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
Explain the logic behind the claim that the nuclear envelope is a synapomorphy that defines eukaryotes as a monophyletic group.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the definition of synapomorphy: A synapomorphy is a characteristic or feature that is shared by two or more taxa and is derived through evolution from a common ancestral form. In this context, it is a trait that is present in an ancestor and all its descendants, distinguishing them from other organisms.
Identify the structure in question: The nuclear envelope is a double membrane structure that encloses the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. It separates the genetic material from the cytoplasm and regulates the flow of molecules in and out of the nucleus.
Recognize the uniqueness of the nuclear envelope: The nuclear envelope is unique to eukaryotic cells and is not found in prokaryotic cells (bacteria and archaea), which have no nucleus and instead have their genetic material freely floating in the cytoplasm.
Connect the nuclear envelope to eukaryotic identity: Since all eukaryotic cells, from single-celled organisms to cells in multicellular organisms like plants and animals, possess a nuclear envelope, it serves as a distinguishing feature that sets them apart from prokaryotes.
Conclude its role as a synapomorphy: The presence of the nuclear envelope in all eukaryotic cells and its absence in prokaryotic cells supports the claim that the nuclear envelope is a synapomorphy. This feature supports the classification of eukaryotes as a monophyletic group, meaning all members of this group are descended from a common ancestor that originally evolved this trait.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Nuclear Envelope
The nuclear envelope is a double membrane structure that surrounds the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. It serves to separate the genetic material from the cytoplasm, providing a controlled environment for DNA replication and transcription. This compartmentalization is a key feature distinguishing eukaryotes from prokaryotes, which lack such a structure.
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06:32
Nucleus
Synapomorphy
A synapomorphy is a shared derived characteristic that is used to define a group of organisms in phylogenetics. It indicates a trait that is present in an ancestor and all its descendants, helping to establish evolutionary relationships. The nuclear envelope is considered a synapomorphy for eukaryotes because it is a defining feature that all eukaryotic organisms share, indicating their common ancestry.
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15:46Cladistics
Monophyletic Group
A monophyletic group, or clade, consists of an ancestor and all its descendants, representing a complete branch on the tree of life. This concept is crucial for understanding evolutionary relationships, as it ensures that all members of the group share a common lineage. The classification of eukaryotes as a monophyletic group is supported by the presence of the nuclear envelope, which is a unique trait that unites all eukaryotic organisms.
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Related Practice
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
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.
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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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Textbook Question
Explain why the overprescription of antibiotics by doctors, or the overuse of everyday soaps containing antibiotics, can be a health risk.
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