Correct option is B
Explanation:
Statement A: Many changes during amphibian metamorphosis are regionally specific. Although the tail epidermis never dies, the head epidermis does.
- This is incorrect. While amphibian metamorphosis is regionally specific, this specific statement about the tail epidermis and head epidermis is not universally true. The tail epidermis may not always survive, and the head epidermis undergoing changes depends on the species. It does not fully explain the process of metamorphosis in this context.
Statement B: In neoteny, the juvenile form is slowed down, while the gonads and germ cells mature at their normal rate.
- This is correct. Neoteny involves slowed development of the overall organism, particularly its juvenile characteristics, while gonads and germ cells mature at their normal rate. This phenomenon is observed in some amphibians and other organisms.
Statement C: In epimorphosis, tissues never dedifferentiate into a blastema, divide, or re-differentiate into the new structure.
- This is incorrect. In epimorphosis, tissues dedifferentiate into a blastema, which is then involved in cell division and re-differentiation to form the new structure. This is a key feature of epimorphic regeneration, such as in the regeneration of salamander limbs.
Statement D: In the regenerating salamander limb, the epidermis forms an apical ectodermal cap. The cells beneath it dedifferentiate to form a blastema.
- This is correct. During limb regeneration in salamanders, the epidermis forms an apical ectodermal cap, and the cells beneath it dedifferentiate to form a blastema. The blastema plays a critical role in limb regeneration by giving rise to the new tissue.
Statement E: In hydras, there appear to be head activation gradients, head inhibition gradients, foot activation gradients, and foot inhibition gradients.
- This is incorrect. While hydras do exhibit gradient-dependent regeneration, the statement is incomplete or overgeneralized in this context. There are indeed head and foot activation gradients in hydras, but the description of head inhibition gradients and foot inhibition gradients is not entirely accurate in this context.
