55 Questions
Which of the following best describes microevolution?
Changes in the frequency of a gene in a population
What is the main difference between microevolution and macroevolution?
Microevolution is a small-scale change, while macroevolution is a large-scale change
What are the conditions required for natural selection to occur?
Competition for resources, genetic variation, and inheritance
Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of bacteria?
They have a unique cell wall composition
What is the function of roots in plants?
Absorb water and nutrients from the soil
Which group of plants is characterized by the presence of flowers and seeds enclosed in fruits?
Angiosperms
What is a distinguishing feature of sponges?
They have a porous body
What is the mechanism for evolution according to Darwin?
Natural Selection
What is the main difference between homologous traits and analogous traits?
Homologous traits are inherited from a common ancestor, while analogous traits are independently evolved
What is required for speciation to occur?
Gene flow stopping between two populations for long enough
Which two domains of life are more closely related?
Archaea and Bacteria
Which of the following characteristics is common to all vertebrates?
Gills for respiration
Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of flatworms?
Flat body shape and simple, unsegmented structure
Which of the following characteristics is unique to echinoderms?
Radial symmetry and a unique water vascular system
Which of the following is a characteristic of mammals?
Possess hair or fur and give birth to live young
Which group of animals is characterized by a segmented body with repeating structures?
Annelids
What is a distinguishing feature of arthropods?
Jointed appendages
What is a characteristic of fish?
Aquatic
What is a characteristic of reptiles?
Lay hard-shelled eggs
What is a characteristic of birds?
Feathered
What is a characteristic of mammals?
Possess hair or fur
What is a primate?
A group of mammals
What is a hominid?
A group of mammals
What is a hominin?
A subgroup of mammals
Which group of organisms is characterized by being prokaryotic and having a unique cell wall composition?
Bacteria
Which group of organisms is genetically and biochemically distinct from bacteria and often found in extreme environments?
Archaea
Which group of organisms is photosynthetic, eukaryotic, and can be unicellular or multicellular?
Protists
Which group of organisms is heterotrophic, motile, and can move using structures like flagella or cilia?
Protozoans
Which group of plants is characterized by the lack of true roots, stems, and leaves?
Bryophytes
Which group of plants is characterized by the presence of fronds and the evolution of vascular tissues?
Ferns
Which group of animals is characterized by the presence of stinging cells called cnidocytes?
Cnidarians
Which of the following best describes microevolution?
Changes in the frequency of a gene in a population
What is required for natural selection to occur?
Genetic mutation, variation, and inheritance
What happens at the individual level in natural selection?
Individuals adapt to their environment
What happens at the population level in natural selection?
Favorable traits are passed down from generation to generation
Which example from the lecture demonstrates natural selection?
Peppered moths changing colors during the industrial revolution
What are the conditions required for natural selection to occur?
What is the main difference between microevolution and macroevolution?
Microevolution involves changes in the frequency of a gene in a population, while macroevolution involves evolution of large-scale structures and traits
What is the main contribution of Darwin to our understanding of evolution?
Developing the concept of natural selection
What is the main contribution of Wallace to our understanding of evolution?
Developing the idea of natural selection independently of Darwin
What is the main contribution of Lamarck to our understanding of evolution?
Proposing the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics
What is the difference between homologous traits and analogous traits?
Homologous traits are shared due to common ancestry, while analogous traits are the result of convergent evolution
What is the process of speciation?
When gene flow stops between two populations for a sufficient period of time, leading to the formation of new species
What is the main difference between bacteria, archaea, and eukarya?
Bacteria and archaea lack a nucleus, while eukarya have a nucleus
Why do homologies provide evidence for close relationships between organisms?
Organisms that share similar physical features and genomes are more likely to be closely related
Which group of animals is characterized by a segmented body with repeating structures?
Annelids
What is the distinguishing feature of echinoderms?
Radial symmetry and a unique water vascular system
Which group of organisms is characterized by being prokaryotic and having a unique cell wall composition?
Bacteria
Which group of plants is characterized by the presence of flowers and seeds enclosed in fruits?
Angiosperms
What is a distinguishing feature of reptiles?
Terrestrial vertebrates with scales or bony plates
What is a characteristic of mammals?
Possess hair or fur
What is the distinguishing feature of arthropods?
Presence of exoskeleton and jointed legs
Which group of organisms is heterotrophic, motile, and can move using structures like flagella or cilia?
Animals
What is the distinguishing feature of flatworms?
Flat body shape and simple structure
What is the distinguishing feature of nematodes?
Lack of segments and a pseudocoelom
Study Notes
Microevolution vs. Macroevolution
- Microevolution: change in gene frequency within a population over a small number of generations
- Macroevolution: large-scale changes over many years, resulting in new species and significant changes in traits
- Microevolution involves changes in allele frequencies, while macroevolution involves the evolution of new alleles and large-scale structural changes
Natural Selection
- Definition: the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits
- Conditions required: struggle for existence, variation, and inheritance
- Individual level: natural selection favors individuals with traits that enhance their survival and reproduction
- Population level: natural selection leads to the spread of favorable traits across generations
- Examples: peppered moths, finches, antibiotic resistance
Contributions to Evolutionary Knowledge
- Darwin: developed the concept of natural selection as the mechanism for evolution
- Wallace: independently developed the idea of natural selection
- Lamarck: proposed the incorrect theory of "inheritance of acquired characteristics"
Homologous Traits
- Definition: shared traits between different species due to common ancestry
- Evidence for evolution: homologous structures provide evidence for common ancestry
- Examples: four limbs of tetrapods (humans, cats, whales, bats), similar bone structures
- Analogous traits: different species with similar adaptations, not due to common ancestry
- Convergent evolution: the phenomenon of unrelated organisms sharing analogous traits
Mutation, Genetic Drift, and Gene Flow
- Mutation: random change in DNA sequence
- Genetic Drift: random change in allele frequency due to chance events
- Gene Flow: exchange of alleles between populations
- All contribute to biological evolution by providing variation and changing allele frequencies
Speciation
- Definition: the process by which a new species emerges from a previous one
- Requirements: gene flow stops between two populations, leading to the development of new populations
Phylogeny
- Definition: representation of the evolutionary history and relationships between groups of organisms
- Information used to construct phylogenetic trees: homologous traits, analogous traits, molecular evidence (DNA, RNA, proteins)
- Branches: represent relationships between entities
- Nodes: represent biological entities (species, genes)
- Common Ancestors: ancestral organisms shared by two or more descendant lineages
Domains of Life
- Three domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
- Differences: presence or absence of nucleus, cell wall composition, and other characteristics
- Closely related: Bacteria and Archaea, both simple-celled and microscopic
Groups of Organisms
- Bacteria: single-celled microorganisms, prokaryotic, unique cell wall composition
- Archaea: single-celled microorganisms, prokaryotic, genetically and biochemically distinct from bacteria
- Protists: diverse group of mostly single-celled eukaryotic microorganisms, often grouped together for convenience
- Protozoans: subgroup of protists, heterotrophic, motile, and using structures like flagella or cilia for movement
- Algae: photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms, can be unicellular or multicellular, often found in aquatic environments
Plant Organs and Functions
- Roots: absorb water and nutrients, anchor the plant
- Stems: support the plant, transport water, nutrients, and sugars
- Leaves: perform photosynthesis, produce sugars and oxygen, exchange gas, capture light
Groups of Plants
- Bryophytes (Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts): lack vascular tissues, small size, reproduce via spores, innovation: development of multicellular, walled spores
- Ferns: vascular plants with fronds and spore reproduction, innovation: evolution of vascular tissues (xylem and phloem)
- Gymnosperms (Cycads, Ginkgoes, Conifers, Gnetophytes): seed-producing, vascular plants with "naked" seeds, innovation: development of seeds
- Angiosperms (Flowering Plants): vascular plants with flowers, seeds enclosed in fruits, innovation: development of flowers and fruits, most abundant and diverse group of land plants
Fungi
- General structure: made up of hyphae, long chains of connected fungi cells, and strong, flexible polycerids
Animal Groups
- Sponges: simple, sessile, filter-feeding animals, lack true tissues and organs
- Cnidarians: aquatic, radially symmetric animals, presence of stinging cells (cnidocytes)
- These groups are distinct and have different characteristics, but are grouped together on the phylogenetic tree based on their shared traits and common ancestors
Test your knowledge on organizing information about different groups of organisms with this quiz. Learn about using polygenic trees, a diagram that shows the evolutionary descent of species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor. Explore how to create tables and outlines to conveniently compare and contrast characteristics of various single-celled organisms. Challenge yourself and expand your understanding of biological classification!
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