Exercise: Alternation of Generations




BIO372 : Biological & Ecological Implications of Sex : Sex Determination : Exercise: Alternation of Generations

Exercise: Alternation of Generations

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DUE: 18-Feb-2000 Assignments sent after the due date will receive a grade of zero.

Plants and animals from single-celled organisms to the multicellular show an alternation of sexual and asexual generations. Throughout evolution, there has been a shift from the predominance of the asexual generation to the predominance of the sexual.

1. Pick an organism (not human beings). Describe this organism: its name (common and scientific, i.e., genus and species) and its natural habitat. What source(s) did you use for reference?

2. Describe the alternation of generations for this organism: the stages in the life history and the transitions from haploid to diploid and vice versa. What source(s) did you use for reference?

3. Why do you think (what hypothesis can you suggest) that this alternation of generations adapts the organism to the environment in which it is found?

4. How would you test your hypothesis? Explain.

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