1. . Imagine you are a scientist trying to determine the evolutionary relationship between 2 different groups of snakes. The first group of snakes lives in North America, the second lives in Africs. The 2 groups are very structurally similar, although North American snakes are brown and white and the African snakes are green. The two groups of snakes have nearly identical chromosome structures. Do you think these 2 groups of snakes share a common ancestor? Why or why not?
2. Would you classify the 2 groups of snakes as the same species? Why or why not?
2007-03-09 14:40:50 · 4 answers · asked by confidential 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
1. Since the snakes share the same physical characteristics AND the same chromosomal structures, we can argue that the two probably have a common ancestor. In some cases two different species will look similar but have different ancestors. This is called convergent evolution. Dolphins and sharks both have fins, not because of a common ancestor, but rather because their traits evolved to look very similar by convergent evolution. But in this case, there is strong evidence to indicate that the similarities are not just convergent.
2. They are separate species because they are geographically isolated, and therefore cannot normally interbreed.
2007-03-09 14:46:10 · answer #1 · answered by bloggerdude2005 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. I would say that those 2 groups of snakes share a common ancestor because of their nearly identical chromosome structures and the appearance. the difference in color is just an adaptation to the environment
2. yes. don't scientist classify the group with their chromosomes? it doesn't matter how it looks. only the genes matter.
2007-03-09 14:49:41 · answer #2 · answered by inane person 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because of the identical chromosomes and similar structure. I wouldn't think anything else. Because they could be of the same species, I don't think the color has anything to do with it.
[Sorry, but I wanted to ask you a question about one of your questions. I couldn't email you. How did it work out?
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How much weight would you lose if you only eat about 100 calories a day for like a month?? I don't want any lectures on why its bad, I already know it is.]
2007-03-12 16:31:26 · answer #3 · answered by fivefingers 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can certainly have the same ancestor, because millions of years ago most of the land masses were joined together in a huge super-continent called Gondwanaland.
They would not be classified as the same species, because, over the time-span, there would have been numerous genetic mutations and variations to make them different
2007-03-09 14:52:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋