Evolution and Biodiversity

Question 1

Define evolution

Answer 1

The process whereby heritable characteristics of an organism change over time.

Question 2

What is the fossil record?

Answer 2

From this point on, fossils could be sequenced according to age and the gradual change in organisms over time could be observed.

Question 3

What is palaeontology?

Answer 3

A branch of science that investigates fossils.

Question 4

What is adaptive radiation ( divergent evolution)

Answer 4

The evolutionary explanation of homologous structures is that organisms that possess then have had the same origin, from an ancestor that also possessed this structure.

Over time they have become different and perform different functions based on the environment/needs of the organism.

Question 5

What are analogous structures?

Answer 5

Analogous structures did not evolve from a common ancestor. They are a result of convergent evolution due to similar selective pressures.

Question 6

What are the three features that causes variation within a population

Answer 6

1. Mutations - new alleles are produced by gene mutation which enlarges the gene pool of a population.
2. Meiosis - produces new combinations of alleles by breaking up existing combinations in diploid cells. Also crossing over and independent orientation make every cell produced likely to carry a different combination of alleles to parents
3. Sexual reproduction - gametes from different parents allow combinations of alleles from two different individuals

Question 7

Which process results in decreased variation:
A. Meiosis
B. Mutation
C. Sexual Reproduction
D. Natural Selection

Answer 7

D. Natural Selection

Question 8

Outline the three domains

Answer 8

1. Bacteria
2. Archaea
3. Eukaryota

Question 9

Outline the grey wolf from kingdom to species level.

Answer 9

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Species: Lupus

Question 10

Outline date palm from kingdom to species level.

Answer 10

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiospermophyta

Class: Monocotyledoneae

Order: Palmales

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Phoenix

Species: Dactylifera

Question 11

Name the four plant phylas

Answer 11

Bryophyta - mosses, liverworts, hornworts

Filicinophyta - Ferns

Coniferophyta - Conifers

Angiospermophyta - flowering plants

Question 12

Outline what bryophyta does not have

Answer 12

No true roots,
Not tall enough to have xylem or phloem
No pollen, ovaries, seeds or fruits

Question 13

Outline the properties of filicinophyta

Answer 13

Have roots, xylem and phloem.
Have no pollen, instead produce spores.
No ovaries, seeds or fruits.

Question 14

Outline the properties of coniferophyta

Answer 14

(Pine cones). Have roots, xylem and phloem.

Produce pollen in male cones and ovules in female cones.

Produce seeds but not fruit.

Question 15

Outline the properties of angiospermophyta

Answer 15

Have roots, xylem and phloem.

Produce pollen in flowers and ovules contained within flowers.

Produce seeds and these can be dispersed within fruits or by wind animals. etc.

Question 16

Name the 6 phylum groups for invertebrates

Answer 16

1. Porifera
2. Cnidarian
3. Platyhelminthes
4. Annelida
5. Mollusca
6. Arthropoda

Question 17

Outline the properties of porifera

Answer 17

No mouth or anus

asymmetrical

Skeleton - internal spicules

External recognition features - many pores over the surface through which water is drawn in for filter feeding

Varied shapes

Question 18

Outline the properties of cnidaria

Answer 18

Mouth only, no anus

Radial symmetry

Skeleton - soft but hard corals secrete calcium carbonate

External recognition features - tentacles arranged in rings around the mouth with stinging cells. Polyps or medusae (jellyfish)

Question 19

Outline the properties of platyhelminthes

Answer 19

Mouth only, no anus

Bilateral symmetry

Soft with no skeleton

External recognition features - flat and thin bodies in the shape of a ribbon.
No blood system or system for gas exchange.

Question 20

Outline the properties of mollusca

Answer 20

Mouth and anus

Bilateral symmetry

Have a shell made of calcium carbonate

External recognition features - a fold in the body wall called the mantle secretes the shell.
A hard rasping radula is used for feeding

Question 21

Outline the properties of annelida

Answer 21

Mouth and anus

Bilateral symmetry

Internal cavity with fluid under pressure

External recognition features - bodies made up of many ring shaped segments, often with bristles
Blood vessels often visible

Question 22

Outline the properties of arthropoda

Answer 22

Mouth and anus

Bilateral symmetry

External skeleton made of plates of chitin

External recognition features - segmented bodies and legs or other appendages with joints between the sections

Question 23

Define analogous structure

Answer 23

Analogous structure are features of different species that are similar in function but are not necessarily in structure and which do no derive from a common ancestors.

Question 24

Define homologous structure

Answer 24

Homologous structure are similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor, but the features serve completely different functions.

Question 25

Define adaptive radiation

Answer 25

Adaptive radiation is the relatively fast evolution of many species from a single common ancestor.