Convergent evolution or evolutionary reversal can cause Blank______.Multiple choice question.homologyincreased complexityhomoplasy

Breaking Down the Problem

1. Identify the key terms related to the question: convergent evolution, evolutionary reversal, homology, increased complexity, and homoplasy.
2. Analyze the connections between these terms and the implications of convergent evolution and evolutionary reversal.

Relevant Concepts

1. Convergent Evolution: This occurs when unrelated organisms develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures, not because they share a common ancestor.
2. Evolutionary Reversal: This happens when a species reverts to an earlier evolutionary state, resulting in the loss of derived traits.
3. Homology: Refers to similarity due to shared ancestry.
4. Homoplasy: Refers to similarity due to convergent evolution or evolutionary reversal, not due to descent from a common ancestor.

Analysis and Detail

1. In terms of convergent evolution, traits may appear similar in unrelated species, resulting in homoplasy.
2. Evolutionary reversal can also lead to traits resembling those of distant ancestors.
3. Therefore, the effects of convergent evolution and evolutionary reversal primarily contribute to homoplasy rather than homology or increased complexity.

Verify and Summarize

The correct answer is that both convergent evolution and evolutionary reversal can result in homoplasy, as they lead to similarities that arise independently of common ancestry.

Final Answer

Homoplasy