Thomas Hunt Morgan:
A) demonstrated that chromosomes carry genetic material in the form of genes.
B) studied mutations in Homo sapiens.
C) thought change was gradual and occurred over long time periods.
D) none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thomas Hunt Morgan's experiments with fruit flies in the early 1900s helped to establish the role of chromosomes in carrying genetic information. He observed that certain traits were passed down together, indicating that they were linked on the same chromosome. This led to the concept of genetic linkage and provided strong evidence that genes were located on chromosomes. Morgan did not study mutations in human beings, nor did he believe that change occurred gradually over long periods of time (he was a supporter of the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which suggests that evolution occurs in relatively short bursts followed by periods of stasis).