Textbook Question
What important assumption does parsimony make when assessing which phylogenetic tree is most accurate? Why was parsimony misleading in the case of the astragalus during the evolution of artiodactyls?
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Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- 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 Function17
- 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 Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 25, Problem 8
Use the fossil evidence shown in Figure 25.6 to determine whether flight evolved earlier in insects or in birds. Is flight an example of homology or convergent evolution? Explain.
Verified step by step guidance1
Examine the timeline in the image to identify the first appearance of flight in insects and birds. The timeline is divided into geological periods and epochs, with key evolutionary events marked.
Locate the 'First winged insects' event on the timeline. It appears in the Devonian period, which is approximately 419 to 359 million years ago.
Next, find the 'First bird-like reptile' event, which is marked in the Jurassic period, approximately 201 to 145 million years ago.
Compare the two events: 'First winged insects' in the Devonian period occurred earlier than 'First bird-like reptile' in the Jurassic period, indicating that flight evolved earlier in insects than in birds.
Discuss whether flight in insects and birds is an example of homology or convergent evolution. Homology refers to traits inherited from a common ancestor, while convergent evolution refers to similar traits evolving independently in different lineages. Since insects and birds do not share a common ancestor with flight capabilities, flight is an example of convergent evolution.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Fossil Evidence
Fossil evidence refers to the preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past, which provide crucial insights into the evolutionary history of species. In the context of flight evolution, analyzing fossils can help determine the timeline and anatomical features associated with the development of flight in different groups, such as insects and birds.
Recommended video:
03:54
Fossils
Homology vs. Convergent Evolution
Homology refers to traits that are similar due to shared ancestry, while convergent evolution describes the independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages due to similar environmental pressures. Understanding whether flight in insects and birds is homologous or a result of convergent evolution is essential for interpreting their evolutionary paths and adaptations.
Recommended video:
Guided course
05:22Convergent and Divergent Evolution
Evolution of Flight
The evolution of flight involves various adaptations that allow organisms to take to the air, including changes in body structure, muscle development, and wing formation. Insects and birds represent two distinct evolutionary pathways to flight, and examining their anatomical features and fossil records can reveal the timing and nature of these adaptations.
Recommended video:
05:14Introduction to Evolution of Populations
Related Practice
Textbook Question
You can use a 'one-snip test' to identify monophyletic groups—meaning that if you 'cut' any branch on a tree, everything that 'falls off' is a monophyletic group. Why is this valid?
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Textbook Question
The vast majority of animals that ever existed are now extinct, but Tereza Jezkova and John Wiens wondered which variables were most important in driving the diversification of species that exist today. Why are there so many species in some phyla, such as Cnidaria, but so few in others, such as Ctenophora? Based on your reading of this chapter, propose at least five traits that you think might have been most important in triggering diversification within phyla (examples: origin of hearing, origin of internal fertilization).
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Textbook Question
The vast majority of animals that ever existed are now extinct, but Tereza Jezkova and John Wiens wondered which variables were most important in driving the diversification of species that exist today. Why are there so many species in some phyla, such as Cnidaria (see photo), but so few in others, such as Ctenophora? Jezkova and Wiens used a type of graph called a linear regression to find correlations between variables such as the proportion of species per phylum with legs (on the y-axis) and the diversification rate per phylum (on the x-axis). Sketch a graph to show what a strong positive correlation between these two variables would look like and what the absence of a correlation would look like.
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Textbook Question
The vast majority of animals that ever existed are now extinct, but Tereza Jezkova and John Wiens wondered which variables were most important in driving the diversification of species that exist today. Why are there so many species in some phyla, such as Cnidaria (see photo), but so few in others, such as Ctenophora? A sample of Jekova and Wiens' results is shown here. The R2 value represents the strength of the correlation (where 0.00 is lowest and 1.00 is highest). The P value represents the statistical significance. Which five traits look most important?
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