The Most Significant Conclusion of the Experiments on Heliconius Butterfly

Question

The most significant conclusion of the experiments on Heliconius butterfly mimics is that ________.
A) evolution can sometimes happen by sudden jumps
B) genes can occasionally be transferred between completely unrelated organisms
C) natural selection is the only mechanism for evolutionary diversification
D) the same developmental genetic mechanisms underlie a great range of variants
E) development must be studied separately from evolutionary genetics

Accepted Answer

The experiments on Heliconius butterfly mimics showed that although there is a vast range of color patterns in different species, the same genetic developmental mechanisms are responsible for this diversity. This suggests that these mechanisms are conserved across different species and have been passed down through a common ancestor.