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 having a single chromosome simplifies replication, it is not the main reason for rapid evolution.
Step 2
have a short generation time.
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Answer
This is the correct answer. A short generation time allows bacteria to reproduce quickly, leading to rapid evolutionary changes as new genetic variations can arise within a single generation.
Step 3
are single-celled organisms.
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Answer
Though they are single-celled, this characteristic does not directly influence their evolutionary speed.
Step 4
have a low rate of mutation.
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Answer
A low rate of mutation would actually lead to slower evolution, making this option incorrect.
