Populations of bacteria can evolve rapidly in response to changes in the environment - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 13 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 13
Populations of bacteria can evolve rapidly in response to changes in the environment.
One factor which contributes to this is that bacteria:
A. have a single chromos... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Populations of bacteria can evolve rapidly in response to changes in the environment - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 13 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
have a single chromosome.
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Answer
While bacteria do typically have a single circular chromosome, this trait alone does not directly contribute to their rapid evolution in response to environmental changes.
Step 2
have a short generation time.
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Answer
This is a significant factor because bacteria can reproduce quickly, often in as little as 20 minutes under optimal conditions. Short generation times enable faster accumulation of mutations and allow for quicker adaptations to environmental changes.
Step 3
are single-celled organisms.
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Being single-celled allows bacteria to reproduce independently without the need for mates, contributing to their ability to quickly adapt and evolve within a rapidly changing environment.
Step 4
have a low rate of mutation.
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Answer
This statement is inaccurate as bacteria generally have a higher rate of mutation compared to multicellular organisms, which facilitates rapid evolution.
