Concept explainers
To determine: The evolutionary factors that should be considered in debating whether or not the biological species concept can be applied to bacteria.
Introduction: Biological species concept (BSC) is a widely accepted concept for species. It defines the concept of species as a group of species whose members are capable of interbreeding but isolated from others on the basis of their reproductive abilities.
Explanation of Solution
Biological species link species to the evolution process as the interbreeding species share a common gene pool. The DNA recombination takes place instead of gene exchange between different species. This recombination results in the evolution of species. This concept helps to maintain the species uniformity, and it is applicable for large, complex creatures consisting of gametes.
In the single-celled organisms, such as bacteria, reproduction occurs mainly by asexual means. In bacteria, horizontal gene transfer takes place (transfer of genome from one bacterium to another). Since in this process, the only transfer of genetic material occurs, so it does not explain the evolutionary process, and therefore such species cannot be grouped together. The asexual reproduction bypasses the standard evolutionary process explained in the concept. Hence, the biological species concept (BSC) is not applicable to bacteria.
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Chapter 9 Solutions
Evolution
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- 10) Two processes that take place within a cell are shown here. Which of these statements correctly identify the processes and their outcomes? Select ALL that apply. A) Both processes increase genetic variation. B) Both processes can produce new phenotypes in an organism. C) Process II occurs randomly while process I is predictable. D) Process I is beneficial to the organism while process II is detrimental. E) Only process I can provide the basis for natural selection acting on phenotypes. Not Gradedarrow_forwardVolvox carteri, an volvocine alga, has approximately 2000 somatic cells and only 16 reproductive or germ line cells. The observation that multicellular individuals, like Volvox, have a much smaller subset of germ line cells compared to somatic cells appears to be general rule. Which of the following is the best evolutionary explanation for why this is the case? A) Organisms can biologically only contain a small number of germ line cells as they are always larger than somatic cells. B) Multicellular individuals with a germ line vs. somatic cell line differentiation only evolved a single time, thus all members of this lineage share the same scheme of more soma cells with a much smaller subset of germ line cells. C) Having a smaller subset of reproductive cells helps reduce the likelihood of cheating from evolving, which in turns prevents the collapse of the multicellular individual system. D) None of the above.arrow_forwardBacteria that live in the digestive systems of cows help break down the plants that cows eat, providing nutrients to cows. The digestive systems of cows offer a safe environment in which the bacteria can live and reproduce. Which type of realationship exist between the bacteria and the cows?arrow_forward
- Explain why the answer is correct. For eukaryote cells to evolve into new types of eukaryotic organisms, which of the following would one expect to occur? The correct answer is E a) these cells have evolved because they have different DNA because of mutations b) Their endoplasmic reticulum is synthesizing new and/or different proteins. c) These specialized cells activate new genes to synthesize new proteins. d) these organisms have new characteristics because they have acquired new genes. e) all of these are truearrow_forwardWhy does the development of antboitic-resistant bacterial strain represent evolution by natural selection rather than by genetic drift?arrow_forwardIn addition to evolution through vertical descent, evolutionary changes can also occur by horizontal gene transfer, and this process involves 1. mostly eukaryotic organisms. 2. competition 3. the transfer of genes from one organism to another one that is not its direct descendant and might even be from a different species. 4. a recent time in the history of life in our planet. 5. the transfer of genes from one organism to another one with a parent-offspring relationship.arrow_forward
- In studying Lokiarchaeota, researchers identified eukaryotic signature genes and used this information to better understand the relationship between archaeans and eukaryotes. Many other types of genetic analysis can be used that focus on certain types of genes. One example of this is multilocus sequence typing (MLST), which focuses on examining genes called housekeeping genes. Microbes encode both housekeeping and pathogenic genes in their genome. Drag the examples of genes to the correct bins to indicate whether they are housekeeping genes, pathogenic genes, or eukaryotic signature genes. Place the phrase describing a gene product in the correct bin. ► View Available Hint(s) peptidoglycan synthesis genes Housekeeping genes membrane remodeling genes cytoskeletal genes membrane lipid genes Pathogenic genes endotoxin genes Reset ribosomal genes exotoxin genes Eukaryotic signature genes Helparrow_forwardThe universal phylogenetic tree of life shows the divergence of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Studies of Lokiarchaeota help to elucidate these relationships, but the first universal tree of life was constructed by Carl Woese using ribosomal RNA sequences. There are advantages to using different types of nucleic acid for different types of analyses. What is a specific advantage of using small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for phylogenetic analysis compared with DNA sequences? ▸ View Available Hint(s) SSU rRNA sequences accumulate mutations more rapidly than protein-encoding DNA. SSU rRNA is frequently transferred through horizontal gene transfer, whereas DNA sequences are not. Primers are required in DNA sequence analysis, but not for SSU rRNA sequence analysis. Although PCR products can be visualized with SSU rRNA, this is not the case with other forms of nucleic acids. DNA sequences are too highly conserved to work well for sequence analysis; individual species are…arrow_forwardThe theory of the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts was first proposed by the biologist Lynn Which of the following statements provides support for the theory of endosymbiosis? 1. All the genes found in chloroplasts are homologous to genes found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cell. 2. Mitochondria contain their own ribosomes. 3. Proteins need a targeting sequence to be imported into a chloroplast. 4. Mitochondria can generate a proton gradient and harness it to synthesize ATP. O A. 1, 2 and 3 B. 1 and 3 C. 2 and 4 D. 4 only E. All of 1, 2, 3 and 4 are correct.arrow_forward
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