STAAR Bio RC3 (1)

The diagram above shows a model of species divergence among some primates. If this model is correct, the greatest genetic differences would be found in the DNA sequences of which two species?

• Tarsius bancanus and Cebus albifrons

• Macaca sylvanus and Macaca mulatta

• Hylobates Jar and Pongo pygmaeus

• Pan troglodytes and Lemur catta

Zoogeographic regions are characterized by the presence of specific groups of animals. These regions are determined by taxonomic or phylogenetic relationships of animals. The map shows the zoogeographic regions proposed by the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1876. The similarities of organsisms in which two areas numbered above provide the best evidence for common ancestry between the organsisms in both locations?

• 1 and 2

• 3 and 4

• 5 and 6

• 7 and 8

The limbs of several organisms are shown in the illustrations below. Scientists sometimes compare the limbs of these organisms to look for evidence of common ancestry. These limbs provide evidence of common ancestry because they -

• have the same basic structure

• perform the same function

• are the same size

• are parts of mammals

The opossum, which is native to North America, and the kangaroo, which is native to Australia, are marsupials. The fact that both these mammals incubate their immature offspring in a pouch provides evidence that they -

• belong to the same species

• must range great distances to eat

• have very similar skeletal structures

• are descended from a common ancestor

Genome maps provide the DNA sequences of chromosomes. Some scientists have compared the genome maps of a hedgehog and a sloth. What do these genome maps allow the scientists to determine?

• the color patterns of the offspring of each species

• how much the size ranges of the two species differ

• the methods of protein synthesis that each species usese

• how closely related the two species are to each other

An analysis of DNA and RNA sequences can be used to classify organsism. A dendrogram, such as the one show above, is based on molecular data. It can be used to represent evolutionary relationships within a group of organisms that are hypothesized to have descended from a common ancestor. Which statement is best supported by the information in this dendrogram?

• lesser pandas are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to racoons

• brown bears are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to sun bears

• lesser pandas are more genetically similar to raccoons than they are to giant pandas

• the bear species are all more genetically similar to dogs than they are to giant pandas

Three species of lizards of the genus Gallotia are found on the Canary Islands, a chain of seven volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. The easternmost island, Lanzarote, is the oldest, while the westernmost island, El Hierro, is the youngest. The distribution of lizard species is shown on the map below. Which statement about the ancestry of the lizards from the genus Gallotia is best supported by this information?

• the common ancestor of the lizards colonized the island of El Hierro

• the ancestors of each species came from different continents at different times

• the common ancestor of the lizards probably came from Africa

• the ancestors of each species evolved in Spain and were brough to the islands at the same time

Bactrian camels, dromedaries, llamas, and alpacas are all members of the same taxonomic family, Camelidae. Members of this family all have two toes, no hooves, true canine teeth, and a split upper lip. The family Camelidae originated in North America. The physical features of animals in this family and the family's geographical origin provide evidence that all these animals -

• live in the same type of ecosystem

• have slowly evolved to become herbivores

• have a common ancestor

• exchanged DNA at some point in the past

In 2010, scientists excavated a skull fossil that provides evidence of a newly discovered species of big cat. Based on the evidence, scientists hypothesize that big cats branched off from smaller wild cats around 6 million years ago. Which of these resources did the scientists most likely reply on to form their hypothesis?

• a food web showing feeding relationships of organisms where the fossil skull was found

• population and migration data for small wild cats living in the ecosystem where the skull was found

• the fossil record and DNA comparisons of big cats and small cats

• the historical record of interactions between different species of big cats

Researchers studying populations of lizards from the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands compared the protein cytochrome b in different populations. The table shows the number of differences in the cytochrome b protein different populations. Which conclusion about the relatedness of the lizards do these data support?

• G. atlantica and G. stehlini are least closely related

• G. simonyi and G. bravoana are most closely related

• G. galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti palmae are the most closely related

• G. galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti galloti are the least closely related