Volvox carteri, an volvocine alga, has approximately 2000 somatic cells and only 16 reproductive or germ line cells. The observation that multicellular individuals, like Volvox, have a much smaller subset of germ line cells compared to somatic cells appears to be general rule. Which of the following is the best evolutionary explanation for why this is the case? A) Organisms can biologically only contain a small number of germ line cells as they are always larger than somatic cells. B) Multicellular individuals with a germ line vs. somatic cell line differentiation only evolved a single time, thus all members of this lineage share the same scheme of more soma cells with a much smaller subset of germ line cells. C) Having a smaller subset of reproductive cells helps reduce the likelihood of cheating from evolving, which in turns prevents the collapse of the multicellular individual system. D) None of the above.

Multicellular individuals with a germ line vs. somatic cell line differentiation only evolved a…

Answered: Volvox carteri, an volvocine alga, has…

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)

11th Edition

ISBN:9780134580999

Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...

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Volvox carteri, an volvocine alga, has approximately 2000 somatic cells and only 16 reproductive or germ line cells. The observation that multicellular individuals, like Volvox, have a much smaller subset of germ line cells compared to somatic cells appears to be general rule. Which of the following is the best evolutionary explanation for why this is the case?

		A) Organisms can biologically only contain a small number of germ line cells as they are always larger than somatic cells.
		B) Multicellular individuals with a germ line vs. somatic cell line differentiation only evolved a single time, thus all members of this lineage share the same scheme of more soma cells with a much smaller subset of germ line cells.
		C) Having a smaller subset of reproductive cells helps reduce the likelihood of cheating from evolving, which in turns prevents the collapse of the multicellular individual system.
		D) None of the above.

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