Question

All of the following scenarios support the idea of unity from an evolutionary perspective EXCEPT

a) The forearms of all mammals share many bones, including the humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. These structures are considered homologous.

b) The enzymes used in the process of glycolysis, which allows organisms to extract energy from food, are found in almost all organisms with only slight variations.

c) Because of the extreme ecosystems that some prokaryotes, especially Archaea, live in, these organisms have developed unique biochemical pathways that allow them to survive in conditions that most organisms would not.

d) Biotechnology has shown us that most genes can be taken out of one organism and placed in any other organism, and the gene will still be transcribed and translated.

Answer 1

Option (c) does not support the idea of unity from an evolutionary perspective, as it refers to unique adaptations of prokaryotes to extreme environments that do not indicate a shared evolutionary history. Options (a), (b), and (d) all demonstrate features that suggest a common evolutionary origin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario that does not support the idea of unity from an evolutionary perspective is:

(c) Because of the extreme ecosystems that some prokaryotes, especially Archaea, live in, these organisms have developed unique biochemical pathways that allow them to survive in conditions that most organisms would not.

This statement highlights the unique adaptations organisms can develop to survive in extreme environments, and they do not necessarily indicate a shared evolutionary history with other life forms. In contrast:

(a) Suggests a common ancestor due to the shared basic bone structure in mammalian forearms, indicating homologous structures.

(b) Indicates conserved core metabolic processes such as glycolysis across diverse organisms, supporting evolutionary unity.

(d) Implies that most organisms share similar genetic mechanisms, hence supporting the idea that all life shares a common origin due to the transferability and functionality of genes across species.

Essentially, features and processes that are widely distributed among organisms, such as homologous structures and core metabolic pathways, support the concept of unity and the shared evolutionary history of life on Earth.

Answer 2

The scenario that does not support the idea of unity from an evolutionary perspective is (c), where unique biochemical pathways have evolved in Archaea to adapt to extreme ecosystems, differing from common evolutionary features.

Step-by-step explanation:

From an evolutionary perspective, the idea of unity suggests that living organisms share commonalities due to their shared ancestry. Among the options given, the scenario that does not support this idea of unity from an evolutionary perspective is:

• (c) Because of the extreme ecosystems that some prokaryotes, especially Archaea, live in, these organisms have developed unique biochemical pathways that allow them to survive in conditions that most organisms would not.

This option suggests that these organisms have evolved specific adaptations that are unique to them, which differs from the common features shared across different species that are indicative of a common ancestry. In contrast:

• Option (a) discusses homologous structures in mammalian forearms, which indicate common ancestry.
• Option (b) notes the presence of nearly identical enzymes in the glycolytic pathway across diverse organisms, displaying a conserved core process.
• Option (d) reflects the ability of genes to function across different organisms, underscoring the universality of genetic mechanisms.