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Consider the following:
Which combination correctly identifies examples of comparative embryology and biogeography?
\(A\)
→ Option 1 – comparative embryology, which studies similarities in embryonic development across species.
→ Option 2 – biogeography, which examines the geographical distribution of species in relation to evolutionary history and geological events.
→ Option 3 – comparative anatomy, which analyses similarities in the physical structures of different species to infer evolutionary relationships.
→ Option 4 – biochemical evidence, which looks at similarities in genetic material or proteins across species to determine how closely related they are.
\(\Rightarrow A\)
Which type of evidence for evolution is demonstrated by the similarity in DNA sequences of the FOXP2 gene in humans and chimpanzees?
\(C\)
→ The similarity in DNA sequences of the FOXP2 gene in humans and chimpanzees is an example of biochemical evidence.
→ This type of evidence looks at similarities in genetic material or proteins across species to infer evolutionary relationships.
\(\Rightarrow C\)
Ginkgo biloba, often called a 'living fossil', is the only surviving species of the division Ginkgophyta. While native to China today, fossils of ginkgo-like plants have been found on every continent except Antarctica.
These fossils date back to the Permian period, over 270 million years ago. Ginkgo fossils have been discovered in locations as diverse as North America, Europe, and Australia.
Explain how this widespread fossil distribution of Ginkgo, compared to its limited native range today, supports the theory of evolution by natural selection. (4 marks)
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→ The presence of Ginkgo fossils on multiple continents can be explained by the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea, which began breaking up about 200 million years ago.
→ Ginkgo-like plants were already present before this breakup, allowing their fossils to be distributed across what would become separate continents.
→ As continents drifted apart and climates changed over millions of years, Ginkgo species faced varying selection pressures in different regions.
→ In many areas, these pressures led to the extinction of local Ginkgo populations, demonstrating natural selection in action.
→ The survival of Ginkgo biloba shows the process of evolutionary adaptation. Its survival is likely due to traits that were advantageous within its specific environment, illustrating how environmental changes can drive both extinction and adaptation, key concepts in Darwin and Wallace’s theory.
→ The presence of Ginkgo fossils on multiple continents can be explained by the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea, which began breaking up about 200 million years ago.
→ Ginkgo-like plants were already present before this breakup, allowing their fossils to be distributed across what would become separate continents.
→ As continents drifted apart and climates changed over millions of years, Ginkgo species faced varying selection pressures in different regions.
→ In many areas, these pressures led to the extinction of local Ginkgo populations, demonstrating natural selection in action.
→ The survival of Ginkgo biloba shows the process of evolutionary adaptation. Its survival is likely due to traits that were advantageous within its specific environment, illustrating how environmental changes can drive both extinction and adaptation, key concepts in Darwin and Wallace’s theory.