What do gradualism and punctuated equilibrium have in common?
a. they are both explanations of the rate of evolutionary change.
b. they are both explanations that were put forth by darwin.
c. they both discredit the theory of evolution.
d. they both utilize radioactive dating over relative dating.

Answer;

They are both explanations of the rate of evolutionary change.

Explanation;

Gradualism and punctuated equilibrium are two ways in which the evolution of a species can occur.

-Gradualism is selection and variation that happens more gradually. Over a short period of time it is hard to notice. Small variations that fit an organism slightly better to its environment are selected for: a few more individuals with more of the helpful trait survive, and a few more with less of the helpful trait die.

-In punctuated equilibrium, change comes in spurts. There is a period of very little change, and then one or a few huge changes occur, often through mutations in the genes of a few individuals. Mutations are random changes in the DNA that are not inherited from the previous generation, but are passed on to generations that follow.

Both Gradualism and punctuated equilibrium are explanations of the rate of evolutionary change. Therefore, the correct answer is A

Gradualism and equilibrium are two different ways in which the evolution of species can take place.

Gradualism is a variation that occurs gradually and can be cannot be recognized easily over a short period.  Evidence of gradualism has been found by scientists in the geologic process. Scientists describe gradualism as some of the processes that are going on in earth’s landforms and surfaces. They also pointed out that the mechanisms it contained, erosion, plate tectonics combines the processes that in some aspects appear destructive and others constructive.

Punctuated equilibrium, on the other hand, has to do with the notion that since no changes can be seen in a species, there must however be a period when no changes take place. Punctuated equilibrium maintains that evolution happen in a short burst with a longer period of equilibrium.

One of the scientists that proposed punctuated equilibrium is William Bateson, he argued that species can only evolve rapidly and not gradually. He believed that evolution occurs rapidly in a species with a long period of stability.

Thus, Both Gradualism and punctuated equilibrium are explanations of the rate of evolutionary change. Both are accepted ideas of how evolution occurs in a species.

LEARN MORE:

KEYWORDS:

thinking it would be d not too sure but i think it's right

the african cheetah.

this species has a relatively low level of genetic

variation because the population was reduced to a small size approxi-

mately 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

chapter   outline

24.1

genes in populations and the hardy-

weinberg equation

24.2

factors that change allele and genotype

frequencies in populations

24.3     sources of new genetic variation

population   genetics

24

until   now,   we   have   primarily   focused   our   attention   on   genes  

within   individuals   and   their   related   family   members.   in   this  

chapter   and   chapters   25   and   26   ,   we   turn   to   the   study   of   genes   in  

a   population   or   species.   the   field   of

population   genetics

  is   con-

cerned   with   changes   in   genetic   variation   within   a   group   of   indi-

viduals   over   time.   population   geneticists   want   to   know   the   extent  

of   genetic   variation   within   populations,   why   it   exists,   and   how   it  

changes   over   the   course   of   many   generations.   the   field   of   popu-

lation   genetics   emerged   as   a   branch   of   genetics   in   the   1920s   and  

1930s.   its   mathematical   foundations   were   developed   by   theoreti-

cians   who   extended   the   principles   of   gregor   mendel   and   charles  

darwin   by   deriving   formulas   to   explain   the   occurrence   of   geno-

types   within   populations.   these   foundations   can   be   largely   attrib-

uted to three scientists: sir ronald fisher, sewall wright, and j. b. s.

haldane.   as   we   will   see,   support   for   their   mathematical   theories  

was provided by several researchers who analyzed the genetic com-

position   of   natural   and   experimental   populations.   more   recently,  

population   geneticists   have   used   techniques   to   probe   genetic  

variation   at   the   molecular   level.   in   addition,   staggering   advances  

in   computer   technology   have   aided   population   geneticists   in   the  

analysis   of   their   genetic   theories   and   data.   in   this   chapter,   we   will  

explore   the   genetic   variation   that   occurs   in   populations   and   con-

sider   the   reasons   why   the   genetic   composition   of   populations   may  

change over the course of several generations