Carl Woese Was an Important Figure in Microbial Classification and Changed

question 75

Essay

Carl Woese was an important figure in microbial classification and changed our understanding of the evolution and diversity of life. What breakthrough did he make that allowed us to infer evolutionary relationships between organisms? What assumptions was his breakthrough based on?

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Definitions:

Island Arc

A chain of volcanic islands that form along a convergent tectonic plate boundary, typically where an oceanic plate subducts beneath another oceanic plate.

Subduction Zones

Regions where one tectonic plate is being forced down into the mantle beneath another plate, often associated with volcanic activity and earthquakes.

Abyssal Plain

Extensive, flat, underwater landscape at the deep ocean floor, usually found at depths between 3,000 and 6,000 meters.

Seafloor Spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges, pushing older crust away from the ridge axis and contributing to continental drift.