STAAR Evolution

Evidence of Evolution
Steps of Natural Selection
Natural selection and Adaptations
Effects of Environmental Changes

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Evolution

​Natural Selection

Biological Evolution

Macroevolution

Microevolution

​Natural selection

• Overproduction of offspring

• Variation

• Adaptation

• Descent with modification

• Diversity & Genetic Variability

Genetic drift

Gene flow 

Non-random mating

Mutations

Natural selection

• Types of Evolution

Adaptive evolution (divergent)

Coevolution

Convergent evolution

• Types of Extinction

Gradual

Mass

• Evidence of Evolution

  • Field of Anatomy

    • Homologous structures

    • Analogous structures

    • Vestigial structures

  • Field of Biochemistry

  • Field of Paleontologist

  • Field of Embryology

Phylogenetic Trees

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct definition of natural selection?

• The idea that organisms less equipped for their environment tend to survive longer

• The idea that organisms more well equipped for their environment tend to survive longer

• The idea that organisms more well equipped for their environment tend to not survive

• None.

Multiple Choice

Variations are caused by . . .

• Kaleidoscopes

• Variety Shows

• Mutations

• A change in phenotypic expression

Multiple Choice

Which of the following represents genetic drift?

Multiple Choice

What is survival of the fittest?

• Do you even lift brah?

• Only the strong survive

• Hunger Games

• The best adapted animal will live and reproduce

Multiple Choice

Which of the following represents migration?

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: Mutations are random

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Which of the following represents gene flow?

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: Mutations lead to variation.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Match

Match the following

• the movement of genes into or out of a population

• Random chance; small population

• A sudden change in one or more characteristics due to a change in a gene

• Occurs due to physical difference as a result of a genetic difference

• The movement of organisms from one place to another

Gene Flow

Genetic Drift

Mutation

Non-Random Mating

Migration

• Gene Flow

• Genetic Drift

• Mutation

• Non-Random Mating

• Migration

Match

Match the following terms with their definitions

• Evolution

• Adaptation

• Variation

• Mutation

a change in a species DNA over time because of natural selection

Any variation that makes an organism better able to survive

An inherited trait that makes and individual different

A permanent change in the DNA

• a change in a species DNA over time because of natural selection

• Any variation that makes an organism better able to survive

• An inherited trait that makes and individual different

• A permanent change in the DNA

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes what the image represents?

• Genetic Drift

• Migration

• Mutation

• Natural Selection

Multiple Choice

If a new trait DOES NOT help an organism survive, what may happen to it?

• It dies and its DNA is not passed on

• It survives and its DNA is passed on

• It changes its traits to adapt and survive

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes what the image represents?

• Natural Selection

• Artificial Selection

• Mutation

• Genetic Drift

Multiple Choice

If a new trait DOES help an organism survive, what may happen to it?

• It dies and its DNA is not passed on

• It survives and its DNA is passed on

• It changes its traits to adapt and survive

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does not show genetic drift?

Multiple Choice

What process is being shown in this image?

• Variation
• Natural Selection
• Selective Breeding
• Homeostasis

Multiple Choice

Which scientist is considered the father of evolution?

• Jean-Baptist Lamarck

• Hershey and Chase

• Charles Darwin

• Carleous Linnaeus

Multiple Choice

Which organisms are most likely to survive?

• the best adapted
• the fastest
• the strongest
• the most domesticated (tamed)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

• Gorillas are in the wild and have a baby gorilla.

• A group of ants in an ant pile are exterminated by an exterminator.

• A black speckled rabbit is a new favorite among children, a white and black rabbit are picked to make black and white baby bunnies.

• Wolves in the wild have pups.

Multiple Choice

The trees these moths used to live on were white, but have been covered in soot(pollution) from coal factories. Which moth will be more successful in this environment?

• Dark moth

• Light moth

• Both will be equally successful

• Neither will be successful

Multiple Choice

White tigers are becoming extinct, to overcome this a male and female white tiger are paired together in captivity to help their population continue to grow. This is an example of:

• Natural Selection

• Gene Flow

• Artificial Selection

• Genetic Drift

Multiple Choice

Survival of the Fittest and Evolution were proposed by what scientist?

• Charles Darwin
• Albert Einstein
• Steven Hawking
• Isaac Newton

Multiple Choice

Blue catfish are going extinct. A dam in a lake full of blue catfish bursts due to poor engineering and kills some of the blue catfish. This is an example of:

• Natural Selection

• Gene Flow

• Mutation

• Genetic Drift

Multiple Choice

Almost all adaptations started off as?

• selective breeding
• physiological
• structural
• mutation

Multiple Choice

Green rhinocerous beetles are some of the biggest beetles to exist on Earth. A green rhinocerous beetle leaves its group and wonders over to another group that only has red rhinocerous beetles and mates with the red beetles. This is an example of:

• Gene Flow

• Genetic Drift

• Mutation

• Migration

Multiple Choice

When every organism of a species has died.

• Evolution
• Natural Selection
• Extinction
• Artificial Selection

Multiple Choice

This picture shows how a scientist how a scientist might use this type of data to decide if an animal is closely related or not.

• Comparing the anatomy of a living animal to an extinct one

• Comparing the DNA of a living animal to another living animal

• Comparing the anatomy of a living animal to another living animal

• Comparing the development of one living animal to another

Multiple Choice

Bird's beaks evolve mainly due to the type of ___________________ available.

• food
• water
• shrubs
• mates

Multiple Choice

Evolution is change in a population over time.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Choose a word from the drop-down menu for each blank to complete the sentences below.

The population of a particular moth species was measured over the course of three years.  Based on the data in the table, the black moth population _____ compared to the white moth population.  This is because the _____ moth is naturally selected by the ecosystem.

• steadily increases, black

• steadily increases, white

• steadily decreases, black

• steadily decreases, white

Multiple Choice

Another word for adapt is ____________.

• change
• create

Multiple Choice

Darwin observed many finch species on the Galapagos Islands. To explain these observations, he

proposed that each species evolved from the same common ancestor, which was a finch species

that migrated to the islands from the mainland. What additional evidence did Darwin use to support

his explanation?

• The finch populations were very numerous, and different species often bred with one another.

• The finch species lived in different habitats on different islands, which isolated them from one another.

• The finch species were distributed evenly among all of the islands, but did not interbreed.

• The beaks of the finches were identical, allowing them to eat the same foods on any of the islands.

Multiple Choice

Based on the data given in the table, which two are most closely related?

• Human & Gorilla

• Gorilla & Orangutan

• Human & Chimpanzee

• Chimpanzee & Orangutan

Multiple Choice

Which layer is the youngest

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

Study of embryos of various organisms to show a common ancestor because of similarities in development

• natural selection
• embryology
• speciation
• evolution

Multiple Choice

A ______________________ is a scientist who studies fossils.

• biologist

• chemist

• paleontologist

• astronomer

Multiple Choice

A population of rabbits grows rapidly from one year to the next. Then one year, a disease strikes approximately one fourth of the adult rabbits. The disease remains with the population in the years that follow.

As explained by Darwin’s theory, which of these conditions allows the rabbit population to evolve by natural selection?

• The disease affects adult and juvenile rabbits equally.

• The disease reduces the ability of the rabbits to reproduce.

• Some rabbits are resistant to the disease, and they pass the resistance to their offspring.

• No rabbits are resistant to the disease, and all die when the disease strikes them.

Multiple Choice

This kind of structure are body parts that have no function now and are just the remains from an ancestor.

• analogous structure
• homologous structure
• vestigial structure

Multiple Choice

A bat wing and a butterfly wing are both used for flying but they are made differently. What type of structure is this?

• Homologous structure

• Analogous structure

• Vestigial structure

• Fossil structure

Multiple Choice

This kind of structure is when the structures have the same function but have a different structure/form. 

• analogous structure
• homologous structure
• vestigial structure

Multiple Choice

How do fossils provide evidence that evolution has happened on Earth?

• Fossils show how the sizes of certain animals has changed drastically over millions of years
• Fossils show that some species have gone extinct
• Fossils show how life forms present today are different than those from the past
• Different sedimentary rock layers provide evidence for how the environment has changed over time

Multiple Choice

The image shows an example of..

• vestigial structure
• analogous structure
• homologous structure

Multiple Choice

A human arm and a whale fin have similar bone structure but the whale fin is used for swimming and the arm is used for reaching and grabbing. What type of structures are these?

• Homologous structures

• Analogous structures

• Vestigial structures

• Fossil structures

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?

• the wings of a red-tailed hawk
• the hind limbs of a house cat
• the fins of sharks
• the tailbone of a human

Multiple Choice

Based on the given cladogram, which organism is the outgroup?

• human

• chimpanzee

• gorilla

• orangutan

• gibbon

Multiple Choice

The image shows an example of..

• vestigial structure
• homologous structure
• analogous structure

Multiple Choice

When comparing the DNA of two different organisms, the more differences in the DNA base pairs the more-

• Closely related they are.

• Distantly related they are.

• It doesn't prove anything.

• They look alike.

Multiple Choice

The bones in the figure above are-

• Evidence of a common ancestor

• Evidence that animals can walk

• Evidence that fossils are old

• Evidence of nothing

Multiple Choice

The picture shows a/an ___________

• homologous structure

• vestigial structure

Dropdown

The moth wing and the bat wing are example of structures.

Select answer

Multiple Choice

Structures that are inherited from a common ancestor are homologous.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a situation that could cause evolutionary change that is NOT due to natural selection?

• A volcano erupts and kills many individuals in a population.

• A mutation produces sea stars that are less visible to predators.

• An insecticide is sprayed in a community to combat mosquitoes.

• Cattle are treated with antibiotics to prevent the spread of infections.

Multiple Choice

Bird wings and butterfly wings are an example of

• Homologous structure
• Analogous structure
• Mimicry
• Camoflague

Multiple Select

Which of the pictures above would be examples of homologous structures? (pick 2)

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

Humans, birds, whales, and lizards all have similar arm bones. What is the reason for this?

• The function of these bones is the same in all animals
• They live in similar environments
• They have a common ancestor
• All organisms resemble humans

Multiple Choice

Analogous structures show common ancestry.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Whales have pelvic bones. What type of structure does this best represent?

• Homologous structure

• Analogous structure

• Vestigial structure

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

Based on the figure, which organism is most closely related to the polar bear?

• black bear

• european brown bear

• western north american brown bear

• asian brown bear

Multiple Select

Which of the following are vestigial structures humans have? Select all that apply.

• Appendix

• Tailbone

• Forearm bones

• Goosebumps

Multiple Choice

The similarities of bone structure in the diagram provide evidence of what?

• The organisms probably use there forelimbs for the same thing.

• The organisms evolved from a common ancestor.

• The organisms have the same DNA.

• All vertebrate species have identical forelimbs.

Multiple Choice

How would you describe this evolution?

• Homologous structure
• Analogous structure
• Structural adaption
• Functional adaption

Multiple Choice

The picture shows a/an ___________

• homologous structure

• vestigial structure

Multiple Choice

When scientists see similarities between a hippopotamus embryo and a rabbit embryo, this suggests:

• Rabbits evolved from hippopotamus.

• Hippopotamus share a common ancestor with rabbits.

• Hippopotamus evolved from rabbits.

• Hippopotamus and rabbits share the same traits.

Match

Match the following

• Analogous Structure

• Homologous Structure

• Comparative Embryology

• Biochemical Evidence

• Vestigial Structures

Same function different structure

Same structure different function

Comparing embryological development of different species

Comparing DNA and amino acid sequences of different species

Structures in the body of an organism that no longer work.

• Same function different structure

• Same structure different function

• Comparing embryological development of different species

• Comparing DNA and amino acid sequences of different species

• Structures in the body of an organism that no longer work.

Multiple Choice

body parts that perform a similar function but differ in structure

• homologous structures

• analogous structures

• vestigial structures

• comparative anatomy

Multiple Choice

The graphs below show the changes in crab color at one beach.

Which of the following is most likely to have caused the change in the distribution?

• A new predator arrived that preferred dark-tan crabs.

• A new predator arrived that preferred light-tan crabs.

• A change in beach color made medium-tan crabs the least visible to predators.

• A change in beach color made medium-tan crabs the most visible to predators.

Multiple Choice

Penguin flipper and fish fin

• Homologous

• Vestigial

• Analogous

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

Structures are similar in appearance but not in structure

• Vestigial 
• Homologous 
• Analogous Structures 
• Embryonic 

Multiple Choice

The analysis of embryos can prove...

• fossils

• extinction

• common ancestry

Multiple Choice

Based on the figure, how long ago was the common ancestor of the European Brown Bear and the Asian Brown Bear?

• 4.5 hundreds of thousands of years ago

• 3.5 hundreds of thousands of years ago

• 2.2 hundreds of thousands of years ago

• 1.4 hundreds of thousands of years ago

Multiple Choice

Similar structures with different purposes found in different species are known as _____

• vestigial structures

• DNA

• homologous structures

• the fossil record

Match

Match the following

• Analogous Structure

• Homologous Structure

• Comparative Embryology

• Biochemical Evidence

• Vestigial Structures

Same function different structure

Same structure different function

Comparing embryological development of different species

Comparing DNA and amino acid sequences of different species

Structures in the body of an organism that no longer work.

• Same function different structure

• Same structure different function

• Comparing embryological development of different species

• Comparing DNA and amino acid sequences of different species

• Structures in the body of an organism that no longer work.

Multiple Choice

A population that is isolated in a remote environment is still able to experience genetic variation. How could genetic variation that contributes to evolution occur in such a population?

• A mutation in a liver cell produces liver cancer.

• Lateral gene transfer occurs that produces an organism that is less resistant to drought.

• A mutation in an egg cell causes a change in DNA that produces an organism that is more sensitive to sunlight.

• A mistake in DNA replication before meiosis produces an organism that is better able to outrun predators.

Multiple Choice

What type of evidence is shown with the diagram above?

• Molecular

• Anatomical

• Embryological

• Fossil

Multiple Choice

Which evidence would be the most accurate when developing a cladogram?

• morphological

• molecular

• ecological

• fossil

Multiple Select

Which of the pictures above would be examples of homologous structures? (pick 2)

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

The figure shows how natural selection of a single-trait gene affects lizard survival.

Which of the following most likely causes the changes in allele distribution?

• The allele for light gray coloration disappears from the population. This may be because light gray lizards are more visible to predators and therefore they might be less likely to survive and reproduce.

• The allele for black coloration decreases fitness and becomes less common. This may be because black coloration keeps the lizards cool during hot summer temperatures.

• Medium gray coloration in lizards appears to be a neutral mutant allele that allows the lizards to hide better from predators. This leads to increases in phenotype and allele frequency of gray coloration.

• Because black and medium gray lizards are less visible to predators, these alleles are neutral to natural selection and therefore will not disappear from the population of lizards.

Multiple Choice

The diagram illustrates an embryonic stage of two organisms.

Which of the following can be determined by observing the embryos shown in the diagram

• The organisms share a common ancestry.
• The organisms belong to the same genus.
• The organisms are native to the same geographic areas.
• The organisms will grow into anatomically similar adults.

Multiple Choice

Based on the figure, which organism is most closely related to A. forsteri?

• E. ferus

• D. polylepis

• G. gallus

• E. africanus

Multiple Choice

What is common ancestry?

• When a species no longer exists

• When organisms are descended from a single ancestor

Multiple Choice

Grass plants in a population range in height from 6 cm to 25 cm. The short plants receive little sunlight, and the tall plants are eaten by grazing animals. Which statement best describes the effect of natural selection on the grasses?

• Because average height grass plants are favored, stabilizing natural selection is occurring.

• Because average height grass plants are favored, disruptive natural selection is occurring.

• Because tall grass plants are favored by the animals that eat grass, directional selection is occurring.

• Because short and tall grass plants are favored, normal natural selection is occurring.

Multiple Choice

The fossil record help scientists

• better understand the kinds of organisms that lived in the past

• better understand how the environment has changed over time

• better understand how organisms have evolved over time

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Based on the figure, which organism would be considered the outgroup?

• E. ferus

• D. polylepis

• G. gallus

• E. africanus

• A. forsteri

Multiple Choice

Scientists use several concepts to explain patterns of evolutionary change. Which evidence would be most useful for identifying a pattern of punctuated equilibrium in an evolutionary lineage?

• Similar bone structures among mammal species alive today

• An identical genetic code in use among all species alive today

• Fossil sequences that show gradual changes over long spans of geologic time

• Fossil sequences that show rapid changes over brief spans of geologic time

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best illustrates natural selection?

• An organism with favorable genetic variations will tend to survive and breed successfully.

• A population monopolizes all of the resources in its habitat, forcing other species to migrate.

• A community whose members work together utilizing all existing resources and migratory routes.

• The largest organisms in a species receive the only breeding opportunities.

Multiple Choice

Based on the figure, which three organism are closely related?

• cat, horse, human

• cat, horse, pig

• cow, horse, human

• cow, horse, pig

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT part of the that mechanisms of natural selection?

• Organisms produce more offspring than can survive.

• Disease and natural disaster will limit population growth.

• Species today descended with modifications from ancestral species.

• Organisms with advantages will survive and reproduce.

Multiple Choice

Based on the figure, which two organisms are closely related?

• cat & human

• cat & cow

• human & pig

• human & horse

Multiple Choice

Before the invention of the light bulb, Americans burned oil in lamps for light. Whale oil was popular bio-fuel for these

lamps. Ship crews would hunt whales for their oil. They searched for the largest whales they could find so that they could obtain as much whale oil as possible. How mighty decades of whale hunting possibly affect the natural selection of the species?

• The whales lost their legs.

• The whales became slower.

• The whales became smaller.

• The whales changed their calls.

Multiple Choice

What is the most likely explanation of the data shown below?

• There has been a drought in the area that is affecting all life forms.

• The population of natural predators of the moths has gotten smaller.

• The moths are living in an environment with light trees.

• The moths are living in an environment with dark trees.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes what will most likely occur to the moth populations in the image above?

• The light moths will be captured by predators more easily than the dark moths, and the population of dark moths will rise.

• The light moths will be captured by predators more easily than the dark moths, and the population of light moths will rise.

• The dark moths will be captured by predators more easily than the light moths, and the dark moths will probably go extinct.

• The light moths will change their wing color to match that of the dark moths.

Multiple Choice

The pair of population graphs below display the results of two different five-year hunting cycles, one on light trees and one on dark trees. The population of light-colored moths is shown by the light gray dots, and the population of dark moths is shown by the dark gray dots. How do these results demonstrate natural selection?

• The moth populations shown here demonstrate random fluctuations over time that are not explained by tree color.

• On light trees, individual moths tried to become lighter in color to match the tree background. On dark trees, individual moths tried to become darker in color.

• The moths that were the same color as their background were more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, the populations of these well-adapted moths increased.

• Small particles of tree bark became embedded in the moth’s wings, causing the moths to become darker on the dark trees and lighter on the light trees. These acquired traits were then passed down to the next generation of moths, causing the populations to change color over time.

Multiple Choice

Suppose a certain species of insect lives in the lush green canopy of the rain forest. Some of the insects are bright green in color, and some are bright yellow. Assume there is a natural predator of the insect in the area. What do you expect to happen to the populations of the green and the yellow insects over time?

• The green insect population will increase and the yellow insect population will decrease.

• The green insect population will decrease and the yellow insect population will increase.

• Both insect populations will remain constant over time.

• Both insect populations will increase over time.