Question

If a starfish possess 6 arms instead of 5, it is an example of

• A. Variation
• B. Metamorphosis
• C. Biogenesis
• D. Evolution

Answer 1

The correct option is A Variation

If a starfish possess 6 arms instead of 5, it is an example of variation [variation is any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences (genotypic variation) or by the effect of environmental factors on the expression of the genetic potentials (phenotypic variation)]. Variation may be shown in physical appearance, metabolism, fertility, mode of reproduction, behaviour, learning and mental ability and other obvious or measurable characters. Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Biogenesis is the production of new living organisms or organelles and evolution is change in heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations.