The fossil record help scientists

better understand the kinds of organisms that lived in the past

better understand how the environment has changed over time

better understand how organisms have evolved over time

Organisms D and C clearly lived in an aquatic (water) environment. Organism A does not look like it lived in the water. What is the most likely explanation for this?

The environment changed over a long period of time. It used to be under water, but is not anymore

The fossil in layer A died on land and was carried to the water

The fossils in layer C and D did not live in the same location as the fossil in layer A

Starting at layer H (at the bottom) what pattern do you notice as you move up towards layer B

random arrangement of organisms

organisms go from water only to land only

450 million year old rocks contain fossils of jawless fish. 400 million year old rocks contain fossils of jawless fish AND fish with jaws. What does this evidence suggest?

jawless fish appeared first in the fossil record

fish with jaws appeared earlier in the fossil record

fish with jaws and jawless fish appeared at the same time in the fossil record

A super-continent (all the continents connected)

A large desert that covered all of Africa at one point

A layer of rock in the rock record from 3.4 million years ago

What suggests that all living things share a common ancestor?

Sharing some of the same DNA sequence

What are 'homologous structures'?

Parts that are similar across different species

Parts that are unique to each species

What are vestigial structures?

Structures an organism has but does not use

Main structures used for movement

Why do organisms have vestigial structures?

Because what they evolved from used that structure

Because it helps them find food

Because they will develop a use for it in the future

Because they need it for survival

What is suggested by the embryos of vertebrates being very similar?

They will grow into identical organisms

What does biogeography study?

The geographical distribution of organisms

The history of geological formations

What is evidence that species have changed over time?

Modern animals are identical to fossils

Fossils are always found in the same layer

Why is DNA important in understanding evolution?

It shows how species are related

It determines the color of fossils

It is the same in all living things

What does the presence of homologous structures indicate?

That species have the same diet

That species live in the same environment

What is the significance of similar DNA sequences among different species?

Proves they are the same species

Shows they live in the same habitat

How does biogeography contribute to our understanding of evolution?

By showing how species evolved in different geographical areas

By showing that species do not change over time

By proving that all species originated in the same place

By mapping the distribution of minerals

What conclusion can be drawn from the diagram to the right about Troodontidae and Oviraptorosauria?

They all share the common ancestor Archaeopteryx.

They all share the common ancestor Dromaeosauridae.

They have all of the same traits in common with Archaeopteryx.

There were no evolutionary changes between these two species.

Which information would best help scientists verify the relationships among the organisms shown above?

The organisms' population sizes.

The organisms' migratory patterns.

The organisms' nutritional requirements.

Why don't all living things become fossils?

because environmental conditions have to be just right (for formation & to prevent decay)

because some living things are too big

because some are subject to catastrophism and others are not

How does gradualism differ from punctuated equilibrium in terms of evolutionary change?

Gradualism involves slow, consistent changes over a long period, while punctuated equilibrium involves rapid changes over a short period.

Gradualism involves rapid changes over a short period, while punctuated equilibrium involves slow, consistent changes.

Both involve rapid changes, but gradualism is more consistent.

Both involve slow changes, but punctuated equilibrium is more consistent.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates punctuated equilibrium?

A species of fish suddenly develops a new fin shape due to a mutation, which becomes common in a few generations.

A species of birds gradually develops longer beaks over thousands of years.

A population of insects slowly changes color over many generations.

A type of tree gradually increases its height over centuries.

Consider a species that has evolved through gradualism. What evidence would you expect to find in the fossil record?

Many fossils showing small, incremental changes over time.

A few fossils showing large, sudden changes.

No fossils, as gradualism leaves no trace.

Fossils showing a mix of small and large changes.

How might environmental changes contribute to punctuated equilibrium?

They introduce sudden, harsh conditions that lead to rapid evolutionary changes.

They cause slow, consistent changes in species.

They create stable conditions that prevent evolution.

They have no impact on evolutionary processes.

What is the Law of Superposition?

In a sequence of rocks, the youngest rocks/fossils make up the top layer and the oldest make up the bottom layer

In a sequence of rocks, the oldest rocks/fossils make up the top layer and the youngest make up the bottom layer

Layers that have the same fossils are always different ages

The earth has not changed much over the years

How do transitional species help show evolution has occurred?

They show the changes that occurred over time

They show that an organism still lives today

They show an organism that was poorly adapted to its environment

If scientists found this fossil, what could they infer?

that water once covered the area where this fossil was found

Fossils of fish are found under land where cows now live. What does this tell you?

this land was once under the ocean

the fish were dropped their by flying birds

How do transitional species help show evolution has occurred?

They show the changes that occurred over time

They show that an organism still lives today

They show an organism that was poorly adapted to its environment

Why do you think there are not fossil for every organism that has every lived?

Many organisms decompose too quickly to become fossils

They do, the fossils are just destroyed

Some plants and animals do not have carbon in them

Many organisms are too large to form fossils

9a and 9b review with analysis

Authored by JESSICA MARTINEZ

Biology

9th - 12th Grade

NGSS covered

Used 1+ times

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49 questions

Show all answers

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

_____________________are similar structures which species have, but which perform different functions. They provide evidence of a common ancestor.

DNA

Vestigial structures

Fossils

Homologous structures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Recently, scientists have been able to use ___________to find common proteins and amino acids to determine how closely related species are.

DNA

Vestigial structures

Fossils

Homologous structures

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-1

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

_____________________are features present in modern organisms which are no longer in use.

DNA

Vestigial structures

Fossils

Homologous structures

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

15 mins • 1 pt

Whales are aquatic mammals that contain a pelvis bone. Even though it does not aid in its movement, the function must have been used by a common ancestor of the whale. Thus, the pelvis is referred to as a(n)

vestigial structure

analogous structure

homologous structure

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following pieces of evolution evidence contain both homologous and vestigial structures?

fossil record

comparative embryology

DNA

comparative anatomy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

A category of structures that have a similar function, but are structurally different. (No common ancestor)

Homologous structures

Analogous structures

Vestigial structures

Common core structures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

The appendix, tailbone, and wisdom teeth are all examples of what type of structure in humans?

Homologous

Analogous

Vestigial

Modern

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

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9a and 9b review with analysis

_____________________are similar structures which species have, but which perform different functions. They provide evidence of a common ancestor.

Recently, scientists have been able to use ___________to find common proteins and amino acids to determine how closely related species are.

_____________________are features present in modern organisms which are no longer in use.

Whales are aquatic mammals that contain a pelvis bone. Even though it does not aid in its movement, the function must have been used by a common ancestor of the whale. Thus, the pelvis is referred to as a(n)

Which of the following pieces of evolution evidence contain both homologous and vestigial structures?

A category of structures that have a similar function, but are structurally different. (No common ancestor)

The appendix, tailbone, and wisdom teeth are all examples of what type of structure in humans?

The fossil record help scientists

What is the study of the similarities and differences in unborn fetuses, or developing organisms?

Which layer contains the oldest fossil?

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