Sometimes, Offspring Do Not Look Like the Parent Organism. However, As They Go Through

Life Cycles

Sometimes, offspring do not look like the parent organism. However, as they go through their life cycles (the stages a living organism will go through during its life time) they begin to look more like their parents. For example, the legless little tadpole with its large tail looks very different from what it will look like as a full grown frog

Life Cycle of a Frog

The pale, segmented mealworm changes dramatically as it goes through its life cycle to become a darkling beetle.

Egg-white, oval-shaped eggs will hatch into the worm-like larva.

Larva (mealworm) – the tan /brown larva looks like a worm, but has 6 legs and 2 antennae.

It will molt many times as it grows.

Pupa-the white/cream pupa has a large head and a pointed tail. The adult will emerge from

the pupa.

Adult-the adult is the dark brown darling beetle.

Variations

Compare puppies in a litter. Even though these puppies may have had the same two parents, there are variations in how they look and act. Variations are the differences in the appearance of an inherited trait among the members of a group (species). The difference in a paw size, tail length, or fur coloring are examples of variations. Some variations do not have much of an effect on an organism. For example, the different colors of fur on puppies may have little effect on whether or not each puppy will survive.

However, for some organisms living in the wild, color can make a big difference. For example, a moth with brightly colored orange and yellow wings will not survive very long if its environment is the dark bark of pine trees. The brightly-colored moth would be easily seen and eaten by birds. A moth with similar color patterns to its surroundings may survive longer. These variations give a species, (a certain group of plants or animals that can only reproduce among themselves) a better chance to live or survive.

There are many variations in plants. For example, there are many variations of corn. Most corn stalks look alike while it is growing, but there is great variation in the seeds and the “ear” of corn.

Indian Corn

According to folklore, these colorful ears were named after the indigenous people of North America. They’d been cultivating it for years when they introduced it to the Europeans who arrived in the Western Hemisphere in the 15th century. But “Indian corn” isn’t exclusive to the North American continent. Experts say that it grew in China, India, and South America for centuries. And our ancestors didn’t decorate with it – they ate it.

Unlike the typical niblets, or corn on the cob that you serve at mealtime, Indian corn isn’t sweet. It’s also got a pretty starchy texture when it’s cooked. You could compare it to hominy, which is used to make grits. Indian corn can be ground to make flour, or the whole kernel can be reserved for popcorn. Ears with larger kernels are typically used for flour or cornmeal production, while those with small, pointy kernels are perfect for popcorn.