2024 RC3 Bio Evo & Classification STAAR Review

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

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

• G. simonyi and G. bravoana are the 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.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

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 Camilidea 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 in the past

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In 2010, scientist excavated a skull fossil that provides evidence of a newly discovered species of big cats. Base on the evidence, scientists hypothesize that big cats branched off from smaller wild cats about 6 million years ago. Which of these resources did the scientists most likely rely 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 calts

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

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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An analysis of DNA and RNA sequences can be used to classify organismms. A dendrogram, such as the one shown 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 that they are to raccoons.

• Brown bears are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to raccoons.

• 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.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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The limbs of several organisms are shown in the illustrations above. Scientists sometimes compare 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 a mammals

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The quiver tree grows in desert areas in southern Africa. In recent decades average temperatures have been rising in southern Africa. Scientists predict that this warming trend will continue. Quiver trees in the hottest parts of their range near the equator are dying, but quiver trees at high elevations or in parts of the range that are farther from the equator are growing and reproducing. Which of these best explains what is happening to the quiver tree population in southern Africa?

• Individual quiver trees are unable to adjust to the rising temperatures, and only those in cooler parts of the range will survive.

• The quiver tree species is unable to survive rising temperatures throughout its range. The species is likely to undergo rapid extinction.

• Individual quiver trees can quickly adapt to rising temperatures. Individual trees will change their method of seed dispersal in cooler parts of the range.

• The quiver tree species will survive by producing offspring for warmer temperatures.

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Which condition is essential for natural selection to result in a new species?

• Unlimited resources

• An inherited variation

• A static enviroment

• A long life span

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NGSS.HS-LS4-2

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A prey population consists of individuals with a variety of running speeds. The adaptation that allows some of these animals to run fast would be an example of natural selection if it helps them-

• survive and undergo mutations in their DNA

• lower the mortality rates of the population

• produce offspring that run at average speeds

• reproduce and increase the frequency of their genes in the population

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Nudibranchs are marine gastropods that lack shells. Many of these gastropods retain the foul-tasting poisons of their prey and secrete them when threatened. The bright coloration of the nudibrachs warns predators to avoid them. Based on the information, how has adaptation allowed marine gastropods to be successful without a shell?

• The find enough food as they move through the marine environment.

• The blend in with their environment to hide from their predators.

• They are not attacked by most predators and are able to reproduce successfully.

• They have bright colors that attract a mate.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A harmless scarlet king snake and a venomous coral snake have similar band patterns, as shown above. For the scarlet king snake, the adaptation of having a banding pattern like the eastern coral snake's is known as mimicry. The outcome of this adaptation in the scarlet king snake is to -

• make it easier for the scarlet king snake to attract prey

• make it easier for the scarlet king snake to interbreed with the other snake

• allow the scarlet king snake to blend in with its enviroment

• protect the scarlet king snake from predators

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NGSS.HS-LS4-4