Bio chapter 7 and 8

Question 1

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 1

A statement that provides a possible explanation for an observation, usually based on limited data or educated guesses.

Question 2

What can a tested hypothesis lead to?

Answer 2

A theory.

Question 3

Give an example of a hypothesis.

Answer 3

“If I leave the room, my cat will knock down the glass of water.”

Question 4

What is a theory?

Answer 4

A widely accepted explanation for natural phenomena that is scientifically tested and proven.

Question 5

Give an example of a scientific theory.

Answer 5

The Big Bang Theory.

Question 6

What is the difference between observation and inference?

Answer 6

Observation is gathering information through the senses, while inference is deriving a conclusion from available evidence.

Question 7

Who was Georges Buffon?

Answer 7

The first to say that life forms change and suggested common ancestry.

Question 8

What did Georges Cuvier contribute to evolution?

Answer 8

Developed paleontology and introduced the idea of catastrophism.

Question 9

What is catastrophism?

Answer 9

The idea that catastrophes periodically destroy species, allowing new species to repopulate.

Question 10

What did Charles Lyell propose?

Answer 10

Geological changes are slow and continuous, not sudden and catastrophic.

Question 11

What was Jean Baptiste-Lamarck’s theory?

Answer 11

Organisms can adapt new traits in their environments and pass them onto offspring.

Question 12

What is the theory of natural selection?

Answer 12

The idea that individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Question 13

Who is known for the Theory of Evolution by natural selection?

Answer 13

Charles Darwin.

Question 14

What did Thomas Malthus contribute to evolutionary theory?

Answer 14

He stated that populations produce more offspring than they can support.

Question 15

What is descent with modification?

Answer 15

Darwin’s theory that species change over time through adaptations to their environment.

Question 16

What are the requirements of natural selection?

Answer 16

Genetic variation, overpopulation, and hereditary traits.

Question 17

What is the significance of the Galapagos Islands in Darwin’s research?

Answer 17

Darwin made crucial observations of distinct species that contributed to his theory of evolution.

Question 18

What is a fossil?

Answer 18

The preserved remains of a once-living organism.

Question 19

What is paleontology?

Answer 19

The study of ancient life through the examination of fossils.

Question 20

What are homologous structures?

Answer 20

Structures that are similar due to common ancestry but have different functions.

Question 21

What are analogous structures?

Answer 21

Body parts that perform similar functions but do not have a common evolutionary origin.

Question 22

What does embryology study?

Answer 22

Structures that appear during embryonic development.

Question 23

How does DNA provide evidence for evolution?

Answer 23

Species with similar DNA share a common ancestor.

Question 24

What is the fossil record?

Answer 24

The remains and traces of past life found in sedimentary rock, revealing the history of life.

Question 25

What reflects evolutionary relationships?

Answer 25

DNA carries genetic information from generation to generation.

Question 26

What do species with similar DNA share?

Answer 26

A common ancestor.

Question 27

What does DNA evidence support?

Answer 27

Conclusions about relationships and common ancestry provided by other areas of evidence.

Question 28

What is a fossil record?

Answer 28

The remains and traces of past life found in sedimentary rock, revealing the history of life on Earth.

Question 29

What do sedimentary rocks with fossils provide?

Answer 29

A fossil record of the history of life by showing the kinds of species that were alive in the past.

Question 30

What is an example of a significant fossil bed?

Answer 30

The Burgess Shale Fossil Beds in British Columbia.

Question 31

What do fossils found in young layers of rock indicate?

Answer 31

They are much more similar to species alive today than fossils found in older, deeper layers.

Question 32

How do fossils appear in rock layers?

Answer 32

In chronological order, with probable ancestors found in older rocks.

Question 33

What does the fossil history of vertebrates show?

Answer 33

Fish are the oldest vertebrates, with other vertebrates appearing in subsequent layers.

Question 34

What are transitional fossils?

Answer 34

Fossils that show intermediary links between groups of organisms.

Question 35

What is an example of a transitional fossil?

Answer 35

Fossilized whales that link present-day whales to terrestrial ancestors.

Question 36

What are vestigial structures?

Answer 36

Reduced versions of structures that were functional in an organism's ancestors.

Question 37

What is biogeography?

Answer 37

The study of the past and present geographical distributions of species populations.

Question 38

What is a key observation in biogeography?

Answer 38

Geographically close environments are more likely to be populated by related species.

Question 39

What is an example of biogeographical evidence?

Answer 39

Cacti are native only to the Americas and not found in deserts of Africa.

Question 40

What do island animals often resemble?

Answer 40

Animals found on the closest continent.

Question 41

What is an example of fossil distribution?

Answer 41

Fossils of the reptile Cynognathus found in Africa and South America.

Question 42

What are analogous structures?

Answer 42

Structures that do not have a common evolutionary origin but perform similar functions.

Question 43

What are homologous structures?

Answer 43

Structures with similar structural elements and origin but may have different functions.

Question 44

What do embryos of different organisms exhibit?

Answer 44

Similar stages of embryonic development.

Question 45

What do vertebrate embryos have in common?

Answer 45

Paired pouches that develop into gills in fish and parts of the ears in humans.

Question 46

What does DNA evidence indicate?

Answer 46

Evolutionary relationships between species.

Question 47

How can scientists determine relatedness between organisms?

Answer 47

By comparing their DNA.

Question 48

What do similar DNA patterns indicate?

Answer 48

These sequences must have been inherited from a common ancestor.

Question 49

What is evolution?

Answer 49

A change in species or populations of species over time.

Question 50

What may evolution be observed in?

Answer 50

Genes, alleles, genotypes, and phenotypes.

Question 51

What is adaptation?

Answer 51

A structure, behavior, or physiological process that helps an organism survive and reproduce.

Question 52

What is variation?

Answer 52

Structural, functional, or physiological differences between individuals.

Question 53

What leads to variation within species?

Answer 53

The number of possible combinations of genes that offspring can inherit.

Question 54

What is camouflage?

Answer 54

An adaptation that allows organisms to blend in with their environment.

Question 55

What is an example of a structural adaptation?

Answer 55

Fluffy feathers in owls that allow silent flight.

Question 56

What is hibernation?

Answer 56

An adaptation that allows organisms to save energy in harsh climates.

Question 57

What are hunting strategies in polar bears?

Answer 57

Scent tracking, ambush hunting, and footprint signals.

Question 58

What is mimicry?

Answer 58

A structural adaptation where a harmless species resembles a harmful one.

Question 59

What is a mutation?

Answer 59

A permanent change in the genetic material of an organism.

Question 60

What is a selective advantage?

Answer 60

A genetic advantage that improves an organism’s chance of survival.

Question 61

What is selective pressure?

Answer 61

Environmental conditions that favor certain characteristics over others.

Question 62

What are limiting factors of survival?

Answer 62

Severe weather, famine, competition for food, space, and mating.

Question 63

What is an example of physiological adaptation?

Answer 63

Hibernation in Richardson’s ground squirrel.

Question 64

What is the development of adaptations?

Answer 64

Result of gradual, accumulative changes that help an organism survive.

Question 65

What is an example of variation to adaptation?

Answer 65

The English peppered moth's color variations.

Question 66

What happened to the black variety of the English peppered moth?

Answer 66

It became more common due to pollution changing its environment.

Question 67

What are mutagens?

Answer 67

Environmental agents that can cause mutations in DNA.

Question 68

What happens if a mutation occurs in a gamete?

Answer 68

It may be passed on to succeeding generations.

Question 69

What is antibiotic resistance?

Answer 69

A selective advantage for bacteria that survive due to mutations.