Category 1: Classification & Taxonomy
What are the six kingdoms in the modern classification system?
A1: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
Q6: What is a diagram that shows evolutionary relationships among organisms?
A6: Cladogram
Q11: What dating method provides an actual age of fossils using radioactive decay?
A11: Absolute dating
Q16: Who proposed that traits acquired during an organism’s lifetime could be passed on?
A16: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Q21: What process leads to adaptations in populations over time?
A21: Natural selection
Q2: What are the three domains in the classification system?
A2: Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
Q7: What type of diagram is used to show the evolutionary history of organisms and common ancestors?
A7: Phylogenetic tree
Q12: What are remains or traces of organisms from the past called?
A12: Fossils
Q17: Who developed the theory of natural selection?
A17: Charles Darwin
Q22: What term describes the formation of new species?
A22: Speciation
Q3: What tool is used to classify organisms by answering a series of yes/no questions?
A3: Dichotomous key
Q8: What evidence from embryology suggests common ancestry between different species?
A8: Similarities in early embryonic development
Q13: What is a transitional fossil?
A13: A fossil that shows traits of both ancestral and modern species
Q18: What is the main difference between Lamarck’s and Darwin’s theories?
A18: Lamarck believed in acquired traits; Darwin believed in inherited traits and natural selection
Q23: What is an adaptation?
A23: A trait that improves an organism’s survival and reproduction
Q4: What is the two-part scientific naming system used for classifying organisms?
A4: Binomial nomenclature
Q9: What is the history of life on Earth called?
A9: The fossil record
Q14: How do scientists compare extinct organisms to modern ones?
A14: By analyzing fossil evidence
Q19: What term describes differences in DNA and traits within a population?
A19: Genetic variation
Q24: What is the difference between gradual change and punctuated equilibrium?
A24: Gradual change is slow and continuous, while punctuated equilibrium happens in rapid bursts
Q5: In binomial nomenclature, what are the two parts of an organism’s name?
A5: Genus and species
Q10: What is used to determine the relative age of fossils by comparing rock layers?
A10: Relative dating
Q15: What are the three types of evidence for evolution?
A15: Fossil evidence, anatomical evidence, molecular evidence
Q20: What are two environmental factors that affect population survival?
A20: Predation and climate change
Q25: How can environmental changes lead to extinction?
A25: Species may not adapt quickly enough to survive new conditions