During a Study Session About Evolution, One of Your Fellow

question 14

Multiple Choice

During a study session about evolution, one of your fellow students remarks, "The giraffe stretched its neck while reaching for higher leaves; its offspring inherited longer necks as a result." Which statement is most likely to be helpful in correcting this student's misconception?

• A) Characteristics acquired during an organism's life are generally not passed on through genes.
• B) Spontaneous mutations can result in the appearance of new traits.
• C) Only favorable adaptations have survival value.
• D) Disuse of an organ may lead to its eventual disappearance.
• E) If the giraffes did not have to compete with each other, longer necks would not have been passed on to the next generation.

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Definitions:

Leak Ion Channels

Channels in cell membranes that allow ions to pass through without the need for stimulus, balancing cellular ion concentrations and membrane potentials.

Myofilament

Protein filaments, including actin and myosin, that are the fundamental components of muscle contraction.

Actin

A globular structural protein that forms microfilaments, playing a vital role in muscle contraction, cell motility, and the maintenance of cell shape.

Muscle Fiber

Individual muscle cells that contract to generate force, constituting skeletal muscles.