Classification and Evolution

Question 1

What are the taxonomic groups? (in order)

Answer 1

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 2

Who invented the Linnaean system?

Answer 2

Carl Linnaeaus

Question 3

What is the first level of classification?

Answer 3

The three Domains

Question 4

What are the three domains?

Answer 4

Archaea
Bacteria
Eukarya

Question 5

Why do scientists classify organisms?

Answer 5

• to identify species
• to predict characteristics
• to find evolutionary links
• by using a single classification system, organisms can be identified worldwide

Question 6

Define a species?

Answer 6

a group of organisms that are able to produce fertile offspring

Question 7

What does binomial nomenclature mean?

Answer 7

Genus then species

Question 8

What are the five kingdoms?

Answer 8

• Prokaryotae
• Protoctista
• Fungi
• Plantae
• Animalia

Question 9

What are the general features of Prokaryotae?

Answer 9

• unicellular
• no nucleus or other membrane bound organelles
• small ribosomes
• no visible feeding mechanism

Question 10

What are the general features of Protoctista?

Answer 10

• mainly unicellular
• a nucleus and membrane bound organelles
• some have chloroplast
• nutrients acquired by photosynthesis and digestion

Question 11

What are the general features of Fungi?

Answer 11

• uni and multicellular
• nucleus and cell wall containing chitin
• no chloroplasts
• most store food as glycogen
• nutrients are acquired by absorption

Question 12

What are the general features of Plantae?

Answer 12

• multicellular
• nucleus with membrane bound organelles
• all contain chlorophyll
• food stored as starch
• nutrients acquired by phtotsynthesis

Question 13

What are the general features of Animalia

Answer 13

• multicellular
• nucleus with membrane bound organelles, no cell wall
• no chloroplast
  -food stored as glycogen
• nutrients acquired by ingestion

Question 14

What are the key features of Eukarya?

Answer 14

• have 80s ribosomes
• RNA polymerase, responsible for most mRNA transcription

Question 15

What are the key features of Archaea?

Answer 15

• have 70s ribosomes
• RNA polymerase of 8 to 10 proteins

Question 16

What are the key features of Bacteria?

Answer 16

• have 70s ribosomes
• RNA polymerase contains 5 proteins

Question 17

What are Archaebacteria?

Answer 17

can live in extreme environments

Question 18

What are Eubacteria?

Answer 18

‘true’ more common bacteria

Question 19

What is phylogeny?

Answer 19

name given to evolutionary relationships

Question 20

What are the advantages phylogenetics?

Answer 20

can be used to compared to classification systems
- scientists are forced not force classifications
- classification systems imply organisms are similar even though they may not be

Question 21

What did Charles Darwin invent?

Answer 21

Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

Question 22

What is the evidence of evolution?

Answer 22

• Palaeontology - study of fossil records
• Comparative anatomy - similarities and diffs between organism’s anatomy
• looking at biochemistry of diff organisms

Question 23

What is a homologous structure?

Answer 23

Structure that appears different (performs a different function), but has the same underlying structure

Question 24

What is interspecific variation?

Answer 24

between members of different species

Question 25

What is intraspecific variation?

Answer 25

differences between organisms within a species

Question 26

What are the causes of variation?

Answer 26

- genetic mutations - change in environment

Question 27

What are the genetic causes of variation?

Answer 27

1. Alleles (genes have different alleles 2. Mutations (change in DNA sequence - genes - proteins that are produced) 3. Meiosis (two parents genetic material mixed) 4. random fertilisation

Question 28

What is discontinuous variation?

Answer 28

no in between values, variation determined purely by genetic factors fall into this category

Question 29

What is continuous variation?

Answer 29

a characteristic that can take any value from one extreme e.g. height

Question 30

What are normal distribution curves?

Answer 30

when continuous variation data is plotted onto a graph, result in bell shaped curve

Question 31

What are the three types of adaptations?

Answer 31

- anatomical - physical features - behavioural - the way an organism acts - physiological - the processes that take place inside on organism

Question 32

What are 3 examples of anatomical adaptations?

Answer 32

- body covering - camouflage - teeth - mimicry

Question 33

What are three examples of behavioural adaptations?

Answer 33

- survival behaviours e.g. playing dead - courtship - migration

Question 34

What are 3 examples of physiological adaptations?

Answer 34

- poison production - antibiotic production - water holding

Question 35

What are analogous structures?

Answer 35

when they perform the same role, but the structure is very different

Question 36

Why does natural selection occur?

Answer 36

due to selection pressures, or change in the environment

Question 37

What is the process of natural selection?

Answer 37

1. organisms within a species begin to show variation, which means there are different alleles present within the population 2. the organisms that are best adapted to the selection pressure (have the advantageous allele) have increased chance of survival 3. This means that they are more likely to outcompete, survive and reproduce 4. They pass on the advantageous allele to their offspring making it more widespread in the population

Question 38

Why are fossil records incomplete?

Answer 38

- many organisms decompose before they can fossilise - uncommon process, require specific conditions - can be affected by erosion or geological processes

Question 39

What is the hypothesis of neutral evolution?

Answer 39

states that most variability in a molecules structure doesn't affect its function

Question 40

What are the characteristics of normal distribution?

Answer 40

- mean, mode and median are the same (on either half of the graph) - the graph has a bell shape - 50% of the values are less than/greater than the mean - most values lie close to the mean

Question 41

What is meant by an anatomical adaptation?

Answer 41

physical features (internal/external)

Question 42

What is meant by behavioural adaptations?

Answer 42

the way an organism acts , inherited or learned from parents

Question 43

What is meant by physiological adaptations?

Answer 43

process that takes place inside an organism

Question 44

What do anatomical adaptations provide evidence of?

Answer 44

convergent evolution

Question 45

What is meant by analogous structures?

Answer 45

they have adapted to perform the same function, but have a different genetic origin

Question 46

What is meant by convergent evolution?

Answer 46

takes places when unrelated species begin to share similar traits that evolve as organisms adapt to environment and other selection pressures

Question 47

What is the definition of a selection pressure?

Answer 47

these are factors that affect the organism's chances of survival or reproductive success