Amplify Evolutionary History

1. This fossil snake and this living rat both have a structure in their skull called the quadrate bone. What best explains why both species have a quadrate bone?

• The snake and rat are different species, so they must not be related. They inherited the quadrate bone structure from separate ancestor populations.

• All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the snake and rat each happen to have the quadrate bone structure.

• The snake and rat both share the same ancestor population that had a quadrate bone. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

• is impossible to say. Fossils are very old; therefore, we cannot make observations of the snake’s ancestors, and we cannot explain its body structures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which species (H, I, or K) is the closest relative to Species J?

• Species H

• Species I

• Species K

• Neither

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

a body structure in two or more species that features the same parts

• shared structure

• speciation

• species

• ancestor population

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

a more recent species that evolved from an ancestor population

• common ancestor population

• paleontologist

• species

• descendant species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Do you think the two species have a common ancestor?

• NO

• YES

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

an older population from which two or more newer species descended

• descendant species

• paleontologist

• common ancestor population

• shared structure

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Two students were challenged with taking imaginary species and placing them on an evolutionary tree. Their models are shown below. Inspect the models and then answer the questions.

Which model do you think is correct?

• 
• 
• Neither

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

a scientist who studies fossils in order to understand the ancient history of life on Earth

• descendant species

• shared structure

• paleontologist

• speciation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is a related organism from a previous generation?

• an adaptive trait

• an ancestor

• a descendant

• a generation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What is a group of individuals born and living at about the same time?

• an adaptive trait

• an ancestor

• a descendant

• a generation