Evolutionary Theory

Evolutionary Theory

By Chris Fontenot

Evolutionary Relationships

Multiple Choice

Which best describes traditional classification?

• It is based on shared characteristics.

• It is based on evolutionary relationships.

• It is called phylogenetic classification.

• It is called cladistics.

Multiple Choice

Which describes the modern classification system?

• based on evolutionary relationships

• called Linnaean classification

• based on similar appearances

• called Darwinian classification

Multiple Choice

Why was modern classification invented?

• Traditional classification could not classify all living things.

• Scientists realized related organisms do not share similar characteristics.

• Scientists understood that species share a common ancestor.

• Modern classification is faster and easier to use.

Multiple Choice

A scientist discovers a new organism that is related to clownfish. What can the scientist discover by using molecular clocks?

• the date that the organism first appeared in the fossil record

• the age of the organism

• the amount of time that the two species have been evolving apart

• the number of years that fish have existed

Multiple Choice

Which best describes derived characteristics?

• They are newly evolved traits.

• They appear in all the ancestors.

• They appear at the end of each branch.

• They stem from primary characteristics.

Multiple Choice

In a cladogram, what occurs at a node?

• A derived trait appears.

• Evolution is stopped.

• An ancestor dies.

• The cladogram ends.

Multiple Choice

If two organisms are in the same clade, what can you predict about their relationship?

• They are not closely related.

• They share a common ancestor.

• They compete for resources.

• One organism evolved into the other organism.

Multiple Choice

According to the cladogram, which organisms are in the smallest clade with birds?

• crocodiles

• primates

• rodents and rabbits

• sharks

Multiple Choice

Dr. Digger, a paleontologist, finds a fossil that he describes in his journal.

The creature was approximately 1 meter long, with its backbone fused into a large shell covering the body cavity. It had a beaklike mouth, without teeth, and all four limbs were in the form of flippers.

Based on anatomical similarities, to which modern animal is Dr. Digger’s creature most closely related?

• zebra

• bony fish

• sea turtle

• snake

Multiple Choice

A scientist is trying to determine how closely related a moth species is to four other moth species. He examined the DNA of each species and compared it to the study subject. He then created this table.

Which species is most closely related to the original moth species?

• species A

• species B

• species C

• species D

Multiple Choice

Josiah says this is a phylogenetic tree of the dinosaurs. Maleek says it is a cladogram of the dinosaurs. Who is correct?

• Josiah is correct.

• Maleek is correct.

• Both are correct.

• Neither is correct.

Multiple Choice

According to the tree, which primates share the most recent common ancestor with humans?

• gorillas

• chimpanzees

• bonobos and chimpanzees

• bonobos and gorillas

Multiple Choice

Julia is trying to place a duckbilled platypus, lizard, bear, and monkey on a phylogenetic tree. She learns that the duckbilled platypus, bear, and monkey are classified as mammals. She also learns that mammals share a common ancestor with reptiles. Which additional piece of information will be most helpful to Julia to properly build her phylogenetic tree?

• The platypus has fur like other mammals.

• The platypus does not have feathers like a bird.

• The platypus lays eggs like a reptile.

• The platypus does not have fins like a fish.

Multiple Choice

According to the cladogram, which organisms have roundworms as a common ancestor?

• mollusks and flatworms

• sponges and chordates

• flatworms, sponges, and cnidarians

• mollusks, echinoderms, chordates, and annelids

Multiple Choice

Which group of organisms has the derived characteristics of true tissues, bilateral symmetry, and a pseudocoelom?

• sponges

• roundworms

• annelids

• chordates