Sexual Selection, Speciation, and 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

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Which species is most likely to share a common ancestor with Species A?

• B

• C

• D

• E

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These are early, pre-birth stages of an organism's development, and can be studied for similarities.

• Vestigial Structures

• Embryos

• Homologous Structures

• Fossils

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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

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DNA analysis from these organisms would show they have

• identical DNA sequences.
• the same number of bones.
• similar DNA sequences.
• the same number of chromosomes.

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Evolution is a change in _________ over time.

• populations
• individuals
• ecosystems
• communities

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What does the fossil record suggest?

• Changes have occurred to features of living organisms.

• Features of deceased organisms change after death.

• Feature of living organisms cannot be observed.

• Features of living organisms have remained constant.

By looking at the genes of some animals we can determine which living species are most closely related to each other. This also reveals which species most recently diverged from their common ancestor.

Based on the partial gene segments shown, which pair of animals are genetically most closely related and therefore most recently diverged from their common ancestor?

• Chimpanzee and Mouse

• Rat and Mouse

• Rat and Chimpanzee

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Researchers discovered that the legs of birds are homologous to the feet of reptiles. Which claim is BEST supported by this fact?

• Birds do not require legs

• Birds and reptiles have a common ancestor

• They randomly developed the same structures

• Selection pressures have acted on birds, but not on reptiles

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Common ancestry relates to evolution because

• evolution only happens when there are common ancestors.

• Common ancestors make evolution happen more quickly.

• evolution can never take place with common ancestors.

• the more two organisms have in common, the more recent is their common ancestor during their evolution.

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