Textbook Question
Traits that are derived from a common ancestor, like the bones of human arms and bird wings, are said to be .
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Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection
Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life11
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life10
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function11
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells10
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation16
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis14
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions14
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle12
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis13
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene32
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair8
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work35
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria19
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes17
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers23
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution13
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection17
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea17
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes19
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants18
- Ch. 29 - Fungi19
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals20
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals19
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function16
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development18
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology16
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology16
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology16
Chapter 22, Problem 5
According to data presented in this chapter, which of the following are correct? Select True or False for each statement. T/F When individuals change in response to challenges from the environment, their altered traits are passed on to offspring. T/F Species are created independently of each other and do not change over time. T/F Populations—not individuals—change when natural selection occurs. T/F The traits of populations become more perfect over time.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: The first statement is False. This is a common misconception known as Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics. However, modern genetics has shown that only changes or mutations that occur in germ cells (the cells involved in reproduction) can be passed on to offspring.
Step 2: The second statement is also False. This statement contradicts the theory of evolution, which posits that species are not created independently but rather evolve from common ancestors over time. Furthermore, species do change over time due to processes such as natural selection and genetic drift.
Step 3: The third statement is True. Natural selection acts on populations, not individuals. While individuals may possess certain traits that make them more or less fit, it is the frequency of these traits within a population that changes over time due to natural selection.
Step 4: The fourth statement is False. The traits of populations do not necessarily become more 'perfect' over time. Instead, traits that increase an organism's fitness in its environment become more common. This does not mean that these traits are 'perfect', but rather that they are more suited to the organism's current environment.
Step 5: In conclusion, the correct answers are: False, False, True, False.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Lamarckian Inheritance
Lamarckian inheritance is the idea that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. This concept is often contrasted with Darwinian evolution, which emphasizes natural selection and genetic inheritance. In the context of the question, the statement about altered traits being passed on reflects a misunderstanding of modern evolutionary biology.
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Guided course
01:02
Autosomal Inheritance
Natural Selection
Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process leads to changes in populations over time, rather than individuals. The statement regarding populations changing under natural selection highlights the importance of population-level changes in evolutionary theory.
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04:43Natural Selection
Evolutionary Change
Evolutionary change refers to the gradual development of species over time through processes such as mutation, selection, and genetic drift. The idea that species are created independently and do not change contradicts the concept of common descent, which posits that all species share a common ancestor and evolve over time, leading to the diversity of life we see today.
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02:45History of Evolutionary Theory Example 1
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Traits that are derived from a common ancestor, like the bones of human arms and bird wings, are said to be .
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Textbook Question
How can evolutionary fitness be measured? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F Document how long individuals survive.
T/F Count the number of healthy, fertile offspring produced.
T/F Determine which individuals are strongest.
T/F Determine which phenotype is the most common.
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Textbook Question
Explain the logic behind the claim that the nuclear envelope is a synapomorphy that defines eukaryotes as a monophyletic group.
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Textbook Question
Some biologists summarize evolution by natural selection with the phrase "mutation proposes, selection disposes." Mutation is a process that creates heritable variation. Explain what the phrase means.
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Textbook Question
Why don't the biggest and strongest individuals in a population always produce the most offspring?
a. The biggest and strongest individuals always have higher fitness.
b. In some environments, being big and strong lowers fitness.
c. Sometimes the biggest and strongest individuals may choose to have fewer offspring.
d. Sometimes the number of offspring is not related to fitness.
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