Unit Test: Evolution Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What can be determined based on the information that three organisms have a backbone, scales, lay eggs, and walk on land?

Their common ancestor has the same four shared characteristics.

Why do siblings look more like each other and less like their grandparents?

The siblings are more closely related to each other than they are to their grandparents.

What is a feature of a cladogram?

The characteristics must be shared among the organisms.

What statements best describe the cladogram?

Reptiles are the most primitive and frogs are more closely related to fish than birds. Signup and view all the answers

What label belongs in the area marked X?

No longer used by species. Signup and view all the answers

Embryology is the study of the development of a/an ________________ which is a fertilized egg attached to the wall of the mother's uterus.

embryo Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the theory that birds and humans have a common ancestor?

They both have tails as embryos. Signup and view all the answers

What has been observed in the study of embryology?

Some traits in certain embryos disappear as the embryo develops. Signup and view all the answers

What label belongs in the area marked Y in Kelli's diagram comparing cast and imprint fossils?

Takes millions of years to form. Signup and view all the answers

How does a trace fossil compare to a fossil formed by an entire organism being trapped in amber?

Both can possibly be used to study the organism's size. Signup and view all the answers

Which method would best allow a scientist to confirm the actual age of a fossil?

Using carbon/nitrogen absolute dating. Signup and view all the answers

What observation most likely led a scientist to believe certain organisms have a common ancestor?

She observed a fossil with skeletal structures similar to certain modern organisms. Signup and view all the answers

How will the increase in the bird population most likely affect the bug population?

Green bugs will survive better and reproduce, so the bug population will evolve into mostly green bugs. Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates a condition necessary for natural selection to occur?

Clownfish can lay a thousand eggs at a time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the likely effect of a genetic mutation causing a mouse to have darker fur?

The mouse with the mutation will survive and reproduce, and the trait will spread over future generations. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario would most likely result in the extinction of one or more species?

A predatory fish is introduced into a lake, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the populations of smaller fish. Signup and view all the answers

What idea is most directly related to Lamarck's beliefs about evolution?

A frog's legs grow during life to help it jump farther, and it passes on the longer legs to its offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What likely conclusion did Darwin reach about glyptodonts and armadillos?

Glyptodonts were early relatives of armadillos. Signup and view all the answers

What do the skulls of an ancient whale and a present-day whale most likely show that supports Darwin's theory of evolution?

Populations change slowly over time. Signup and view all the answers

What other condition should Geralda include in her list of conditions under which natural selection occurs?

Only some of the organisms survive and reproduce. Signup and view all the answers

Which organisms are most closely related?

Species B and C. Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is most closely related to the fish in the cladogram?

Frog. Signup and view all the answers

What is best supported by the diagram showing the embryological development of a species?

The species could be human because it has gill slits, limb buds, and a tail. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fossil is shown in the diagram of a shell fossil?

Cast. Signup and view all the answers

What does the complex bone structure of fossil X suggest compared to fossil Y?

Fossil X evolved later in Earth's history than fossil Y. Signup and view all the answers

How will the change to the land most likely affect the duck population?

The population will evolve so that most ducks are better at finding food in wet, muddy areas. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an environmental influence that would most likely result in natural selection?

A food resource disappears in a pond, and some frogs in a population can eat the remaining food resource, while others cannot. Signup and view all the answers

Which scientist most inspired Darwin to pursue his studies of evolution?

Malthus, who thought that populations could outgrow their food sources. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Shared Characteristics and Ancestry

Organisms with four shared traits (backbone, scales, laying eggs, terrestrial) hint at a common ancestor.
Offspring are closely related to siblings compared to more distant relatives like grandparents.

Cladograms and Relationships

Cladograms illustrate evolutionary relationships based on shared characteristics.
Reptiles are identified as more primitive, while frogs share closer ties with fish over birds.

Fossil Types and Formation

Cast and imprint fossils differ, with casts taking millions of years to develop.
Trace fossils and amber fossils both aid in understanding organism size.

Dating and Evolution Evidence

Fossil dating methods, such as carbon/nitrogen absolute dating, determine age, exemplified by a 12,000-year-old fossil.
Fossils with similar skeletal structures indicate common ancestry among modern organisms.

Natural Selection Mechanisms

Environmental changes impact bug populations, favoring survival and reproduction of green bugs over red due to bird predation.
Clownfish illustrate conditions necessary for natural selection by producing numerous offspring.

Genetic Mutations and Adaptation

A genetic mutation leading to better camouflage enhances survival and reproductive success, spreading advantageous traits.
Introduction of predatory fish can drastically decrease smaller fish populations, potentially leading to extinction.

Historical Perspectives on Evolution

Lamarck's ideas suggest organisms evolve traits during their lifetime to benefit offspring.
Darwin connected extinct glyptodonts to modern armadillos, concluding they share a common ancestry.

Fossil Evidence Supporting Evolution

Fossils of ancient and present-day whales demonstrate gradual population changes over time.
Conditions for natural selection include environmental changes, trait variation among organisms, and differential survival rates.

Relatedness Among Species

Species B and C exhibit the closest relationship, while frogs are more closely related to fish than other groups.
Embryological similarities among species (e.g., gill slits, limb buds) may indicate human ancestry.

Implications of Fossil Complexity

Complexity of bone structures in fossils suggests evolutionary timelines, with more complex species evolving later.
Adaptations in duck populations will reflect the availability of food sources, highlighting evolution in response to environmental changes.

Influences on Evolutionary Thought

Malthus’ theories on population growth and resource limitations inspired Darwin's exploration of evolution principles.

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Description

Test your knowledge on evolutionary concepts with these flashcards. Explore key characteristics shared by organisms and understand the significance of genetic relations. Perfect for students studying evolution and biology.