Natural Selection (I)
Natural Selection (II)
Evidence of Evolution (I)
Evidence of Evolution (II)
Phylogeny
100
What are the four principles of natural selection?
Overproduction
Variation
Descent with Modification
Adaptation
100
True or false: Natural selection relies on competition, as individuals must compete for unlimited resources like food, shelter, and mates. Competition and the fight for survival favors organisms with advantageous traits, allowing them to thrive, reproduce, and pass those traits to future generations.
False! Natural selection relies on competition, as individuals must compete for LIMITED resources like food, shelter, and mates.
100
Identify two types or fields of science that could be used as evidence of evolution?
Paleontology, biochemistry, biogeography, morphology, and embryology.
100
True or false? The theory of evolution predicts that closely related species will not show any similarities in DNA sequences.
False
100
What are phylogenetic trees/cladograms used for?
They are used to show evolutionary relationships between different organisms based on their traits, characteristics, behaviors etc..
200
Look at the photo and identify which condition of Natural Selection does it represent AND why.
Variation because it shows butterflies can have wings that are different shapes, sizes, and colors!
200
Draw and label the three modes of selection.
200
Some organisms evolve with structures that no longer serve a purpose or have no apparent function.
(1) What are these structures called?
(2) Give an example
(1) Vestigial structures
(2) Pelvic bone in whale, leg buds in snakes, appendix in humans, tail bone in humans
200
What vocabulary word best fits the descriptions below?
(1) Organisms who've evolved from a common ancestor will have similar structures but different functions.
(2) When unrelated organisms with no common ancestors have structures with the same functions.
(1) Homologous structures
(2) Analogous structures
200
Which trait differentiates the lynx and the lizard?
Hair!
300
Which of the following IS a principle of Natural Selection AND WHY
A. Resources are readily available which mitigates competition in a population
B. Organisms overproduce offspring which causes competition for unlimited resources
C. Organisms have differentiated phenotypes in the population
D. All individuals in a population have the fitness to survive in their habitats
C - Organisms need to have differentiated phenotypes (aka variations) so some individuals within a population have traits that are more advantageous in their environment. This increases their chances of survival and reproduction!
300
In an environment with a medium-colored background, insects with extreme coloration (too light or too dark) are more easily spotted by predators, but the average coloration is favored.
(1) Which type of selection is this?
(2) Draw this type of selection
(1) Stabilizing Selection
(2) 
300
What type of evidence for evolution is provided by organisms like Archaeopteryx, which display traits of both reptiles and birds, linking major groups of organisms?
Transitional fossils
300
Why can humans and rhinos share 48% of their genetic information yet not be closely related?
It's because all living things are built from the same basic macromolecules:
Nucleic acids - which encompasses DNA, RNA, genes, and nitrogenous bases
Proteins - which includes amino acids (all 20) and the sequences they create
300
In your own words, explain why the salamander is more closely related to the lizard than to the shark.
The salamander is more closely related to the lizard because it has more traits in common - jaws and lungs! But the salamander and shark only have jaws in common.
400
In natural selection, genetic variation is crucial.
(1) Why is it important for evolution?
(2) What is one possible source of genetic variation within a population?
(1) It's important for evolution because genetic variation allows for new phenotypes (physical traits) to exist; as a result, those traits can help organisms adapt and survive to their environment.
(2) Mutations, gene flow, sexual selection
400
The Bird of Paradise males with more vibrant coloring, intricate dances, and elaborate mating calls are more successful at attracting mates compared to less colorful males. How does this example possibly demonstrate all four principles of natural selection?
Variation - male birds have vibrant coloring, dances, and mating calls (all variations that exist within avian species)
Adaptation - males use their variations (coloring, dances, calls) to their advantage to attract a mate.
Overproduction - males who successfully attract a mate will be able to reproduce and have babies of their own!
Descent with Modification - future generations will have the same successful traits or variations like their parents!
400
Darwin studied different species of ground finches across the Galápagos Islands and found that each had unique beak shapes, depending on the island's resources.
(1) Identify one scientific field that provides evidence to explain how this divergence occurred and explain why it supports the idea of evolution.
(2) What specific concept within divergent evolution explains how these finches evolved into different species so rapidly?
(1) Biogeography - because of different environmental pressures/resources on each island, this can lead to the development of unique beak shapes suited for each environment.
Morphology - The beak variations amongst the finches reflects their adaptation to different food sources on each island AND suggests that all the finches came from a common ancestor but evolved into different species.
(2) Adaptive Radiation
400
Explain why this statement is false:
All the homologous structures (gills, tails, limb buds) that different organisms have in common as embryos will continue to exist when they develop into full grown organisms. This supports the theory of evolution and common ancestry.
This is false because the homologous structures do not continue to exist in all full grown organisms. Embryology supports the theory of evolution and common ancestry because this field of study specifically shows how different organisms rise from similar embryonic stages of development.
400
Based on the amino acid differences, identify:
(1) The out group species AND how you know.
(2) The two species who would most likely be closely related AND how you know.
(1) Species A because it has the MOST differences when compared to the other species.
(2) Species B and C because those two species only have 3 amino acid differences.