Question

5. Write a claim to answer the essential question. Use the search and phylogenetic tree as evidence to

support or refute. Add reasoning statements to each piece of evidence explaining what your evidence shows
in support or refutation of the essential question.
Caffeine evolution is convergent. Three distinct lines of plants have the enzyme to make
caffeine, they are distantly related, but other groups close to them do not make caffeine.

Answer 1

Claim: The evolution of caffeine in plants is convergent.

Evidence:

1. Three distinct lines of plants have the enzyme to make caffeine, despite being distantly related. This suggests that the evolution of caffeine in these plants is not due to a common ancestry, but rather convergent evolution.

Reasoning: The presence of caffeine in three separate plant lineages, despite not being closely related, supports the idea that the evolution of caffeine is convergent. This is because convergent evolution occurs when different species independently evolve similar adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures. In this case, the presence of caffeine in three distinct plant lineages suggests that these plants have evolved the ability to produce caffeine as a response to similar environmental pressures, such as herbivory or insect predation.

2. Other groups of plants that are close to the caffeine-producing plants do not make caffeine.

Reasoning: The fact that other closely related plant groups do not produce caffeine supports the idea that the evolution of caffeine in plants is convergent, as it suggests that the ability to produce caffeine is not due to a common ancestry, but rather to convergent evolution. This is because if the evolution of caffeine was due to a common ancestry, then it would be expected that all closely related plant groups would have the ability to produce caffeine.

Step-by-step explanation: