The evolution of eyes in octopus and in human is an example of ..............
Show Hint
- divergent evolution
- convergent evolution
- adaptive radiation
- genetic drift
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Convergent evolution occurs when different species independently evolve similar traits or features, often due to similar environmental pressures or needs. In this case, octopus and humans have evolved eyes that function in similar ways despite having very different evolutionary paths.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) divergent evolution: Incorrect — Divergent evolution refers to the process where two related species evolve different traits.
(B) convergent evolution: Correct — Both octopuses and humans have evolved eyes with similar functions, but from different evolutionary paths, making this an example of convergent evolution.
(C) adaptive radiation: Incorrect — Adaptive radiation refers to the rapid evolution of many species from a common ancestor, not the independent evolution of similar features.
(D) genetic drift: Incorrect — Genetic drift refers to random changes in gene frequencies in small populations, not the development of similar features.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) convergent evolution, as the eyes in octopuses and humans are an example of independent evolution of similar features.
Top Questions on Evolution
- (a) “The process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starts from a point and literally radiates to other geographical areas.” Explain it with an example.
(b) Cite an example where more than one adaptive radiation has occurred in an isolated geographical area. Name the type of evolution your example depicts. - (a) "The process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starts from a point and literally radiates to other geographical areas." Explain it with an example.
(b) Cite an example where more than one adaptive radiation has occurred in an isolated geographical area. Name the type of evolution your example depicts. - A few stages and their respective time period in the evolutionary history of human beings are mentioned in the flowchart given below:
- 15 mya — Primates walking like gorillas and chimpanzees existed.
- 3–4 mya — Man-like primates walked in Eastern Africa. Fossils of their bones were discovered.
- 2 mya — This ancestor lived in the East African grasslands and ate fruits.
- 1.5 mya — This hominid had a brain size of 900 cc and probably ate meat.
- [(a)] Name one primate about 15 mya.
- [(b)] Name one place where fossils of primates were discovered in Eastern Africa.
- [(c)] Name the ancestor that lived in the East African grasslands about 2 mya.
- [(d)] Name the hominid that was found around 1.5 mya.
The given graph shows the range of variation among population members, for a trait determined by multiple genes. If this population is subjected to disruptive selection for several generations, which of the following distributions is most likely to result?
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. According to evolutionary theory, every evolutionary change involves the substitution of a new gene for the old one and the new allele arises from the old one. Continuous accumulation of changes in the DNA coding for proteins leads to evolutionary differences. The chemical composition of DNA is basically the same in all living beings, except for differences in the sequence of nitrogenous bases. Given below are percentage relative similarities between human DNA and DNA of other vertebrates:
(a) What is the term used for the substitution of a new gene for the old one and the new allele arising from the old one during evolutionary process?
(b) Which one of the following holds true for the data provided in the above table?
- [(A)] Greater the evolutionary distance, greater are the differences in the nitrogenous bases.
- [(B)] Lesser the evolutionary distance, greater are the differences in the nitrogenous bases.
- [(C)] Greater the evolutionary distance, lesser are the differences in the nitrogenous bases.
- [(D)] Lesser the evolutionary distance, lesser are the differences in the nitrogenous bases.
(c) [(i)] To which category of evolution (divergent or convergent) does the following relationship belong? Justify your answer.
Human and Rhesus Monkey
OR[(ii)] Differentiate between Convergent and Divergent evolution.
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