Chapter 15 - Classification And Evolution

Question 1

What is Linnaean classification?

Answer 1

The classification system devised by Carl Linnaeus in 1735. It grouped organisms based upon similarities in physical characteristics. Initially there were only two major groups: plants and animals.

Question 2

What is the five kingdom system?

Answer 2

The Linnaean classification system was developed and now includes 5 different kingdoms:
Animals
Plants
Fungi
Protists
Prokaryotes

Question 3

What are the characteristics of the animal kingdom?

Answer 3

Multicellular
Eukaryote
No cell wall

Question 4

What are the characteristics of the plant kingdom?

Answer 4

Multicellular
Eukaryote
Cell walls made of cellulose
Chloroplasts for photosynthesis

Question 5

What are the characteristics of the fungi kingdom?

Answer 5

Multicellular (except yeasts)
Eukaryote
Cell walls made of chitin
Live in or on dead organisms

Question 6

What are the characteristics of the protists kingdom?

Answer 6

Mostly unicellular
Eukaryote
Cell walls (various types, but not chitin)

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the prokaryotes kingdom?

Answer 7

Unicellular
Prokaryote
Cell walls (flexible, various types, but not cellulose or chitin)

Question 8

List the classification hierarchy.

Answer 8

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 9

What is the binomial system?

Answer 9

Each species is made up of two names. E.g. Homo sapiens. The genus has a capital letter, and the species has a lowercase letter.

Question 10

What is the 3 domain system?

Answer 10

The new replacement of the current 5 kingdom model. It was devised to address the vast differences between prokaryotes.

Question 11

List the classifications of the 3 domain system

Answer 11

Bacteria
Archaea 
Eukarya 
       - animals
       - fungi
       - plants
       - protists with cilia
       - protists with flagella

Question 12

What are some of the desired characteristics that might prompt selective breeding?

Answer 12

Yield
Disease resistance
Tolerance to heat or drought
Flavour
Speed of growth

Question 13

What is evolution?

Answer 13

The gradual change in the characteristics of organisms over time.

Question 14

What evidence is there to support the theory of evolution?

Answer 14

Fossils of animals that no longer exist
Many fossils were similar to, but different than, existing animals
Geologists worked out that many rocks were millions of years old
Human remains were only present in recent layers fo rock, not ancient ones
Humans had produced new animal breeds and plant varieties through selective breeding.

Question 15

What did Darwin name the mechanism of evolution?

Answer 15

Natural selection.

Question 16

Which two people worked out the theory of evolution?

Answer 16

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace

Question 17

What was Charles Darwin’s book on evolution called, and when was in published?

Answer 17

The Origin of Species, published in 1859.

Question 18

What are the steps of natural selection?

Answer 18

Variation: (between individuals, due to different alleles)
Competition: (for food, shelter, mates, nesting sites, etc)
Differential survival: (taller, faster, stronger, etc)
Inheritance: better traits of survivors passed on to offspring
Adaptation: when most have the better characteristics, the species has adapted.

Question 19

What is speciation?

Answer 19

The evolution of a new species.

Question 20

How can speciation happen?

Answer 20

If a population becomes geographically separated

Question 21

What examples of speciation have been observable to us?

Answer 21

Warfarin resistance in rats, and antibiotic resistance in MRSA.

Question 22

Why wasn’t Darwin’s theory first accepted by other scientists?

Answer 22

Because there wasn’t a clear idea of the mechanism by which evolution functioned. Specifically, they could not account for how variations could be passed on through generations.

Question 23

How is the pentadactyl limb evidence of evolution?

Answer 23

Many different species have the same arm structure of 1-2-5, in terms of bone configuration. This, despite the fact that they were supposedly ‘designed’ for very different purposes.

Question 24

Why did scientists the universally accept Darwin[‘s theory?

Answer 24

Because they understood the principles of genetic inheritance.

Question 25

With which animal did humans share a common ancestor, 5 million years ago?

Answer 25

Chimpanzees.

Question 26

What are the two most compelling pieces of evidence to support human evolution?

Answer 26

Fossils and stone tools.

Question 27

Name the 5 stages of human evolution.

Answer 27

Ardi - Ardipithecus ramidus
Lucy - Australopithecus afarensis 
Handy man - Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Homo sapien

Question 28

What were the characteristics of ‘Ardi’?

Answer 28

Existed 4.4 million years ago
The ability to walk upright, but
Long arms suitable for tree climbing and…
Big toes pointing outwards, also suitable for tree climbing, and…
A small brain size, similar to modern chimpanzees

Question 29

What were the characteristics of ‘Lucy’?

Answer 29

Existed 3.2 million years ago
Differences in the pelvis and feet making it more suitable for walking than climbing, but…
Still relatively long arms
A larger brain size, but still similar to chimpanzees

Question 30

What were the characteristics of Handy man/Homo habilis?

Answer 30

Existed 1.4 million years ago
Taller and completely upright in stance
Larger brain than a chimpanzee
Primitive stone tools are often found with these fossils (ergo: handy man)

Question 31

What were the characteristics of Homo erectus?

Answer 31

Existed 0.5 million years ago
Human body proportions, but more muscular
Much larger brain than Homo habilis
Much more sophisticated tools are found with these fossils

Question 32

How old are the earliest stone tools we have discovered?

Answer 32

3.3 million years old