Question

Binary fission can sometimes be advantageous in evolutionary processes, allowing new daughter cells to adapt to different environments.
Which of the following MOST LIKELY leads to a possible advantageous change during binary fission?

Answer 1

Possible answers:

A= DNA Replication

B= Crossing over

C= A mutation

D= Meiosis

Answer:

C

Explanation:

DNA replication should copy the DNA exactly, so should not produce any changes to the DNA sequence.

Crossing over does not occur in prokaryotes, it only occurs in eukaryotes. The same is true for meiosis, it does not occur in prokaryotes as it is a specialized type of cell division that creates gametes in multicellular organisms

Mutations create changes to the DNA sequence. By chance, occasionally these changes can be beneficial and give the new cell an evolutionary advantage. For example resistance to antibiotics, or an ability to digest a new nutrient.