A Whale of a Tale

A Whale of a Tale

This was removed from "The Origin of Species"

1980's --creationists lamented the lack of whale fossils

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes your understanding of the origin of whales?

• Whales were created in their current form and did not evolve from four-legged, terrestrial (land-dwelling) ancestors.

• Whales evolved from four-legged, terrestrial ancestors over millions of years.

• Whales evolved, but only in terms of adapting to better survive in their current environment; they did not evolve from a terrestrial creature.

Multiple Choice

If you could imagine a “missing link” for whale evolution, how might you describe its appearance?

• Half whale, half land animal.

• Like a whale or fish, but with legs.

• Like a land animal, such as a bear, wolf, or hippo.

• None of the above.

Multiple Choice

Which diagram best resembles the sketch / relationships you envisioned?

• [Diagram showing a “creative burst” of family relationships.]

• [Diagram showing a “branching tree” of family relationships.]

• [Diagram showing a “linear progression” of family relationships.]

Multiple Choice

Which diagram best resembles the sketch / relationships you envisioned?

• [Diagram showing a “linear progression” of evolutionary relationships.]

• [Diagram showing a “creative burst” of evolutionary relationships.]

• [Diagram showing a “branching tree” of evolutionary relationships.]

Multiple Choice

Using the simple tree, which of the following statements is true?

• Taxa C is more closely related to B than to D.

• Taxon B descended from A.

• Time proceeds from left to right (A → D).

• Taxa A and B are close relatives, as are C and D.

Multiple Choice

Using the concept of human evolution, which of the following statements reflects a branching, rather than a linear process

• Chimpanzees are the simpler, more primitive ancestors of humans, which are their descendants.

• Humans will eventually be replaced by a more advanced organism.

• Humans and chimpanzees are evolutionary cousins; one is not the direct descendant of the other.

• If we evolved from chimps, there should not be anymore chimps.

Multiple Choice

Now what do you think? Which statement best describes your current understanding of the origin of whales?

• Whales were created in their current form and did not evolve from four-legged, terrestrial (land-dwelling) ancestors.

• Whales evolved from four-legged, terrestrial ancestors.

• Whales evolved, but only in terms of adapting to better survive in their current environment; they did not evolve from a terrestrial creature.