Macroevolution may have been caused by
A) changes in homeotic genes.
B) small, cumulative genetic changes.
C) exaptation.
D) allopatric speciation.
E) more than one of these.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Macroevolution is the evolution of species at a larger scale, involving the origin of new taxa, such as families, orders, and phyla. It typically requires significant changes in morphology, physiology, or behavior, and may involve speciation, adaptation, extinction, or other processes. While the causes of macroevolution are complex and multifaceted, some of the major factors that have been identified include changes in homeotic genes (A), which control the development of body structures during embryogenesis; small, cumulative genetic changes (B), which accumulate over long periods of time and may generate novel phenotypes or functions; exaptation (C), which is the co-option of existing traits for new purposes or environments; and allopatric speciation (D), which occurs when a population becomes geographically isolated and diverges genetically and morphologically from its parent species. None of these factors are mutually exclusive, and multiple mechanisms may interact to produce macroevolutionary patterns and trends.

Macroevolution May Have Been Caused by