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Snakes and legless lizards evolved separately from ancestors with legs - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 17 - 2003 - Paper 1
Question 17
Snakes and legless lizards evolved separately from ancestors with legs. The lack of legs in these reptiles is an example of A. analogy. B. divergence. C. founder eff... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Snakes and legless lizards evolved separately from ancestors with legs - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 17 - 2003 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the concept: divergence
Answer
The key concept to understand in this question is evolutionary divergence. This refers to the process through which two or more related species become more dissimilar over time. In this instance, snakes and legless lizards evolved from a common ancestor that possessed legs, leading to the adaptation of a legless form as a result of different environmental pressures.
Step 2
Eliminate incorrect options
Answer
To determine the correct answer, we analyze the other options:
- A. analogy: This refers to similarities in function or form between species that do not share a recent common ancestor but may have similar adaptations due to similar environmental challenges.
- C. founder effect: This is a genetic phenomenon that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes isolated from a larger population, influencing the genetic makeup of the new population. It does not apply here as we are discussing evolutionary traits rather than genetic drift.
- D. polymorphism: This relates to the occurrence of two or more different forms or phenotypes within a species, which is not relevant to the evolutionary paths of snakes and legless lizards.
Step 3