Question

I had been staring and trying to figure out these questions for 5-6 hours.. Please help !

1) How are bryophytes similar to green algae? How are they different?



2) Paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould has stated that “mankind stood up first

and got smart later.” What evidence supports that statement?



3) How does parthenogenesis differ from other forms of asexual reproduction?

Answer 1

In question 1, you could try to think about what characteristics common ancestors of both mosses and green algae had that both groups still have (e.g. which types of chlorophyll do they have? do they have flagellated gametes? etc.) and then look at what differentiates them by focusing on the adaptations for living on land that you see in mosses.

Answer 2

Thanks, I will try and see what I can do. Thanks for the help though, appreciated !

Answer 3

In #3, do you know what parthenogenesis is?

Answer 4

Yes, Reproduction from an ovum without fertilization.

Answer 5

Yes. Basically, virgin birth. Did you know that there are entire species where every individual is female? They have no males whatsoever and reproduce exclusively through parthenogenesis. Now let's look at species where individuals reproduce asexually by simply dividing. Are they male or female? Are any ova involved?

Answer 6

Hmm spores?

Answer 7

There might be spores involved in asexual reproduction, but not necessarily. Bacteria always reproduce asexually, but not all species can form spores, and you can asexually propagate many plants by just cutting off parts of them and planting them somewhere new.

Answer 8

Ohhh..! I see !

Answer 9

The thing that's unusual about parthenogenesis is just that you've got females producing eggs, as is typical for a female (it's part of sexual reproduction!)... but then instead of getting those eggs fertilised and reproducing sexually, they somehow allow the eggs to develop into a new organism without male involvement.

In other forms of asexual reproduction, you don't see this hijacking of the sexual reproductive process for asexual purposes, and typically, if an organism ONLY reproduces asexually, we don't call them male or female, because how would you be able to tell? Some species do have sexes and can reproduce asexually as well as sexually, but in that case, it's generally both males and females that can do it, and they don't do it via eggs or sperm.

Answer 10

Oh wow.. I see! Thanks for expanding my thought, I don't really want to trouble your time, but I understand it now. Thanks a bunch Calliope !

Answer 11

No problem! Glad I could help :)

Answer 12

#1 - they both do not rely on water but bryophytes undergo photosynthesis while algae does not.
#2 - The species Homo erectus evolved first
#3 - fertilization of eggs