ch.16 march.29

Darwin noticed that many organisms seemed well suited to

•   surviving in the environments in which they lived. 

•   swimming from South America to the Galápagos Islands. 

•   providing humans with food.

•   being preserved as fossils.

The species of finches that Charles Darwin found on different Galápagos Islands varied in certain structural adaptations. One of the most significant adaptations that Darwin noted was the

•   similarities of the birds’ embryos.

•   birds’ different-shaped beaks.

•   number of eggs in each bird’s nest.

•   length of the birds’ necks.

Biologists in Darwin’s time had already begun to understand that living things change over time. How did Darwin contribute to these ideas?

•   He was the first person to truly believe that these changes happened, and he worked very hard to convince others.

•   He made guesses about how these changes happened, and wrote experiments that could be used to test these guesses.

•   He figured out and explained how these changes happened and supported his ideas with evidence.

•   He found many fossils that showed that these changes could not possibly happen on islands.

Similar patterns of embryological development in different but related organisms are responsible for the formation of 

•   intermediate fossil forms.

•   homologous structures.

•   analogous structures.

•   Hox genes.

Each of the following is a condition necessary for natural selection to occur EXCEPT

• there is heritable variation among members of the population.

• more offspring are born than can survive.

• fitness varies among individuals.

• population size is very large.

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Charles Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its specific environment

• fitness

• adaptation

• evolution

• diversity

Molecular evidence in support of natural selection includes

• the nearly universal genetic code.

• a tendency toward perfect, unchanging DNA in various species.

• the presence of vestigial structures.

• the transmission of acquired characteristics by DNA.

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People of Charles Darwin’s time understood that fossils were

•   evidence for the evolution of life on Earth.

•   available for every organism that ever lived.

•   unrelated to living species.

•   preserved remains of ancient organisms.

When a dairy farmer chooses to breed the cows that give the most milk in the herd, the farmers are following the principle of 

•   descent with modification.

•   acquired characteristics.

•   artificial selection.

•   natural selection.

According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, individuals who survive are the ones best adapted for their environment. Their survival is due to the

•   choices made by plant and animal breeders.

•   possession of adaptations developed through use.

•   possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness.

•   lack of competition within the species.