Final answer:
The action of the sarcomere in muscle contraction likely shares evolutionary origins with the contractile ring of cytokinesis as both involve actin-myosin interactions, suggesting an evolutionary predecessor relationship. Basic mechanisms of contractility seem preserved through evolution, adapted for different functions in muscle contraction and cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolution and Muscle Contraction
The action of the sarcomere in muscle contraction and the contractile ring of cytokinesis have distinct roles in cellular processes; however, they both involve mechanisms of contractility that could suggest a shared evolutionary origin. In skeletal muscle, the sarcomere is the functional unit where muscle contraction occurs. It works based on the sliding filament theory, where the myosin 'thick' filaments bind to the actin 'thin' filaments to form cross-bridges, pull the actin filaments inward, and cause the shortening of the sarcomere, leading to muscle contraction. In contrast, cytokinesis in cell division utilizes an actin-based contractile ring that constricts to partition the cell into two daughter cells.
Considering contractility, it is evident from a biological standpoint that the machinery involved in sarcomere contraction has elements in common with that of cytokinesis. The actin and myosin filaments present in the sarcomere, and the actin filaments in the contractile ring, indicate a use of similar molecules for contractile processes. Additionally, although smooth muscle lacks the sarcomere morphology, it still exhibits contraction due to actin-myosin interaction, which points to an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of actin-myosin-based contraction.
Comparative biology suggests that such fundamental mechanisms are likely to be preserved and adapted for different purposes throughout evolution. The contractility in the contractile ring during cytokinesis might very well be an evolutionarily derived mechanism from the actin-myosin interactions that are observed in more organized structures like sarcomeres, although further research is necessary to elucidate the precise evolutionary relationships. Therefore, it would be plausible to consider that the action of the sarcomere in muscle contraction may be an evolutionary predecessor to the contractile ring of cytokinesis, suggesting an overarching theme in the evolution of cellular contractile systems.
The statement is likely True.