Islands evolved from a single species of finch that migrated to the islands one to five million years ago. Recent DNA analyses support the conclusion that all of the Galapagos finches evolved from the mainland warbler finch. Different species live on different islands. One of the major changes in the finches is in their beak sizes and shapes. How would an evolutionary biologist today best answer the following question? How did the different beak types first arise in the Galapagos finches? A. Changes in the finches' beaks occurred by chance, and when there was a good match between beak structures and available food, those birds had more offspring. B. The changes in the finches' beaks occurred because the environment induced the desired genetic changes. C. The finches' beaks changed a little bit in size and shape with each successive generation, some getting larger and some getting…arrow_forward
- The figure shows a phylogenetic tree of various members of the order Proboscidea, which includes modern elephants. Which of the following claims is best supported by the information in the figure ? a.The mastodon and the Stegodon diverged from their common ancestor 22 million years ago. b.The common ancestor of the African elephant and the mastodon is the Palaeomastodon. c.The mammoth diverged from its most recent common ancestor with African elephants before the mastodon diverged from its most recent common ancestor with Stegodons. d.The Asian and African elephants are the most closely related species shown on the tree.arrow_forwardImagine that you have the DNA sequences from the intron of a gene in three species called A, B, and C. Species A and B are most closely related, while C is more distantly related. The sequences of A and B differ by 18 base pairs, A and C differ by 26 base pairs, and B and C differ by 28 base pairs. Fossils show that species A and B diverged about 1.2 Mya, but there is no fossil evidence as to when the most recent common ancestor of all three species lived. (Draw a simple tree to help you think about the problem) Use the genetic data to estimate that date (most recent common ancestor). HINT = use Eqn 7.1, several times- first to estimate mutation rate. Then to estimate the unknown time since divergencearrow_forwardImagine that you have the DNA sequences from the intron of a gene in three species called A, B, and C. Species A and B are most closely related, while C is more distantly related. The sequences of A and B differ by 18 base pairs, A and C differ by 26 base pairs, and B and C differ by 28 base pairs. Fossils show that species A and B diverged about 1.2 Mya, but there is no fossil evidence as to when the most recent common ancestor of all three species lived. (Draw a simple tree to help you think about the problem) Use the genetic data to estimate that date (most recent common ancestor). What assumptions are you making to get this estimate?arrow_forward
- The Galapagos Islands are inhabited by organisms that are similar to the organisms on the mainland of South America but they have specific characteristics that set them apart. One of the most famous groups of organisms that has been studied has been the finches. There are at least 13 different species of ground finches found throughout the Galapagos, most likely all coming from a common ancestor that arrived from the mainland of South America in the distant past. Which of the following explanation accurately explains the variation of finches on the Galapagos Islands? Question options: Divergent evolution has occurred because the finches all share characteristics that are similar to the common ancestor but differ because each species occupies different niches that require different characteristics to survive. Convergent evolution has occurred because the finches do not share characteristics that are similar to the common ancestor and differ because each species occupies…arrow_forwardHow, specifically, is the concept of ALLOMETRY relevant to the phylogenetic position of Homo floresiensis? Because if allometry explains the anatomy of Homo floresiensis then we can conclude that it is not separate species but instead a member of our species. Although most mammals on islands go through a process of getting smaller, Homo floresiensis evolved from a smaller ancestor to be bigger, meaning that allometry is an important factor. Mutations in the allometry allele are associated with many of the characteristics of Homo floresiensis. Because Homo floresiensis is so much smaller than other members of the genus Homo, it is important to determine how shape changes associated with smaller size impacted the species. Because Homo floresiensis had both small- and large-bodied forms, variation within the species is in large part dictated by allometry.arrow_forwardThe upper forelimbs of humans and bats have fairly similar skeletal structures, whereas the corresponding bones in whales have very different shapes and proportions. However, genetic data suggest that all three kinds of organisms diverged from a common ancestor at about the same time. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these data? Group of answer choices Forelimb evolution was adaptive in people and bats, but not in whales. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy. Humans and bats evolved by natural selection, and whales evolved by Lamarckian mechanisms. Genes mutate faster in whales than in humans or bats.arrow_forward
- It is known that it takes very long periods of time for new species to develop, and yet the fossil record for many organisms is characterized by long periods of Stasis (no change) followed by short bursts of intense Speciation (the disappearance of one species followed by the appearance of a new species). Thus in the fossil record, organisms seem to stay the same for long periods of time followed by a “sudden” change in the organisms (sudden with respect to evolution and geology). In other words, it appears that new species evolve suddenly as opposed to over long periods of time. The Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium helps to explain these seemingly contradictory occurrences in the fossil record. Discuss how Punctuated Equilibrium works (think about small offshoot populations that break off from the main population) and how it can explain the fossil record evidence. (Be sure to include information about why fossils of the offshoot population would be rare.)arrow_forwardBirds and butterflies have wings they use for flying. The wings of butterflies are made of semitransparent, tough scales. Bird wings are covered with feathers. The wings of birds and butterflies did not evolve from a common ancestor that had wings. Instead, they have evolved as a result of similar environmental pressures. Which statement best explains the evolutionary relationship of birds and butterflies? Bird and butterfly wings are a result of divergent evolution because birds and butterflies did not evolve from a winged common ancestor. Bird and butterfly wings are a result of convergent evolution because birds and butterflies evolved from a winged common ancestor. Bird and butterfly wings are analogous structures because they have similar functions, are structurally different, and are a result of convergent evolution. Bird and butterfly wings are homologous structures because they have similar functions, are structurally the same, and are a result of divergent evolution.arrow_forwardMost fish species are considered cold-blooded because they can't generate body heat like birds and mammals. Billfishes and Tunas are notable exceptions. These fish can generate significant amount of body heat and are thus considered warm-blooded. The tree below shows the relationship among several species of fish including billfishes and tunas. The triangles show the inferred origins of "warm-blood" in billfishes and tunas. Knowing that the most recent common ancestor of all the fish in the tree was cold-blooded and that all the fishes in the tree except tunas and billfishes are cold-blooded, what can be said?arrow_forward
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