The theory of evolution by natural selection gained rapid acceptance among biolo

Question

The theory of evolution by natural selection gained rapid acceptance among biologists after Darwin published it in 1859, in part because it was so successful in explaining what we see in the fossil record. The theory of evolution has gained even further support since that time, because it has successfully passed many other observational tests. Which of the following statements represent successful tests of the theory of evolution by natural selection?Check all that apply. Check all that apply. 1)Species often show unique adaptations that are suited to the specific environment in which they live and might be detrimental in other environments. 2)Genetic comparisons show that the DNA of closely related species is more similar than that of more distantly related species. 3)Over time, bacteria tend to acquire resistance to antibiotic drugs. 4)Human population has been rapidly growing over the past few centuries. Like any scientific theory, the theory of evolution is subject to revision or even to being discarded if future observations do not agree with its predictions. Which of the following hypothetical observations (none of which are real) would force us to reconsider the theory of evolution? 1)The discovery of life on an extrasolar planet that is very different in size and atmosphere from Earth. 2)The discovery of microbial life on Mars that uses a different genetic molecule than DNA. 3)The discovery of fossils of human-like primates dating to a time before the earliest dinosaurs existed. 4)The discovery that there are organisms on Earth with genomes quite different from those of known organisms.

Explanation / Answer

Ques-1: Which of the following statements represent successful tests of the theory of evolution by natural selection? Check all that apply.

Answer:

Genetic comparisons show that the DNA of closely related species is more similar than that of more distantly related species

Over time, bacteria tend to acquire resistance to antibiotic drugs.

Reason:

Darwin uses Gradualism and he proposed that the gradual changes associated with variations of a species through evolution to get adapted to the present ecosystem with no much- transitional forms. This has confirmed by genetic comparisons that the DNA of closely related species is more similar than that of more distantly related species. Human evolution based on the gradualism and their adaptations are extremely complex. Initially in the gradualism, natural selection operates to obtain specific traits according to biome, ecosystem because of large-scale events followed by formation of rivers, water availability and habitat formation. Humans did not evolve from primates until just 7 million years ago; while life appeared on earth 3.5 billion years ago. Humans are well adapted for the environment and developed their adaptation features as per interspecific and intraspecific genetic variations. If the evolution time-line compressed to a calendar year, the first organism would appear around March and Humans would not appear until December 31.

Darwin has developed a meticulous scientific theory about the exact biological evolution of a species and he explained the evolution of modern species over a long period from a common ancestor base on morphological convergent & divergent features as explained below.

Descent with modification from a common ancestor mean that species living at any given time such as present and pre-existing species are derived from a common ancestor and their characteristic traits reflect that ancestry as well as changes over time. This phenomenon was observed in case of acquiring antibiotic resistance in microbial species to gain adaptations to surrounding harsh environment via horizontal genome transfer, as a natural selection. New species are descended from pre-existing species finally they are able change their traits over time as an evolutionary adaption through environmental variations.

Ques-2: Which of the following hypothetical observations (none of which are real) would force us to reconsider the theory of evolution?

Answer: The discovery of fossils of human-like primates dating to a time before the earliest dinosaurs existed.

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