Question

Which one of the following is NOT a major transition in the evolution of life, based on Maynard Smith and Szathmary (1997)?

a. The formation of the solar system including Earth
b. The origin of self-replicating molecules capable of heredity
c. The evolution of sexual reproduction
d. The evolution of multicellular organisms from single-celled ancestors

Answer 1

The formation of the solar system including Earth is not a major transition in the evolution of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major transition that is NOT identified by Maynard Smith and Szathmary (1997) in the evolution of life is: a. The formation of the solar system including Earth. Maynard Smith and Szathmary proposed a framework of major transitions in evolution that focus on key events in the history of life on Earth. According to their model, the major transitions include the origin of replicators, the evolution of simple replicating molecules capable of heredity, the development of prokaryotic cells, the evolution of eukaryotic cells, the emergence of sexual reproduction, the evolution of multicellular organisms, and the advent of social organisms. The formation of the solar system, including Earth, is not considered a major transition in the context of their model.