Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which scientist is credited with instituting the two-part format of the scientific name, commonly called a binomial?
Which scientist is credited with instituting the two-part format of the scientific name, commonly called a binomial?
- Carolus Linnaeus (correct)
- Louis Pasteur
- Charles Darwin
- Gregor Mendel
What is the first part of a binomial in the scientific name of an organism?
What is the first part of a binomial in the scientific name of an organism?
- The common name
- The species name
- The genus name (correct)
- The specific epithet
Why do biologists refer to organisms by Latin scientific names?
Why do biologists refer to organisms by Latin scientific names?
- To confuse non-biologists
- To honor Carolus Linnaeus
- To make the names sound more sophisticated
- To avoid ambiguity in communication (correct)
Which of the following is true about the Linnaean system of classification?
Which of the following is true about the Linnaean system of classification?
What is a taxon?
What is a taxon?
Why might a species be misclassified within a genus?
Why might a species be misclassified within a genus?
What does the Linnaean system tell us about the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms?
What does the Linnaean system tell us about the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms?
Which of the following is true about phylogenetic trees?
Which of the following is true about phylogenetic trees?
What is a sister taxon?
What is a sister taxon?
What is a basal taxon?
What is a basal taxon?
What is the importance of gathering information about morphology, genes, and biochemistry in inferring phylogeny?
What is the importance of gathering information about morphology, genes, and biochemistry in inferring phylogeny?
According to the text, what assumption underlies the use of a molecular clock?
According to the text, what assumption underlies the use of a molecular clock?
Based on the text, how could it happen that a molecular clock dates the divergence of two taxa at 80 million years ago, but new fossil evidence shows that the taxa diverged at least 120 million years ago?
Based on the text, how could it happen that a molecular clock dates the divergence of two taxa at 80 million years ago, but new fossil evidence shows that the taxa diverged at least 120 million years ago?
According to the text, how could numerous base changes occur in an organism's DNA yet have no effect on its fitness?
According to the text, how could numerous base changes occur in an organism's DNA yet have no effect on its fitness?
Which of the following best describes molecular homoplasies?
Which of the following best describes molecular homoplasies?
Which discipline uses data from DNA and other molecules to determine evolutionary relationships?
Which discipline uses data from DNA and other molecules to determine evolutionary relationships?
Which pair of species is more likely to be closely related based on similar appearances and divergent gene sequences?
Which pair of species is more likely to be closely related based on similar appearances and divergent gene sequences?
What is the purpose of a molecular clock in evolutionary biology?
What is the purpose of a molecular clock in evolutionary biology?
Which of the following best describes convergent evolution?
Which of the following best describes convergent evolution?
What is the main difference between Australian moles and North American moles?
What is the main difference between Australian moles and North American moles?
What is the significance of complex structures with many similar elements in determining shared ancestry?
What is the significance of complex structures with many similar elements in determining shared ancestry?
What do comparable DNA sequences in distantly related species usually have?
What do comparable DNA sequences in distantly related species usually have?
Which of the following best explains why some genes evolve faster than others?
Which of the following best explains why some genes evolve faster than others?
What is the main reason why molecular clocks do not always run smoothly?
What is the main reason why molecular clocks do not always run smoothly?
Why are estimates of divergence times using molecular clocks highly uncertain?
Why are estimates of divergence times using molecular clocks highly uncertain?
How have researchers overcome problems with molecular clocks in estimating divergence times?
How have researchers overcome problems with molecular clocks in estimating divergence times?
Which domain consists of all organisms with cells containing true nuclei?
Which domain consists of all organisms with cells containing true nuclei?
Which kingdom is now considered obsolete because it would have members in two different domains?
Which kingdom is now considered obsolete because it would have members in two different domains?
What process involves the transfer of genes between different genomes?
What process involves the transfer of genes between different genomes?
What is the main reason why phylogenetic trees built using different genes can give inconsistent results?
What is the main reason why phylogenetic trees built using different genes can give inconsistent results?
Which of the following is a reason why biologists adopted a three-domain system instead of a two-kingdom system?
Which of the following is a reason why biologists adopted a three-domain system instead of a two-kingdom system?
Which of the following is true about the three domains of life?
Which of the following is true about the three domains of life?
Which of the following is true about the domain Archaea?
Which of the following is true about the domain Archaea?
Which of the following is true about horizontal gene transfer?
Which of the following is true about horizontal gene transfer?
What is the main difference between the alga Galdieria sulphuraria and most eukaryotes?
What is the main difference between the alga Galdieria sulphuraria and most eukaryotes?
Which of the following best describes the early history of life according to some biologists?
Which of the following best describes the early history of life according to some biologists?
What is the significance of horizontal gene transfer in the evolutionary history of life?
What is the significance of horizontal gene transfer in the evolutionary history of life?
