Questions and Answers
Which of the following provides an explanation for the distribution of fossils?
What is a clade?
An ancestral species and all of its evolutionary descendants.
Two individuals from different populations attempt to mate but are unable to successfully coordinate the mating dance. This is an example of a __________ isolating mechanism.
behavioral
What are the four broad divisions of geological time?
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Two organisms of different species mate and produce offspring. This offspring cannot mate with its siblings or with members of either parental species. This is an example of __________.
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According to the biological species concept, a species is composed of __________.
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The emergence of very diverse species of house pets (such as different types of birds) is an example of __________.
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Which of these bacterial isolates are most likely to be the same bacterial species?
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What does molecular biology contribute to the classification of organisms?
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The biological species concept fails to recognize species of __________.
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Major speciation of mammals occurred in which era and period?
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Can you determine which examples are from the same species by using the biological species concept?
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Which of the following species is the immediate evolutionary ancestor to Homo sapiens?
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Which of the following would be an example of a prezygotic barrier?
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Which of the following contributes to classification?
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What is the difference between microevolution and macroevolution?
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Which of the following was most recently alive?
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The term 'sympatric speciation' is best defined as _________.
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The term 'allopatric speciation' is best defined as __________.
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Which of the following is used to determine whether two populations belong to the same species?
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The biological species concept applies only to breeding populations __________.
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Crossing a male horse and a female donkey produces a mule. Mules are an example of __________.
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Which of the following can cause allopatric speciation?
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Study Notes
Fossils and Plate Tectonics
- Plate tectonics explains the distribution of fossils across different continents due to continental drift.
Clades
- A clade includes an ancestral species and all of its evolutionary descendants, forming a branch in the tree of life.
Isolating Mechanisms
- Behavioral isolation occurs when individuals from different populations cannot coordinate mating behaviors, preventing reproduction.
Geological Time Divisions
- Geological time is divided into four broad eras: Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, and Precambrian.
Hybrid Infertility
- When two different species mate and produce sterile offspring unable to reproduce with siblings or parental species, it exemplifies hybrid infertility.
Biological Species Concept
- According to this concept, a species is defined as a group of individuals capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.
Macroevolution
- The significant diversity observed in species such as house pets, like various birds, is a product of macroevolution.
Molecular Comparison
- Molecular biology allows for the genetic comparison of organisms, aiding in classification and understanding evolutionary relationships.
Limitations of Biological Species Concept
- This concept fails to classify bacteria due to differences in reproductive strategies and genetic exchange.
Major Speciation of Mammals
- Major speciation events for mammals occurred during the Cenozoic Era, particularly in the Tertiary Period.
Fossil Classification Challenges
- Identifying species from fossils using the biological species concept is challenging due to the inability to assess potential interbreeding.
Evolutionary Ancestors
- H. heidelbergensis is recognized as the immediate evolutionary ancestor of Homo sapiens.
Prezygotic Barriers
- Habitat isolation is an example of a prezygotic barrier, preventing mating between species due to differing habitats.
Factors Contributing to Classification
- Organisms can be classified based on homologous structures, DNA sequence comparisons, and the fossil record.
Microevolution vs. Macroevolution
- Microevolution pertains to changes within a population or species, while macroevolution refers to broader changes leading to new species.
Recent Species in History
- H. neanderthalensis was the most recently extinct species among early humans.
Sympatric Speciation
- Sympatric speciation occurs without geographic separation, allowing species to evolve while sharing the same environment.
Allopatric Speciation
- Allopatric speciation results from geographic separation creating barriers to interbreeding between populations, often leading to speciation.
Species Identification Criteria
- The ability to interbreed is a primary criterion for determining whether two populations belong to the same species.
Biological Species Concept and Breeding
- The biological species concept is applicable primarily to breeding populations in natural settings.
Hybrid Sterility Examples
- Mules, resulting from mating between horses and donkeys, exemplify hybrid infertility and are sterile due to differing chromosome numbers.
Causes of Allopatric Speciation
- Geographic features such as mountain ranges can lead to allopatric speciation by isolating populations.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts in biology related to fossils, plate tectonics, and evolutionary mechanisms. Explore topics such as clades, isolating mechanisms, geological time divisions, and the biological species concept. Test your understanding of macroevolution and hybrid infertility.
