30 Questions
Which scientist developed the idea of natural selection independently of Darwin?
Wallace
What is the term for a trait shared by different species because they both inherited it from a common ancestor?
Homologous trait
Which of the following is an example of a homologous trait?
Eyes of a human and eyes of a fish
What is the term for a change in allele frequencies produced by random differences in survival and reproduction?
Genetic drift
What is speciation?
The formation of new populations from an original population
What is a phylogeny?
The representation of evolutionary history
Which two domains of life are more closely related?
Archaea and Bacteria
Which term refers to changes in the frequency of genes in a population?
Microevolution
Which term refers to the evolution of large-scale structures and traits that go significantly beyond the intraspecific variation found in microevolution?
Macroevolution
What is natural selection?
The process of organisms adapting to their environment
What are the conditions required for natural selection to occur?
Struggle for existence, variation, and inheritance
What happens at the individual level in natural selection?
Individuals become better suited 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 in action?
Peppered moths
Which major vertebrate group is characterized by having a water vascular system and radial symmetry?
Echinoderms
Which major vertebrate group is warm-blooded and possesses feathers?
Birds
Which major vertebrate group is characterized by having scales or bony plates and breathing through lungs?
Reptiles
Which major vertebrate group typically begins life with gills and then develops lungs?
Amphibians
Which major vertebrate group is characterized by being aquatic and having gills for respiration?
Fish
What is the distinguishing feature of flatworms (Platyhelminthes)?
Flat body shape and simple, unsegmented structure
What is the distinguishing feature of annelids?
Segmented body with repeating structures
What is the distinguishing feature of nematodes?
Lack of segments and a pseudocoelom
What is the distinguishing feature of arthropods?
Segmented body with repeating structures
Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of bacteria?
Genetic and biochemical distinction from archaea
Which of the following is a function of leaves in plants?
Perform photosynthesis
Which group of plants is characterized by the presence of true roots, stems, and leaves?
Ferns
What is a distinguishing feature of gymnosperms?
Presence of "naked" seeds
Which of the following groups of animals lacks true tissues and organs?
Sponges
What is a characteristic of cnidarians?
Radial symmetry
What is the structure of fungi composed of?
Hyphae
Study Notes
Evolution
- Alfred Russel Wallace developed the idea of natural selection independently of Darwin
- A trait shared by different species because they both inherited it from a common ancestor is called a homologous trait
- An example of a homologous trait is the forelimbs of vertebrates (e.g., humans, birds, whales)
- Genetic drift is a change in allele frequencies produced by random differences in survival and reproduction
- Speciation is the process by which a new species emerges from an existing one
- A phylogeny is a diagram showing the evolutionary history of a group of organisms
Microevolution vs. Macroevolution
- Microevolution refers to changes in the frequency of genes in a population
- Macroevolution refers to the evolution of large-scale structures and traits that go significantly beyond the intraspecific variation found in microevolution
Natural Selection
- Natural selection is the process by which organisms with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
- Conditions required for natural selection to occur: variation in population, heritability, differential reproduction, and adaptation to environment
- At the individual level, natural selection leads to increased reproductive success of individuals with advantageous traits
- At the population level, natural selection leads to a change in the frequency of alleles in the population
Vertebrates
- Echinoderms (e.g., starfish, sea urchins) are characterized by having a water vascular system and radial symmetry
- Birds are warm-blooded and possess feathers
- Reptiles are characterized by having scales or bony plates and breathing through lungs
- Amphibians typically begin life with gills and then develop lungs
- Fish are characterized by being aquatic and having gills for respiration
Invertebrates
- Flatworms (Platyhelminthes) are characterized by having a flat, Bilaterally symmetrical body
- Annelids (segmented worms) are characterized by having a segmented body
- Nematodes are characterized by having a long, unsegmented body
- Arthropods are characterized by having jointed appendages and a hard exoskeleton
Microorganisms
- Bacteria are characterized by their lack of membrane-bound organelles
Plants
- Leaves are responsible for photosynthesis
- Plants with true roots, stems, and leaves are characterized as vascular plants
- Gymnosperms are characterized by producing seeds but not fruits or flowers
Fungi
- Fungi are characterized by having a mycelium, a mass of branching hyphae
Learn how to organize and compare different groups of organisms using the convenient Polygenic Trees. This quiz will test your understanding of evolutionary descent and the characteristics of various species, organisms, and genes. Get ready to enhance your knowledge of taxonomy and classification!
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