Two new species of plants that are morphologically similar (same leaf type, similar reproductive structures, etc.) are discovered. The botanist who discovers these plants determines that one species possesses sixteen chromosomes and the other species has thirty-two chromosomes. Both plants contain multiple sets of the same eight distinctly different chromosomes. The most probable explanation for these findings is that the second plant evolved from the first by

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second plant having twice the number of chromosomes as the first plant suggests that it evolved through polyploidy, which is the condition of having multiple sets of chromosomes. This is a common mechanism of speciation in plants.

Two New Species of Plants That Are Morphologically Similar (Same