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What is the name of the theory which describes evolution as patterns of rapid first appearances or extinctions followed by periods of little or no change? (A) Gradualism (B) Convergence (C) Adaptive radiation (D) Punctuated equilibrium - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 1 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 1
What is the name of the theory which describes evolution as patterns of rapid first appearances or extinctions followed by periods of little or no change? (A) Gradu... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What is the name of the theory which describes evolution as patterns of rapid first appearances or extinctions followed by periods of little or no change? (A) Gradualism (B) Convergence (C) Adaptive radiation (D) Punctuated equilibrium - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 1 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the correct theory
Answer
The theory that describes evolution as patterns of rapid first appearances or extinctions followed by periods of little or no change is known as Punctuated equilibrium. This theory was proposed by paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould, emphasizing that species are generally stable but undergo significant changes during short bursts of geological time.