Evolution

Question 1

What are analogous structures?

Answer 1

Structures of different species having similar functions but not from a common ancestor.

Ex. Wings of insects vs. wings of birds

Question 2

What is a vestigial organ?

Answer 2

An organ that was once useful but now has no purpose.

Ex. Appendix, wisdom teeth

Question 3

How long has life been on the planet? (Fossil record)

Answer 3

3.5 billion years

Question 4

Types of fossils:

Answer 4

• Impression fossil: contains prints or impressions
• Replacement fossil: when the animal rots and it’s organic parts are replaced by a hard mineral which creates a replacement

Question 5

How long ago did dinosaurs disappear? (Fossil record)

Answer 5

65 million years ago

Question 6

How are the ages of rocks determined?

Answer 6

Radiometric dating

•uranium turns to lead

Question 7

How are the ages of fossils determined?

Answer 7

Carbon dating

• The less carbon, the older the fossil

Question 8

Lamarck’s theory was:

Answer 8

• Traits were passed down from parents (Parent missing a finger = child missing a finger) this is called the inheritance of acquired traits
• also believed in spontaneous generation
•

Question 9

Darwin’s theory was:

Answer 9

• All life has descended from common ancestors (with change)
• idea of ‘natural selection’ (Wallace)
• survival of the fittest

Question 10

Wallace’s theory was:

Answer 10

Along with Darwin, came up with the idea of natural selection

Question 11

Malthus’ theory was:

Answer 11

• Famine + disease result from high population
• All species produce more offspring that are able to survive
• The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man
• Populations stay within limits by a high death rate, or a low birth rate

Question 12

Recombination means:

Answer 12

The process of forming new allelic combination in offspring by exchanges between genetic materials (as exchange of DNA sequences between DNA molecules).

Question 13

Reproductive isolation is:

Answer 13

Reproductive isolation refers to the situation where different species may live in the same area, but properties of individuals prevent them from interbreeding.

Question 14

Comparative biochemistry is:

Answer 14

The study of differences in chemical processes among species of animals. For example, the difference between carnivorous species of animals and herbivores is included in comparative biochemistry.

Question 15

The gene pool is:

Answer 15

The stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.

Question 16

Adaptive radiation is:

Answer 16

•An event in which a lineage rapidly diversifies, with the newly formed lineages evolving different adaptations.
•Different factors may trigger this
Ex. Birds of paradise

Question 17

Variation means:

Answer 17

Any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences or by the effect of environmental factors

Question 18

Convergent evolution is:

Answer 18

Organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments

Question 19

Comparative embryology is:

Answer 19

The study of how different types of organisms compare to one another during their fetal stages

Question 20

A genetic drift is:

Answer 20

variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.

Question 21

Mutations are:

Mutations are caused by:

Answer 21

• A permanent or heritable change

* environmental changes, errors during DNA replication

Question 22

Geographic isolation is:

Reproductive isolation is:

Answer 22

You need one of two things for speciation to occur:
• Geographic - physical barrier divides a population, these 2 groups are unable to mate.
• Reproductive - prevention of mating between formerly interbreeding groups, or, the inability of these groups to produce fertile offspring

Question 23

Extinction occurs when:

Answer 23

Extinction occurs when a species is diminished because of environmental changes or because of evolutionary changes (genetic inbreeding, poor reproduction, etc.)

Question 24

A new species is considered “new” when:

Answer 24

If it no longer interbreeds with a parental species even though they are found together in the same area

Question 25

The fossil record is:

Answer 25

A term to refer to the total number of fossils that have been discovered, as well as to the information derived from them

Question 26

Biological evolution is:

Answer 26

Any genetic change in a population that is inherited over several generations

Question 27

The difference between natural and artificial selection is:

Answer 27

The only difference between natural selection and artificial selection is whether the difference in reproductive success is driven by naturally occurring processes, or whether the selection is imposed by humans

Question 28

Speciation is:

The two types of speciation are:

Answer 28

• Formation of a new species
• 2 types:
- gradualism: a species gradually changes over generations
- punctuated: a sudden change that creates a new species

Question 29

What are some examples of Adaptations that increased/decreased the genetic variations in a population

Answer 29

• Frogs and the highway
• Birds of paradise & the islands
•

Question 30

What is the difference between “genus” and “species”?

Answer 30

• Genus - 2nd last group in taxonomy, includes groups of species that are structurally similar
• Species - the lowest group in taxonomy, includes a group species that have similar characteristics and are usually capable of mating with eachother

Question 31

What is the use of binomial naming in taxonomy?

Answer 31

Used as a common language between biologists and others around the world to classify animals

Question 32

What is taxonomy?

Answer 32

The classification of something, especially organisms

Question 33

5 types of evidence that are used to support the theory of evolution are:

Answer 33

• fossils
• biogeography
• comparative anatomy
• comparative embryology
• comparative biochemistry (# of amino acid differences between species)

Question 34

In what order do the taxonomy names go?

Answer 34

• Kids Play Catch Over Farmer Green’s Shed

* kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Question 35

What are homologous structures?

Answer 35

An organ or bone that appears in different animals that is similar, which shows common ancestry.

Ex. Wrist bones and phalanges in Dolphins, bats, humans, cats, etc.