Reproductive Isolation and Genetics in the Evolution of Giraffes and Okapis

The giraffe and Okapi are found in open woodlands and wooded savannas in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ishengoma et al., 9). While the Okapis are based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), giraffes are primarily situated in South Africa and Namibia. On most occasions, giraffes are based in reserves such as the Amboseli and Serengeti National Park, whereas Okapi is located in DRC’s Ituri Rainforest. Giraffes and Okapi have long years and rest their weights on their two toes. Besides that, the male okapi and giraffe have on their heads ossicones {hair-enclosed horns}, and they have extra-long tongues for self-cleaning, grabbing leaves, and licking individual eyeballs (Ishengoma et al., 32). Therefore, this essay analyzes reproductive isolation and genetics’s importance in the evolution of giraffes and okapi; it further explains the latter as provided by Darwin and other organisms.

Giraffes have incredibly long necks and legs. Also, they have horn-like ossicones and different coat patterns. They belong to the family of Giraffidae and serve as the tallest mammals because of their long necks and towering legs (Ramsauer et al., 115). Giraffes live in the savanna ecosystem featured with rolling grass, and that the ambient temperatures favoring their survival are 65 degrees Celsius. They feed on leaves, seedpods, and their favorite tree fruits, including wild apricot, acacia, and mimosa (Ishengoma et al., 11). Other giraffes feed on flowers and soil to get minerals. Okapi also feeds on fruits, buds, twigs, leaves, and vegetation. Giraffes and okapi have four stomachs boosting their digestion. Significant differences between giraffes and okapi are that while okapis keep to themselves and have small ranges, giraffes are social and have in-depth home ranges. Also, the giraffe evolved 12-15 years ago in Miocene, serving as the largest ruminant and tallest mammal (Ramsauer et al., 114). They inhabit dry and arid savanna zones. Okapi has a similar evolvement to the giraffe of about 12-15 years ago.

Reproductive isolation and genetics between giraffe and okapi are crucial in the evolution process. As one of the central focus in evolutionary biology, reproductive isolation remains significant in determining and analyzing the flow between former interbreeding populations (Ishengoma et al., 12). Conversely, reproductive isolation mechanisms compose evolutionary mechanisms among giraffes and okapis, which dictate their physiological and behavioral processes essential for speciation. It prevents at large okapi and giraffe from producing offspring and also ensuring the offspring are very sterile. On the other hand, genetic evolution among giraffes and okapi prompts increase natural selection or, in the already existing population, decrease allele frequency.

Darwin argues that diverse animals groups have been evolving from an ancestor(s) and that mechanism via which the evolution process occurs are called natural selection. Darwin defines evolution as a process of common descent, population speciation, gradualism, and natural selection (Ishengoma et al., 43). For instance, through Darwinian Theory, one would note that giraffes and okapi belong to Giraffidae. Also, via various random variations, they have evolved musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system and thus would handle the obstacle of their unique body. Correspondingly, due to their long legs and necks, they could quickly locate their environment and adapt effectively. Thus they would access food, survive better and reproduce and that their offspring inherit long necks.  Also, giraffe and okapi proteins are very identical because of common descent. For example, according to Darwinism evolution timescales, okapi and giraffe have similar gene sequences.

Giraffe and okapi share standard features with Helladotherium organisms. For example, Helladotherium organisms which are extinct fed on vegetation like giraffes and okapi. Also, they were herbivores and ungulate mammals. Helladotherium organisms, okapi, and giraffes thus share similar characteristics. Helladotherium has long legs increasing their running speed just like giraffes and okapi at the moment (Ishengoma et al., 37). Besides that, they have digitigrade locomotion, which means they use their toes for walking similar to Helladotherium. The three do not touch or touched the ground directly via the help of their toes but their modified nails. Also, as herbivorous, okapi and giraffes eat plants, fruits and leaves, and other plant-oriented food for specifical nutrition (Ramsauer et al., 115). Helladotherium, okapi, and giraffe were/are primary consumers occupying level two in the food chain and have mutualistic gut floras aiding their plant matter digestion.

In conclusion, giraffes and Okapi are found in open woodlands and wooded savannas in Sub-Saharan Africa. Giraffe and okapi have incredibly long necks and legs and, they have horn-like ossicones and different coat patterns. Giraffes feed on leaves from commiphora and acacia trees while okapi feed on shoots, leaves, fruits and buds. Reproductive isolation among giraffes and okapi determines and analyzes the flow existing between their former interbreeding populations. Also, it dictates their physiological and behavioral processes essential for their speciation. Genetic evolution among giraffes and okapi prompts an increase in the natural selection or decreases allele frequency in the already existing population. Okapi and giraffes have similar characteristics, such as Helladotherium organisms. They are herbivores and have ungulate mammals.

Bonus Question

Huxley vs. Wilberforce debate thoroughly explains lectures on the scientific evolution evidence. Having known as “Darwin’s Bulldog,” and his grandparents and descent evolving from monkeys, Huxley would respond that his generation appearance had a connection with organisms’ development and their evolutionary histories. Huxley’s response to Wilberforce was linked to natural selection and that it was the primary technique for evolution (Pearce, 10). Evolution among species is fixed to natural selection, and thus a change in the environment enhances a species survival in the background. Order Cusomized Paper Now

Works Cited

Ishengoma, Edson, and Morris Agaba. “Evolution of toll-like receptors in the context of terrestrial ungulates and cetaceans diversification.” BMC evolutionary biology 17.1 (2017): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0901-7

Ishengoma, Edson, Morris Agaba, and Douglas R. Cavener. “Evolutionary analysis of vision genes identifies potential drivers of visual differences between giraffe and okapi.” PeerJ 5 (2017): 31-45. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3145

Pearce, J. M. S. “Thomas Henry Huxley.” JMS (2020): 10-47. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198809531.003.0005

Ramsauer, Anna Sophie, et al. “Detection and Characterization of Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)—specific Papillomavirus type 1 (OjPV1).” Veterinary Microbiology 223 (2018): 113-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.08.010