Among lion, tiger and domestic cat, all the three
have the same number of 38 chromosomes, yet they
have different appearances. How do you account for
such differences ?
Answers
Answer:
They have different appearances because of heredity.
Explanation:
Heredity means transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring. As the characteristics of lion,tiger and domestic cow are different. Therefore, they show different appearances.
Though Lion, tigers and domestic cats evolved from a common ancestor, leading to striking similarities in their genotype and phenotype like similarity in number of chromosomes, presence of whiskers, sharp canines; they significantly differ from eachother on a whole.
The above case is an example of Divergent Evolution, wherein organisms evolved from same ancestor develop different phenotypes over different generations according to their surroundings.
- Early cats were similar to their larger feline counterparts until they were domesticated, reduced sizes and ferocity are the result of adaptations.
- For the sake of predation, tigers have developed two types of melanin pigments - Eumelanin (Characteristic black colour of the strips) and Pheumelanin (Skin coat). This specific adaptation helps the tigers camouflage. Expression of recessive traits causes a white skin coat as seen in The Bengal Tiger.
Dwelling in the wild and getting domesticated has rather diversified the differences between the above mentioned animals.