Topic 5

Question 1

Cladograms

Answer 1

Diagrams that compare characteristics through the use of a table. They are often based on structural characteristics in order to determine evolutionary connections.

Question 2

Plant Phyla

Answer 2

Bryophyta- Liverworts and mosses
Coniferophyta- Conifers Filicinophyta- Ferns Angiospermophyta- Flowering plants

Question 3

Invertebrate Phyla

Answer 3

Porifera- Sponges
Cnidaria- Jellyfish and anemones
Platyhelmintha- Flatworms and tapeworms
Annelida- Earthworms and leeches
Mollusca- Squids, slugs, snails, and bivalves
Arthropoda-Insects, spiders, and crustaceans

Question 4

Vertebrate Classes

Answer 4

Phylum Chordata-Vertebrates
Fish
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals

Question 5

Binomial Nomenclature

Answer 5

This is a globally accepted classification structure of organisms. According to the binomial system, every organism has a two-part scientific name. The genus is written first and is capitalised (ex. Homo). Species follows in lower case (ex. Homo sapiens)

Question 6

Taxa Hierarchy

Answer 6

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 7

Natural Selection

Answer 7

The process of natural selection occurs in response to certain conditions. These conditions are: There is genetic (inheritable) variation within a population (caused by mutations, meiosis and sexual reproduction), there is competition for survival (species tend to produce more offspring than the environment can support), environmental selection pressures give rise to differential rates of reproduction, organisms with beneficial traits are likely to survive and reproduce, while those less well adapted produce less offspring, over generations, these beneficial traits become more common.

Question 8

Adaptations

Answer 8

Adaptations are traits that make an individual suited to the environment in which it lives, and way of life. Adaptations can be structural, behavioural, physiological, biochemical, or developmental.

Question 9

Selective Breeding

Answer 9

Selective breeding involves the mating of animals with
desired characteristics. This is a form of artificial selection. This also involves human participation and/or intervention.

Question 10

Evolution

Answer 10

Evolution is the cumulative change in the heritable characteristic of a population (ex. biological change over time).These characteristics are encoded by genes and transferred between generations through alleles.