Law, Theory, Evolution, Natural Selection

 Which of the following statements should Marley use to support her scientific explanation? 

• In my observation, I noticed that the bone was hollow. I remember learning in college that birds have hollow bones, and considering the age of the bone I believe that the fossil belong to a flying dinosaur.

• Based on my knowledge and experience at the Natural History museum and the age of this bone, I would argue that it belonged to a flying dinosaur. 

• After reviewing our results, comparing it to the research that has been conducted by other scientists, the evidence supports the possibility that the bone belonged to a flying dinosaur. 

• I have shared my thoughts with other scientists, and they seem to agree with my explanation. 

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Scientists are able to explain why the plates move on Earth's surface using seafloor spreading as evidence.  Which statement below explains why this is an accepted theory? 

• Several geologists have been able to predict that our continents will move back together in 100 years.

• It states the exact movement and rate at which the plates move around on Earth. 

• It states the relationship between the seafloor and the continents. 

• It explains why certain areas on Earth's surface experience earthquakes and volcanoes. 

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 Which of the following statements best explains why genetic variation is important to the survival of a population? 

• Genetic variation increases the likelihood of an allele being present that is best suited for the environment.  

• Genetic variation decrease the likelihood of genetic mutation. 

• Genetic variation increases the size of animals so that more offspring will be produced. 

• Genetic variation decreases gene flow in the population. 

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Shell color is genetic in the European large banded snail. Scientists who study these snails found that snails with a lighter colored shells have a lower body temperature than those with a darker color. Currently, the habitat of the large banded snails is warming due to climate change. What impact will climate change most likely have on the population of the large banded snails? 

• They will evolve into a new species without a protective shell. 

• Their shells will get darker so they can absorb more energy from the sun. 

• Their shells will get lighter, because their environment will be hotter. 

• They will go extinct as they are unable to adapt to their changing environment.

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 Alexis learned about the Universal Law of Gravitation which states every object is attracted to every other object with a force that is determined by their mass and distance. Why is it considered a law and not a theory? 

• All scientists accept gravity's effect on objects as a true concept, and there is no debate about its existence or how it works, so that makes it a law.  

• Gravity can be explained using observations and has been proven with repeated successful testing, so it is a law.  

• . It describes what happens in nature, appears to be without exception and is supported by repeated successful testing, so it is a law.  

• Everyone can observe how gravity affects an object, so it is a law

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 Below is a list of evidences scientists have gathered on the theory of plate tectonics over time. Continental boundaries showed evidence that they fit together and once formed a single landmass that separated and drifted apart 

Rocks of different ages show changes in magnetic field direction 

Oceanic crust disappears into the mantle (sea floor spreading) 

Why is the collection of evidence necessary for plate tectonic theory? 

• A theory must be supported with evidence from each scientist studying the natural event. 

• Scientists do not understand the theory of plate tectonics so it needs to be modified. 

• A theory needs a large body of evidence to support our understanding of natural events. 

• Scientists should always add more evidence to existing theories, so they cannot be disproved. 

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 Astyanax mexicanus, a type of freshwater fish found in caves and other underground habitats across Mexico and the southern part of the United States. Both the surface and cavefish belong to the same species, but unlike the surface fish, the cavefish has no eyes. 

How can the survival of the cavefish population be explained? 

• . The surface was too bright and predators were catching them, so they adapted to be transparent in color. 

• . Cavefish were too far away from sunlight, causing problems in their development and changing their appearance.

• Cavefish population has survived in caves without eyes because it is an adaptation to the environment. 

• A cavefish produced offspring after having lost its eyes in an injury and changed the population overtime.

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In 1861 paleontologists announced that they had found a fossil with feathers, now known as, Archaeopteryx, which lived approximately 150 million years ago. When comparing Archaeopteryx to other small dinosaurs and modern-day birds, the paleontologists learned that Archaeopteryx had more in common with dinosaurs. The Archaeopteryx were small and had broad wings which likely gave them the ability to fly or glide. How can the Archaeopteryx fossils be used to support the theory of evolution? 

• They give evidence to support the idea that organisms inherit the best traits from their parents. 

• They show how organisms today share characteristics with fossilized species. 

• They can demonstrate that animals from long ago are still alive today. 

• They indicate that evolution is a theory because scientists do not completely understand the fossil record. 

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Change over time...

• Evolution
• Nucleotide 

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Which term refers to the process by which individuals that are better suited to the environment survive and reproduce therefore passing down their genes to their offspring? 

• Evolution 
• Variation 
• Adaptation
• Natural Selection 

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