Diversity of Organisms (HL IB Biology)

The images show two organisms from the genus Canis.

Grey wolves, Canis lupus, are wild animals native to Eurasia and North America.

Domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, descended from wolves and became domesticated over many years.

A wolfdog is a hybrid produced when a domesticated dog (Canis familiaris) breeds with a wolf (Canis lupus). Genetically, dogs and wolves are very similar and the resulting offspring are fertile. Wolfdog hybrids are rare as natural habitats and territorial behaviours isolate wolves from domestic dogs.

Using the information provided, discuss the validity of the claim that wolves and dogs are the same species.

A taxonomist suggested that the wolf and the domestic dog should be re-categorised as follows:

• Canis lupus familiaris
• Canis lupus lupus

Identify the genus name and the species name for the wolf and the domestic dog under this re-categorisation.

Cri du chat syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal abnormality that occurs very early in embryonic development. Babies born with cri du chat syndrome suffer from a variety of symptoms and have a characteristic cry which sounds like the meowing of a cat.

The karyograms below compare the karyotype of a normal child with one that suffers from cri du chat syndrome.

Contrast the karyotype of a normal child with that of a child suffering from cri du chat syndrome.

Two genes, SEMA5A and CTNND2, are believed to be involved with brain development in a foetus. These genes are missing from children suffering from cri du chat syndrome.

Suggest two possible symptoms of children with cri du chat syndrome as a result of this.

There are some individuals with cri du chat syndrome that do not differ developmentally from their peers in a significant way.

Based on the information provided in the karyograms at part a), explain this occurrence.

Most of the people affected by cri du chat syndrome do not have a family history of the condition.

Suggest what this means in terms of the heritability of the syndrome.

Polyploidy is a condition in which cells have a chromosome number that is greater than the normal diploid (2n) number. Polyploidy is considered to be a useful characteristic in crop plants as it gives rise to bigger plant organs and provides cells which contain a larger variety of alleles for breeding programmes. While polyploidy can occur naturally in plants, it can also be induced artificially using a chemical called colchicine. Colchicine works by preventing the formation of the microtubules that make up the spindle fibres inside cells.

Suggest how colchicine gives rise to tetraploid (4n) cells after mitosis in plants.

Plant scientists have been able to breed seedless watermelons by crossing tetraploid watermelons with regular, diploid plants to produce infertile, triploid (3n) plants. The diagram below illustrates this process. Note that diploid watermelons contain 22 chromosomes.

Suggest why the offspring of the tetraploid-diploid cross are infertile.

A watermelon variety that naturally produces fewer seeds has been identified by scientists, and observation of its cells indicates that an event known as reciprocal translocation of chromosomes occurs in the cells of the watermelon variety. Reciprocal translocation of chromosomes involves the exchange of entire sections of chromosomes between non-homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

Contrast reciprocal translocation of chromosomes and crossing over with each other.

[1]

Suggest how reciprocal translocation of chromosomes could result in a watermelon plant that produces fruits containing fewer seeds.

[2]

The binomial naming system is an important tool to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between groups of scientists.

Discuss how the binomial system will facilitate cooperation and collaboration between scientists.