Self-fertilization is common in many plant species but less common in animals.One consequence of this difference is that
A) reinforcement is much more likely in plants than in animals.
B) reinforcement is much more likely in animals than in plants.
C) the Dobzhansky-Muller model does not apply to plants.
D) new species can arise in plants through polyploidy much more easily than they can in animals.
E) new species can arise in animals through polyploidy much more easily than they can in plants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polyploidy, the duplication of an entire set of chromosomes, can lead to the formation of new species. Plants are more prone to polyploidy than animals, as self-fertilization is common in many plant species. Polyploidy can occur when a plant produces gametes with an extra set of chromosomes, which can then combine to form a new polyploid species. In contrast, animal polyploidy usually results in sterility and cannot lead to the formation of new species. Therefore, option D is the correct choice.

Self-Fertilization Is Common in Many Plant Species but Less Common