BIOLOGY TOK

Punctuated Equilibrium
1.

Evolution proceeds rapidly in bursts for short periods of time,

intermittent with long periods of stability
In periods of stability organisms become well suited to the
environment, with natural selection acting to maintain characteristics
Equilibrium is punctuated by a rapid environmental change (e.g.
volcanic eruption, meteor impact) which leads to directional selection
Gaps in the fossil record and the lack of intermediate forms for many
species support this theory
Strata in the fossil record that show the appearance of many new
species following a mass extinction support this theory

2. The development of stomach ulcers and stomach cancer is example of

paradigm shift.

3.

Polyploidy is a condition in which an organism has more than two

complete sets of chromosomes in all somatic cells (i.e. > diploid)

It is far more common in plant species as they lack separate sexes and
are capable of asexual reproduction (self-pollination)

It may occur as a result of the failure of a meiotic cell to undergo

cytokinesis (so chromosome replication occurs minus cell division)

Consequently gametes are diploid (2n) and resulting offspring are

tetraploid (4n)

Because tetraploid offspring can no longer mate with diploid

organisms (triploid offspring tend to be infertile), speciation has
occurred.