Why do different species have different traits?
Different organisms vary in how they look and function because they have different inherited information; the environment also affects the traits that an organism develops. In sexual reproduction, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired by the offspring resulting in variation between parent and offspring.
How do animals have different traits?
The foundation of variation is based on genetics, or alterations in the DNA called mutations. Different types of genetic mutations arise in an organism. Any one of those mutations can alter an organism’s traits or phenotype. These traits are heritable, meaning it can be passed down to future generations.
Why would two different species have similar features or behaviors?
Different species around the world have similar features. That’s because they face some of the same selective pressures. This is called convergent evolution.
What makes two animals of the same species different?
But those tend to be seen only between animals that are closely related and look similar, and are understood in the context of their relationship to how they allow the animals’ species to survive. Those reports of very different animals are usually seen between animals that are born and bred in captivity.
How are animals and humans alike and different?
10 Human Attributes Found in Animals. As humans, we are not the fastest or the strongest animal. Even our senses are outmatched by many creatures. Birds see better than us, dogs smell better, and many animals have senses that we do not have at all. Sharks feel magnetic fields, turtles sense electricity, and bees see ultra-violet radiation.
Why do all animals have the ability to move?
All animals can move, at least during some stage of their life cycle. Muscles and nerves work together to allow movement. Being able to move lets animals actively search for food and mates. It also helps them escape from predators. Virtually all animals have internal digestion of food.
What happens when different species of animals mate?
Usually, different species don’t mate. But when they do, their offspring will be what are called hybrids. The molecules of DNA in each of an animal’s cells hold instructions. These guide what an animal looks like, how it behaves and the sounds it makes.
How are animals similar to all other organisms?
Virtually all animals have internal digestion of food. Animals consume other organisms and may use special tissues and organs to digest them. (Many other organisms absorb nutrients directly from the environment.) Most animals share these characteristics: sensory organs, movement, and internal digestion.
Why do different species have the same characteristics?
At the very bottom of the hierarchy is the species which is defined as a group of organisms with similar characteristics that can interbreed. That means for an organism to be a different species they need to look/be built in a similar way and be able to produce offspring with each other. A characteristic is some defining quality of an organism.
How did animals evolve and get new traits?
Whether it be animal or plant, bacteria or fungi, there is one organism that gave rise to all those types of life. All those different types of life are products of selection based on behavioral or physical traits. This natural selection was first described by Charles Darwin in “On the Origin of Species.”
Are there things that humans think are true about animals?
There are a lot of things that humans think are true about animals and animal behavior, but some of these ideas are problematic. Sometimes, when we do tests on animal behavior, we use tests that apply to animals like humans, and we expect animals to perform in a similar way if they have similar abilities.
