Podcast
Questions and Answers
A representation of the evolutionary history of a group of organisms is called a ______.
A representation of the evolutionary history of a group of organisms is called a ______.
phylogeny
Corals might be better analogies of phylogeny than ______.
Corals might be better analogies of phylogeny than ______.
trees
Branches in phylogeny usually split but do not ______.
Branches in phylogeny usually split but do not ______.
fuse
The statement ‘Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of ______’ reflects the importance of evolutionary context.
The statement ‘Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of ______’ reflects the importance of evolutionary context.
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______ is a record of evolutionary history.
______ is a record of evolutionary history.
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Tree thinking is essential for all comparative ______.
Tree thinking is essential for all comparative ______.
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Wings of flying vertebrates are not ______.
Wings of flying vertebrates are not ______.
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In reality, some species are more closely ______ to each other than to others.
In reality, some species are more closely ______ to each other than to others.
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Apparent similarities in closely related species may be due to shared ______.
Apparent similarities in closely related species may be due to shared ______.
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Shared evolutionary history can be represented as a pairwise ______.
Shared evolutionary history can be represented as a pairwise ______.
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A phylogenetic ______ shows evolutionary history.
A phylogenetic ______ shows evolutionary history.
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Comparative biology involves examining the ______ of different species.
Comparative biology involves examining the ______ of different species.
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In a phylogenetic matrix, off-diagonals represent pairwise shared evolutionary ______.
In a phylogenetic matrix, off-diagonals represent pairwise shared evolutionary ______.
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Adaptation involves the process of ______ to environmental pressures.
Adaptation involves the process of ______ to environmental pressures.
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Ecology studies how organisms interact with their ______.
Ecology studies how organisms interact with their ______.
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The function of a trait is often linked to its evolutionary ______.
The function of a trait is often linked to its evolutionary ______.
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Rat poison is potentially more harmful to you than ______ and weed killers.
Rat poison is potentially more harmful to you than ______ and weed killers.
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Testing drugs is typically done on mammal systems rather than other vertebrates or ______.
Testing drugs is typically done on mammal systems rather than other vertebrates or ______.
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The ______ branches of a phylogenetic tree represent independent evolutionary histories of species.
The ______ branches of a phylogenetic tree represent independent evolutionary histories of species.
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Internal branches in a phylogenetic tree signify ancestral lineages that gave rise to descendant ______.
Internal branches in a phylogenetic tree signify ancestral lineages that gave rise to descendant ______.
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A ______ is a group of species that share a common ancestor in a phylogenetic tree.
A ______ is a group of species that share a common ancestor in a phylogenetic tree.
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The root of a phylogenetic tree is a special ______ representing the hypothetical ancestor for the entire tree.
The root of a phylogenetic tree is a special ______ representing the hypothetical ancestor for the entire tree.
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The evolutionary history of ______ can be represented in a phylogenetic tree using fossil evidence.
The evolutionary history of ______ can be represented in a phylogenetic tree using fossil evidence.
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Some species are more closely related to each other than either is to the other species on a ______.
Some species are more closely related to each other than either is to the other species on a ______.
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Which of the following structures is NOT a characteristic of vertebrates?
Which of the following structures is NOT a characteristic of vertebrates?
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Cartilaginous skeletons are found only in osteichthyes.
Cartilaginous skeletons are found only in osteichthyes.
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What is the role of the endostyle in vertebrates?
What is the role of the endostyle in vertebrates?
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The _________ provides a framework for fish and many other vertebrates' bodies.
The _________ provides a framework for fish and many other vertebrates' bodies.
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Which of the following features is lost in the adult stage of certain chordates?
Which of the following features is lost in the adult stage of certain chordates?
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Match the following vertebrate structures to their primary functions:
Match the following vertebrate structures to their primary functions:
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The hypothetical chordate ancestor is believed to resemble modern lancelets.
The hypothetical chordate ancestor is believed to resemble modern lancelets.
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Which feature is a precursor to the vertebrae in chordates?
Which feature is a precursor to the vertebrae in chordates?
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The appendicular skeleton includes the skull and vertebral column.
The appendicular skeleton includes the skull and vertebral column.
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Name one feature that is retained from the hypothetical chordate ancestor.
Name one feature that is retained from the hypothetical chordate ancestor.
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Tunicates are known for having a prominent ______ during their larval stage, which is lost in adulthood.
Tunicates are known for having a prominent ______ during their larval stage, which is lost in adulthood.
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What are the two types of vertebrate skeletons?
What are the two types of vertebrate skeletons?
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What is one of the significant contributions of neural crest-like cells in chordate evolution?
What is one of the significant contributions of neural crest-like cells in chordate evolution?
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Match the following early chordates with their approximate age:
Match the following early chordates with their approximate age:
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Vertebrates are considered to be more evolved than tunicates.
Vertebrates are considered to be more evolved than tunicates.
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What are chordate adults known to lose during their life cycle that is present in their larval stage?
What are chordate adults known to lose during their life cycle that is present in their larval stage?
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Which of the following features is NOT shared by tunicates and vertebrates?
Which of the following features is NOT shared by tunicates and vertebrates?
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Lancelets exhibit vertebrate-like anatomy but are simpler in structure.
Lancelets exhibit vertebrate-like anatomy but are simpler in structure.
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What stage of the lifecycle do appendicularian tunicates retain chordate synapomorphies?
What stage of the lifecycle do appendicularian tunicates retain chordate synapomorphies?
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The dorsal structure found in lancelets is called the ______.
The dorsal structure found in lancelets is called the ______.
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Match the following features with their respective organisms:
Match the following features with their respective organisms:
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Which of the following statements about the nervous system in tunicates is true?
Which of the following statements about the nervous system in tunicates is true?
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The adult stage of lancelets is motile and thrives in tropical and temperate seas.
The adult stage of lancelets is motile and thrives in tropical and temperate seas.
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What is the significance of studying lancelets in evolutionary biology?
What is the significance of studying lancelets in evolutionary biology?
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Study Notes
Tree Thinking in Biology
- Tree as Representation: A tree (phylogeny) is a graphical representation of evolutionary history, showing relationships between organisms.
- Branching Structure: Phylogenetic trees are tree-like diagrams with branching structures indicating evolutionary relationships and descent from common ancestors.
- Descendant Splitting: Branches show how descendants split from common ancestors.
- Phylogeny/Phylogenetic: Phylogeny refers to the evolutionary history of a group of organisms and a phylogenetic tree is a diagram depicting this history.
Recap: What is the Tree of Life (Phylogeny)?
- Representation of Evolutionary History: A phylogenetic tree graphically depicts the evolutionary history and relationships between different organisms.
- Tree-like Structure: The tree shows the branching pattern of evolutionary lineages.
- Common Ancestry: The tree displays how different species evolved from shared ancestors, with branches representing the divergence of these lineages over time.
- Phylogenetic Tree vs Coral of Life: Corals may better represent phylogeny than trees, emphasizing that only the 'living tips' are currently extant, whereas the dead parts represent extinct lineages
Why Phylogeny is Important?
- Understanding Evolutionary Relationships: Phylogeny helps to establish the relationships between species based on their shared ancestry.
- Comparative Biology: Comparative biology uses phylogenetic trees to understand the evolutionary context when comparing traits, behaviors, or characteristics shared among different species. This is crucial in fields like toxicology and pharmacology.
- Dobzhansky's Perspective: Theodosius Dobzhansky stated that 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.'
- Homology vs. Analogy: Using phylogeny helps differentiate between similar traits that share a common evolutionary ancestor (homologous) vs those that evolved independently (analogous). For example, wings of birds and bats are homologous since they derive from the same forelimb structure, but wings of insects are analogous to those of birds/bats.
- Species Relationships: In reality, some species are more closely related than others.
Basic Components of a Phylogenetic Tree
- Edges/Branches: Branches connect nodes in a phylogenetic tree.
- Leaf Nodes: The tips (leaves) of the tree represent extant species or observed lineages.
- Internal Nodes: These represent hypothetical common ancestors or groups of species.
- Splits/Branching: Nodes show where lineages branched, indicating the evolutionary divergence of species.
- Clades: Groups of species sharing a common ancestor.
- Root: The base of the tree, represents the common ancestor of all the species on the tree.
Terminal Branches
- Extant and Extinct Species: Terminal branches represent all observed and extinct species.
- Evolutionary History: They display the individual evolutionary history of each species, from its ancestor to its current form.
Internal Branches
- Hypothetical Ancestors: Internal branches represent hypothetical ancestral lineages or extinct species.
- Shared Evolutionary History: Internal branches show shared evolutionary history between descendant lineages.
Nodes
- Hypothetical Ancestors: Nodes are points on the tree representing the hypothetical ancestors.
- Descendant Lineages: Nodes link parent or ancestral lineages to descendant lineages that branched off from that common ancestor.
Clades
- Common Ancestor: Clades are groups of species sharing a common ancestor.
- Phylogenetic Tree as Clade: Phylogenetic trees themselves can be considered clades.
- Humans & Chimps/Bonobos: Humans, chimps, and bonobos are grouped in a clade called Hominini.
Root
- Common Ancestor of All Lineages: The root represents the common ancestor of all species or lineages in the tree.
Phylogenetic Evolutionary History
- Planktic Foraminifera Example: Planktic foraminifera's evolutionary history can be observed in fossils and represented as a phylogenetic tree, illustrating morphological changes through time.
Phylogeny and Comparative Biology
- Shared Evolutionary History: Closely related species share a common ancestor.
- Apparent Similarities/Shared ancestry: Similarities among species may be because of shared, inherited ancestry, not just independently obtained characteristics
- Comparative Biology is Phylogenetic: Comparative Biology relies on phylogenetic relationships.
Tree Thinking in Biology
- Toxicology: Species closely related to humans may be more sensitive to certain toxins than others, due to shared ancestry.
- Pharmacology: Testing drugs on species closely related to humans is important to assess drug effectiveness and safety risks.
How to Read Phylogenetic Trees
- Basic components (edges, nodes, leaves)
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Explore the concept of tree thinking in biology through the lens of phylogenetic trees, which illustrate the evolutionary history and relationships among organisms. This quiz delves into the significance of branching structures and common ancestry as represented in these diagrams.
