Evolution and Origin of Diversity Learning Competencies Quiz

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During which era did the earliest fishes appear in the fossil record?

Paleozoic Era (correct)

Mesozoic Era

Cenozoic Era

Neoproterozoic Era

Which event characterized the end of the Paleozoic Era?

Mass extinction wiping out marine animal species (correct)

Disappearance of ferns

First seed plants appearing

Formation of Pangaea

What is Pangaea?

A supercontinent (correct)

A type of ancient fish

A geological structure found in caves

A massive volcanic eruption

Which plants first appeared during the Carboniferous period?

Cone-bearing plants Signup and view all the answers

What were the dominant animals during the Permian period?

Reptiles and insects Signup and view all the answers

What possible causes are suggested for the mass extinction at the end of the Paleozoic Era?

Increased sea levels and plate tectonics Signup and view all the answers

What is Evolution defined as in the context of the text?

Change in characteristics of a species over several generations Signup and view all the answers

During which geological era did Earth undergo its transformation from a ball of gas and dust to liquid rock?

Precambrian Time Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Earth's history does the Precambrian Time cover?

88% Signup and view all the answers

Which gases were Earth mostly composed of during the Precambrian Time?

Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen, and Nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Geologic Time Scale mentioned in the text?

To provide a calendar for events in Earth history Signup and view all the answers

Which one of these statements best describes how organisms have evolved over time?

Organisms have changed their characteristics gradually over generations. Signup and view all the answers

What was the dominant species during the Cambrian period?

Trilobites Signup and view all the answers

What caused a drastic change in the Earth's atmospheric composition during the Proterozoic era?

Production of oxygen by primitive cyanobacteria Signup and view all the answers

Which period is known for the diversification of invertebrate sea animals?

Cambrian Signup and view all the answers

What event is described as the "only time when such a large variety of body types appeared in the fossil record"?

Cambrian Explosion Signup and view all the answers

Which era is known as the "Old Life" era?

Paleozoic Signup and view all the answers

What is the time span of the Paleozoic Era?

542-299 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe when many types of organisms become extinct?

Mass extinction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a proposed explanation for mass extinctions?

Asteroid impacts Signup and view all the answers

What does the theory of gradualism propose?

Evolution occurs slowly and steadily Signup and view all the answers

What did Darwin's theory of gradualism include?

The observation that evolutionary changes take place slowly Signup and view all the answers

What does the fossil record often show, according to the text?

A species changed gradually over time Signup and view all the answers

What does the theory of punctuated equilibrium propose?

Species evolve rapidly during short periods separated by long periods of little change Signup and view all the answers

What is the main cause of different allele frequencies between populations?

Genetic drift Signup and view all the answers

How can migration between populations affect their allele frequencies?

It can either increase or decrease the differences, depending on the allele frequencies of the migrating individuals Signup and view all the answers

What is recombination in the context of evolution?

The process of DNA strands breaking and repairing, producing new combinations of alleles Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential benefit of recombination in evolution?

It can facilitate adaptation by creating new combinations of alleles Signup and view all the answers

What is a transgenic organism?

An organism that has had its DNA modified by the introduction of foreign genetic material Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a transgenic organism?

Soy and corn crops that have been genetically modified for pest and herbicide resistance Signup and view all the answers