Evidence for Evolution

What is suggested by the similarity of early embryos of different species of vertebrates?

• no evolutionary relationships between the groups
• recent common ancestry
• similar environments in the past
• evolution from a distant common ancestor

Two organisms that are closely related would have

• very similar DNA sequence
• exactly the same DNA sequences
• no proteins in common
• completely different DNA sequence

What is speciation?

• combining of tow species to form one with different traits
• isolation that affects mating behaviors
• timing of mating that prevents normal sexual selection
• divergence of two or more species from an existing one

How would you describe this evolution?

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

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

• natural selection
• embryology
• speciation
• evolution

Structures with the same parts have different functions; suggests that organisms share a common ancestry

• vestigial structures
• homologous structures
• adaptive radiation
• fossil

The forelimbs of vertebrates, like the ones pictured here, are similar in terms of number of bones and the orientation of bones. Which best describes how comparing homologous structures provides evidence of evolution?

• The genes for the body plan and forelimb layout were present in a common ancestral species vertebrates share, thus passed onto all vertebrates.
• Similar anatomical structures show how animals adapt to changing environments
• Homologous structures show that different species evolve at different rates
• Homologous structures don’t actually provide evidence for evolution

A fossil of an extinct dinosaur is found and the anatomy of the fossil shows similarities to that of a bird. What could this mean?

• This is purely by chance and isn't significant
• The extinct dinosaur and modern bird share a common ancestor
• All dinosaurs evolved into birds and that's why there aren't any dinosaurs alive today
• Dinosaurs choose to fly, and evolved into birds to escape predation and capture food

The diagram above shows an embryo of different vertebrates at different stages of development. Which field of study would support the similarities in development as evidence for evolution?

• comparative biochemistry
• paleontology
• comparative biogeography
• comparative embryology

When scientists compare animals currently living on different continents, they often find those with similar characteristics, who are not actually close relatives, living in similar environmental conditions even though they are geographically very distant. One example is the Anteater/Armadillos of the Americas and the Pangolin of Africa. What can we deduce from this evidence?

• Living things can adapt similarly to similar environments over time.
• Living things do not change over time
• They must all have the same recent common ancestor
• I don’t know