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Chapter 24: Problem 8

Any system characterized by heredity, mutation, and natural selection will a. change over time. b. improve over time. c. decay over time. d. develop intelligence.

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. change over time.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze the Components

Identify the key components mentioned in the problem: heredity, mutation, and natural selection. Understand what each term means. Heredity is the passing of traits from parents to offspring, mutation is a change in the DNA sequence, and natural selection is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
02

Relate Components to Processes

Relate each component to the process of evolution. Heredity ensures traits are passed on, mutations introduce genetic variability, and natural selection influences which variations become more common in a population.
03

Consider Evolutionary Outcomes

Consider the general outcomes of evolution. Because evolution is driven by genetic changes (mutations) and environmental pressures (natural selection), the system will inevitably change over time as these forces act on it.
04

Evaluate the Options

Evaluate the given options: a) change over time, b) improve over time, c) decay over time, d) develop intelligence. Since all components affect the population and allow it to adapt and change, the most fitting option is that the system will change over time.
05

Select the Best Answer

Option (a) change over time accurately describes what happens in a system with heredity, mutation, and natural selection. It does not guarantee improvement, decay, or development of intelligence.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

heredity
Heredity is the transfer of genetic information from parents to their offspring. This process ensures that traits and characteristics are passed down to future generations.
  • Each organism inherits a set of genes from its parents. These genes can influence traits like eye color, height, and even susceptibility to certain diseases.
  • Heredity allows for continuity within a species, ensuring that offspring resemble their parents to some extent.
  • It is a fundamental principle in biology and plays a crucial role in the process of evolution.
This inheritance of traits is essential for understanding how populations change over time and adapt to their environments.
mutation
Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism. These changes can occur randomly or due to environmental factors.
  • Mutations introduce new genetic variations, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.
  • Beneficial mutations may give an organism an advantage in its environment, such as resistance to a disease or a more efficient way to obtain food.
  • While most mutations might not have a significant effect, some can lead to noticeable changes in an organism's traits and its ability to survive and reproduce.
Without mutations, there would be no genetic diversity for natural selection to act upon, making mutation a key driver of evolution.
natural selection
Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than those less adapted.
  • It is often described as 'survival of the fittest,' where 'fittest' refers to the best fit for the environment.
  • Traits that confer an advantage in survival and reproduction become more common in successive generations.
  • For example, a rabbit with a coat color that better camouflages it from predators is more likely to survive and pass on this trait to its offspring.
Natural selection acts on the genetic variations provided by mutations, shaping the evolution of species over time.
genetic variability
Genetic variability refers to the diversity of genes within a population. This variability is crucial for the adaptive capacity of a species.
  • It arises from mutations, gene shuffling during sexual reproduction, and gene flow between populations.
  • Greater genetic variability increases the likelihood that some individuals in a population will have traits suited to survive environmental changes.
  • This diversity allows populations to adapt to new conditions, resist diseases, and improve their chances of survival over generations.
Without genetic variability, a population would be more vulnerable to changes and less capable of evolving through natural selection.
environmental adaptation
Environmental adaptation involves changes in traits that help an organism better survive in its environment.
  • As the environment changes, certain traits may become more or less beneficial. Natural selection favors adaptations that improve survival and reproduction.
  • For instance, in a colder climate, animals with thicker fur are more likely to survive and reproduce.
  • Over time, these adaptive traits become more common within the population, leading to evolutionary changes.
Adaptation is a continuous process, as environments are dynamic and constantly changing. This constant interplay between organisms and their environments drives the ongoing evolution of species.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The study of life and the study of astronomy are connected because (select all that apply) a. life may be quite commonplace in the universe. b. studying other planets may help explain why there is life on Earth. c. explorations of extreme environments on Earth suggest where to look for life elsewhere. d. life is a structure that evolved through physical processes, and life on Earth may not be unique. e. life elsewhere is most likely to be found by astronomers.

If processes on Earth were energetic enough to form DNA, shouldn't they have been able to destroy it as well? Why then, does life exist today?

The fact that no alien civilizations have yet been detected indicates that a. they are not there. b. they are rare. c. Earth is in a "blackout," and they are not talking to us. d. not enough is known yet to draw any conclusions.

T/F: Water once flowed on Mars.

T/F: Scientists know with certainty that in the Solar System, life exists only on Earth.
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