Evidence of Evolution
Natural Selection
Mechanisms of Evolution
Hierarchical Classification Systems
Characteristics of Taxonomic Groups
100
What conclusion(s) regarding ancestry can be drawn from the structures shown in the image below?
The organisms likely share a common ancestor.
100
The process by which certain organisms become better adapted to an environment due to a more favorable genotype. They are better able to survive and reproduce to transmit their genes to the successive generations.
Natural Selection
100
Which mechanism(s) of evolution usually causes an increase in genetic diversity within a species?
Mutation
100
Which type of taxonomy tool is described as "an evolutionary branching diagram that shows patterns of shared characteristics within organisms"?
Cladogram
100
Name a trait of fungi that plants do not share.
Fungi are heterotrophs, or have cells walls made of chitin, or are able to reproduce asexually.
200
What term is used to describe a change in the gene pool of a population over time?
Evolution
200
Why would limited resources contribute to the natural selection of organisms?
These limited resources leads to a struggle among the population. Due to variability among the organisms in a population, some organisms with favorable traits have better chances of surviving and reproducing.
200
(Quadruple Jeopardy!) Name the scientist(s) credited with the most contributions to our understanding of evolution and natural selection.
Charles Darwin
200
(Double Jeopardy!) Name the broadest taxonomic group and the most-specific taxonomic group.
Life (Domain) and Species
200
According to the table below, what is the house cat is most closely related to?
lynx
300
(Double Jeopardy!) List three (3) ways that common ancestry may be shown through homologies.
Anatomical homologies examine different species that may have similar bone structures.
Molecular homologies compare the sequences of DNA and RNA.
Developmental homologies compare embryological development.
300
Describe a factor that increases the pressure(s) of natural selection.
Limited resources, increased competition, predators, etc.
300
(Double Jeopardy!) Which mechanism can cause a significant impact to very small populations?
Genetic Drift - changes to % composition matter more with smaller populations
300
(Double Jeopardy!) In a cladogram, what would a straight line without any lines that break off from it suggest?
The species stayed the same for a significant portion of time.
300
(Double Jeopardy!) An organism has the following characteristics: Eukaryotic, Multicellular, Does not carry out photosynthesis, No cell walls, and Reproduces sexually. Which domain and kingdom does this describe?
Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia
400
According to the diagram below, which groups are the LEAST related?
Species B and C
400
(Triple Jeopardy!) How might the overfishing of blue crab with shells over 7 inches wide select for smaller body sizes in future generations?
The overfishing of the larger sized crab reduces the frequency of the alleles for the large size in the population. The smaller sized crabs will have a more likely chance to survive and produce offspring.
400
A gene for blue eyes disappears from a population. Explain how this phenomena could have occurred due to genetic drift.
Genetic drift is a random change in frequency of a certain trait in a population due to sudden and abrupt event or factor. The disappearance of blue eyes from a population could be due to some natural disaster that totally wiped them out as blue eyes offered no survival advantage.
400
(Quadruple Jeopardy!)
Cytochrome C is an enzyme in mitochondria of many types of cells. The chart below compares the differences in amino acid sequences of Cytochrome C between different species compared to humans.
Which pair of species would be represented by letters C and D on the cladogram below?
The species represented by C and D are the donkey and the wolf because of their similarities in DNA and because they are both mammals. The chimpanzee is also a mammal; it is set apart from the donkey and the wolf because the chimpanzee has an opposable thumb, making it represented by E.
400
A table of information about an organism is provided. To which of the following Kingdoms does the organism most likely belong: Plantae, Eubacteria, Fungi, or Protista?
Eubacteria
500
Which type of evidence provides the most-accurate proof of common ancestry?
Molecular Homologies/ DNA Evidence /Amino Acid sequence
500
Explain the meaning of the term “fittest" in the following phrase: “the survival of the fittest".
It means that the organism is most able to survive and reproduce to pass on their genes to the next generation.
500
(Double Jeopardy!) Why would a lot of genetic variation in a population be considered “healthy"?
A healthy population is one that can resist change easily and withstand environmental shifts and limiting resources. A population with a variety of traits, genes, and mutations allow there to be many opportunity for some of those genes to survive, and therefore the population as a whole survive, even if individuals are not fit for a particular change in the environment.
500
(Triple Jeopardy!) What is the name of the scientist credited with creating the taxonomic binomial nomenclature, and what language does that system use?
Carl Linnaeus; Latin
500
Why do many people prefer an organism from the kingdom of mushrooms, instead of one from the kingdom of plants?
Because it's fun-gi ("fun guy")