Concept explainers
Macroevolution refers to evolutionary changes that
- occur in multicellular organisms.
- produce new species and groups of species.
- occur over long periods of time.
- cause changes in allele frequencies.
- occur in large mammals.
Introduction:
Microevolution is the change in allele frequencies within a population over time. Microevolution is a result of mutations, natural selection, gene flow and genetic drift. In microevolution small differences in population occur compared to macroevolution. Microevolution over long period of time leads to speciation which is described under macroevolution.
Answer to Problem 1TY
The correct answersisoption (b) produce new species and groups of species and option
Explanation of Solution
Explanation/justification for the correct answer:
Option (b) − Macroevolution is the large-scale evolution which occurs at the level of species and above. It describes the differences between two closely related species; for instance, western meadowlark and eastern meadowlark birds. They are two different species even though the morphological characteristics are similar. They cannot mate due to reproductive isolation. Microevolution also describes that the all life forms are from a single origin. So, option (b) is the correct answer.
Explanation for incorrect answer:
Option (a) − Macroevolution is usually defined as the innovation of morphological innovations in multicellular organisms. But there are some microbial experimental evidences of macroevolution in unicellular level.
Option (c) − the changes observed in macroevolution occurs over long time period. The changes happen in microevolution occurs over a short period of time relatively to the changes occur in macroevolution in evolutionary wise. So option (c) is incorrect.
Option (d) causes changes in allele frequencies. Genetic information gets altered or rearranged in microevolution, not macroevolution. Alteration of genetic information leads to changes in allele frequencies. The microevolution occurs over a short time scale. The changes occur in genetic level causes the phenotypic changes which are naturally selected overtime. So, microevolution often lead to macroevolution. Option (d) is incorrect.
Option (e) occurs in large mammals. This option is incorrect as macroevolution can be taken place in almost every kind of population. Birds, fish, reptiles, bacteria etc.
Macroevolution refers to evolutionary changes that produce new species and group of species. So, option (b) is correct.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 20 Solutions
Principles of Biology
- Which part of these statements isn't right ? A species is a group of organisms that can potentially interbreed with one another to produce viable, fertile offspring. Speciation is when two new species form from one original one. Sympatric speciation occurs when there is a geographic separation of a population. Allopatric speciation occurs while the population remains in the same area. Adaptive radiation occurs when one species evolves into many to fill several different niches. Natural selection requires traits to be passed from parent to offspring, more offspring are produced than can survive creating competition, and inherited traits vary among offspring. Fossils, Anatomy and embryology, biogeography, and molecular biology all provide support for the theory of evolution. Evolution can be driven by many different things. Mutations are changes in DNA that create new alleles in a population. Gene flow is the flow of alleles in and out of a population resulting from the migration…arrow_forwardA species is a group of individual organisms that interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring. According to this definition, one species is distinguished from another when, in nature, it is not possible for matings between individuals from each species to produce fertile offspring. Evolution is an important mechanism in the formation of new species. The evolution of a new species requires several components including all, BUT A) Evolution of a new species requires a long time. B) Evolution of a new species requires the need for a genetic change. C) Evolution of a new species requires a separation that prevents interbreeding. D) Evolution of a new species requires mutations that produce new genetic traits. not graded use photoarrow_forwardThe biological species concept primarily focuses on which of the following criteria for defining a species? Interbreeding and reproductive isolation Phylogenetic relationships Ecological roles Morphological similaritiesarrow_forward
- A farmer uses DDT to kill insects in his field. The first year nearly all of the insects were killed. By the fourth year, however, nearly all of the insects survived the DDT treatment. Explain the process of natural selection in this population of insects. Include these words - mutation, phenotype, variation, resistance, adaptation, and differential survival.arrow_forwardAt the edge of the Arctic Circle, owls prey on field mice. Occasionally, in a litter of white field mice, a brown mouse appears. Because of greenhouse warming, the snow melts, changing the environment to shades of brown. The adaptations which allow survival and reproduction of a certain color of mice in the new environment is due to: variation. lethal mutations. acquired traits. isolation.arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements about ancestral and derived traits are true? Ancestral traits are shared by taxa due to common ancestry (e.g., the ancestor had that trait). Derived traits are present in all members of a phylogeny Derived traits are new characteristics that evolved in a lineage after divergence from a common ancestor with an ancestral trait. Ancestral traits are unique to a single species.arrow_forward
- Consider this scenario following several generations of frogs and then answer the following question. True or False: Evolution occurred between generation 1 and 2. Generation 1 allele frequencies are G = 0.5 and g = 0.5 Generation 2 allele frequencies are G = 0.5 and g = 0.5 Generation 3 allele frequencies are G = 0.7 and g = 0.3 Consider this scenario following several generations of frogs and then answer the following question. True or False: Evolution occurred between generation 1 and 2. Generation 1 allele frequencies are G = 0.5 and g = 0.5 Generation 2 allele frequencies are G = 0.5 and g = 0.5 Generation 3 allele frequencies are G = 0.7 and g = 0.3 False - evolution did NOT occur between generation 1 and 2. True - evolution DID occur between generation 1 and 2.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_forwardMutations can be considered one of the raw materials of evolution because they cause mating to remain random. usually cause species to become extinct. contribute to new variations in organisms. are usually beneficial to the organism in which they appear.arrow_forward
- Use each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of that particular species concept. Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US. Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.arrow_forwardWhich of the following species would have the greatest chance of going extinct? a species with a slow reproduction rate and very little genetic variation living in a changing environment a species with a fast reproduction rate and lots of genetic variation living in a changing environment a species with a slow reproduction rate and very little genetic variation living in a stable environment a species with a fast reproduction rate and lots of genetic variation living in a stable environmentarrow_forwardEvidence of small-scale evolutionary changes is directly observed in an short life cycles. True False organism witharrow_forward
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)BiologyISBN:9780134580999Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. HoehnPublisher:PEARSONBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxAnatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781259398629Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa StouterPublisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
- Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)BiologyISBN:9780815344322Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter WalterPublisher:W. W. Norton & CompanyLaboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781260159363Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, CynthiaPublisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)BiologyISBN:9781260231700Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael WindelspechtPublisher:McGraw Hill Education