The following question(s) are based on the observation that several dozen different proteins comprise the prokaryotic flagellum and its attachment to the prokaryotic cell, producing a highly complex structure.
-If the complex protein assemblage of the prokaryotic flagellum arose by the same general processes as those of the complex eyes of molluscs (such as squids and octopi), then
A) natural selection cannot account for the rise of the prokaryotic flagellum.
B) ancestral versions of this protein assemblage were either less functional or had different functions than modern prokaryotic flagella.
C) scientists should accept the conclusion that neither eyes nor flagella could have arisen by evolution.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the complex protein assemblages of both the prokaryotic flagellum and the complex eyes of molluscs arose by the same general processes, then it is likely that ancestral versions of the protein assemblage were less functional or had different functions than modern prokaryotic flagella. This suggests that the flagellum evolved over time, with natural selection favoring increasingly complex and functional versions of this structure. It does not necessarily mean that natural selection cannot account for its rise, or that eyes and flagella could not have arisen by evolution.

The Following Question(s) Are Based on the Observation That Several