Week 5
Question 1
Mendel Gregor lived in a monastery located in Australia and he tended the garden in the monastery. Through the observations of the growth of peas in the garden, Mendel come up with three distinct principles which were ignored by scientists in the period but later become the basis for science genetics (Jenkins, 2015). All the pea plants hold a male and female reproductive organs which means that through self pollination they reproduce. Mendel realized that through the self pollination the plants produced offspring with similar traits as theirs. He examined seven different contrasting characteristics and wished to determine what would be generated through cross pollination which resulted in hybrids (Jenkins, 2015).
Question 2
Mendel was involved in studying the inheritance present in peas also known as Pisum Sativum. Peas were chosen for his experiment since he was used to identical studies, have a simplified growth process and can be harvested annually. In addition cross pollination was easy since it would be performed by hands by removing the stamen to prevent the occurrence of self pollination (Jenkins, 2015).
Question 3
Peas were ideal organism to study the independent assortment law since Mendel had concluded that traits are transmitted in an independent way to their offspring’s. The principle was formulated post the dihybrid crosses amid plants that differed in regard to pod and seed color. The organisms were suitable for the experiment based on its ability to self pollinate (Jenkins, 2015).
Question 4
One of the dominant traits established by Mendel is red color and the recessive is white color. The F1 generation of the two resulted in red flowering heterozygous individuals. With the self crossing of F1 generation this resulted in heterozygous and homozygous red flowering and white flowering homonymous. The offspring were noted to be 75percent red and 25percent white flowering which is the ration of 3:1 (Jenkins, 2015).
Week 6
Question 1
Galapagos islands and geography were the best places for gathering evidence regarding evolution because the places presented easiness in studying species diversity since there were not many species to be viewed. In addition the islands were alienated from another by a significant distant, deep waters as well as strong water tides that prevented newcomers and many plants and animals from breeding with each other of the same kid that may have led to colonization of other shore.
Question 2
Galapagos island finches toady are referred as Darwin finches. Darwin was involved in the experimentation of the finches in explaining the adaptive species radiation based on environmental changes, mutation impact and allelic changes (Quiroga & Sevilla, 2016). In addition, he held extensive knowledge in regard to natural selection and survival which helped in understanding the characteristics of the organisms (Quiroga & Sevilla, 2016).
Question 3
According to Lamarck’s theory species underwent changes in the respective responses to environmental changes. He also stated that the adopted change was permanent provided that the environment continued to exist (Grant & Estes, 2009). On the other hand Darwin’s theory was based on natural selection and survival for those that were fit. As the environment was subjected to changes species being affected were involved in changes to fit in the environment. Darwin’s theory did no believed in internal vital pressure while Lamarck’s did and did not additionally consider struggles for survival (Grant & Estes, 2009).
Question 4
Galápagos land iguana is a resemblance of post dragon’s mythical creatures with spiny crests, clawed feet and long tails. They are heavily built with thick back feet but smaller legs on the front. Their part of adaptation to the dry and hot environment includes they ability to conserve energy via slow movements (Class adventure, 2014).
Go Ahead Blog: 2010
References
Class adventure. (2014). Top 5 Unique Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Retrieved from https://www.classadventuretravel.com/top-5-unique-wildlife-galapagos-islands/
Grant, K. T., & Estes, G. B. (2009). Darwin in Galápagos: Footsteps to a new world. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press
Jenkins, S. H. (2015). Tools for critical thinking in biology. Oxford University Press.
Quiroga, D., & Sevilla, A. M. (2016). Darwin, Darwinism and conservation in the Galapagos Islands: The legacy of Darwin and its new applications. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
