Name: Rob Courtney
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
It is an accepted fact that all life on Earth began as one-celled
organisms that reproduced asexually, with all offspring identical to the parent
from which they were created. My question is, if all offspring are identical to
their parents, then is there any room for advancement? How did life ever evolve
past this primitive state if no changes are made? Thank you.
Replies:
Genetic mutations still occur due to chemical and radiation effects.
--- jade
By mutation. Since all cells, in a way, in these organisms are in the
germ line, i.e. they pass mutations on to their offspring, then every mutation event
lives on. In sexually reproducing organisms, only mutations in eggs and sperm will
get passed on. Also, by breakage and recombination-like events during cleavage.
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