Evolution Answers

 

Evolution Answers
    1. In biological terms, what is a species? a group of organisms that are similar in form and structure
      a group of organisms that can interbreed
      a group of organisms that share common features
      a group of organisms that have live in the same habitat
    2. What is the Scala Naturae? an idea proposed by Darwin that suggests that all organisms share a common ancestor
      an idea proposed by Plato that suggests organisms are all evolving toward an ideal form
      an idea proposed by Aristotle that suggests that all organisms fit into an orderly scheme
      an idea proposed by Wallace that suggests that organisms change over time
    3. Creationism is not accepted as a valid scientific theory because: it violates the scientific principle of natural causality
      it doesn’t offer a model to explain the diversity of life on earth
      it cannot be disproven
      all of these

birds

    1. The picture of the finches is used to illustrate: phylogeny of finches
      change over time
      specialization of beaks for different diets
      natural selection
    2. Which of the following was not an observation made by Darwin on his voyages: penguins use wings to paddle instead of fly
      snakes have rudimentary hind limbs
      the earth is very old
      islands had species that did not exist on the mainland

bones

    1. The image illustrates: vestigial structures
      homologous structures
      the fossil record
      natural selection
    2. Which of the following is an example of artificial selection: a panda’s thumb
      the breeding of dogs
      the galapagos finches
      a giraffe’s neck
    3. According to the theory of evolution by natural selection, which of the following is true: random mating is necessary for evolution to occur
      variation does not exist between members of the same species
      populations will change to better fit their environment
      individuals will adapt to their environment
    4. Which of the following are assumptions made with regards to the Theory of Evolution by Natural selection organisms compete with each other to survive
      variations exist among organisms
      not all organisms that are born survive to reproduce
      all of these

whale

    1. The image illustrates which of the following: artificial selection
      acquired characteristics
      homologous structures
      vestigial structures
    2. A panda’s thumb is considered an evolutionary contrivance because: it is assembled from wrist bones, and imperfect
      it is perfectly structured to grab leaves
      it is an structure that has no use
      none of these
    3. Which of the following outcomes would you predict for a population of bacteria exposed to a new antibiotic. over many generations, the bacteria would become resistant to the antibiotic
      over a few generations, the bacteria would evolve into Archaebacteria
      over a few generations, the bacteria would become extinct
      over many generations, the bacteria would become more susceptible to the antibiotic
    4. Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution: whales and sharks have similar body designs
      bees and hummingbirds have similar body designs
      bats and birds have similar body designs
      all of these
    5. Why is evolution called the “unifying theory of biology” because it explains the diversity of life on the planet
      because it serves as a model to predict how organisms will change
      it serves as a model to interpret relationships between organisms on the planet
      all of these

moths

  1. The image illustrates how peppered moths are related to other moths
    how peppered moths adapted to a changing environment
    how peppered moths became extinct
    how peppered moths became two species

Fish

Fish

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Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Subphylum – Vertebrata

Vertebrates:

Include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, & mammals
Have a notochord (slim, flexible rod) present in early stages that may be replaced by backbone in adults
Contain a dorsal, hollow bundle of nerves called the nerve or spinal cord
Respire through pharyngeal or gill pouches during early development
Have post-anal tail in early stages
Endoskeleton made of bone &/or cartilage
Anterior head with well developed brain & sensory organs (Cephalization)
Closed circulatory system

Taxonomy of Vertebrates:

Agnatha include hagfish & lamprey with long, eel-like bodies without jaws or paired fins & cartilage skeletons

Chondrichthyes include sharks, rays, & skates with cartilage skeletons, paired fins, & jaws

Osteichthyes are bony fish with jaws, paired fins, & bone and cartilage in their skeletons
Amphibia include frogs, toads, & salamanders that go through an aquatic larval or tadpole stage
Reptilia include snakes, turtles, lizards, & alligators that live on land, are covered with scales, & lay a tough, protective amniote egg
Aves are birds covered with feathers, adapted for flying, & with hollow bones
Mammalia have hair or fur & females have mammary or milk-producing glands

Evolution:

Fossil record shows jawless fish without paired fins appeared first about 550 million years ago
Ostracoderm was a jawless, bottom-feeding ancestor to the agnathans (modern jawless fish)

Development of jaws & paired fins allowed better movement & increased ability to capture prey
Extinct acanthodians or spiny fish were first jawed fish with paired fins

Jaws probably developed from gill arches (bone that supports the pharynx)

Characteristics of  Fish:  

Streamlined body & muscular tail for swimming
Most with paired fins for maneuvering
Body covered with protective scales & mucus layer to reduce friction when swimming
Have less dense body tissues & store less dense lipids to help them float
Respire through gills
Most have a lateral line system or a row of sensory structures running down each side of the organism to detect changes in water temperature, pressure, current, etc.

Most with well-developed sense of sight & smell
Some can detect electrical currents
Ectotherms (adjust body temperature to environment)
Two chambered heart (upper atrium receives blood & lower ventricle pumps blood)

Agnatha (Jawless Fish):

Hagfish (live in oceans) & lampreys (found in marine & freshwater)
Circular mouths
Sharp teeth & strong rasp-like tongue to tear hole in prey & suck out blood & body fluids

Known as cyclostomes
Eel-shaped body
Mucus covers body
Skeleton made of cartilage
No paired fins
Gills without bony cover (called operculum)
Retain their notochord throughout their life
Hagfish are bottom dwellers in cold marine waters that burrow in mud, scavenge on dead & dying fish, & have tentacles around their mouth
Lampreys are usually parasites with a keen sense of smell to locate prey, lay their eggs in freshwater streams, & are covered with a poisonous slime

Chondrichthyes

Includes sharks, rays, & skates
Endoskeleton of cartilage
Hinged jaws & paired fins
Placoid scales & tooth-like dermal spines on scales

Marine
Carnivorous
Sharks are torpedo shaped

Rays & skates have broad, flat bodies with wing-like fins and a tail

Shark Characteristics:

Fast swimmers
Large, oily liver (20% of body weight) makes them buoyant
Tough, leathery skin
Fierce predators
Whale shark is largest & filter feeds on plankton

Ventral mouth with 6-20 rows of sharp, replaceable teeth
Short, straight intestine with spiral valve to slow food movement
5-7 pairs of gills for gas exchange
Kidneys remove wastes & maintain water balance
Electroreceptors on head help find prey & navigate
Lateral line along side of body contains sensory cells to detect vibrations & pressure
Separate sexes with external fertilization

Ray & Skate Characteristics:

Usually harmless to humans
Broad, wing-like pectoral fins used to glide through water
Flattened bodies with ventral mouth
Both eyes on top of head
Have protective coloration (darker on top & lighter on bottom)
Feed on fish & invertebrates
Stingray with poison spine by tip of tail

Electric ray gives off strong, electric shock
Manta ray is largest

Traits of Bony Fish (Osteichthyes)

Skeleton made of bone
Hinged jaws
Paired fins
Gills for gas exchange
Lateral line
Body covered with scales & mucus coating
Includes lobe-finned, ray-finned, and lung fish

Lobe-finned Fish:

Muscular, paddle-like fins supported by bone
Gills
Known as coelacanths

Thought to be extinct until 1938 when species found in Africa
Live in deep oceans

Lungfish:

Use lungs & gills
Eel-shaped body

Live in shallow, tropical rivers of Africa, Australia, & South America
Come to surface & gulp air when oxygen level is low
Form mud cocoon & become dormant if stream dries up

Ray-finned Fish:

Fan-like fins supported by rays
Includes salmon, perch, catfish, tuna, etc.
Body covered with round, overlapping cycloid or ctenoid scales & mucus

Four sets of gills covered by bony operculum

Have movable fins
Dorsal fin(s) located on top keep fish upright & used for defense
Caudal fin or tail moves side to side to help steer
Pectoral fins (paired) on each side behind the operculum
Pelvic fins (paired) on ventral surface near the head
Anal fin (single) behind anus

Swim bladder is thin-walled sac in abdomen that creates buoyancy from diffusion of dissolved gas from blood

 

Kidneys filter the blood & help maintain water balance
Ectothermic – body temperature regulated by the environment
Keen sense of smell (nostrils) & have chemical receptors over the body
Can detect the earth’s magnetic field as a guide to navigate oceans
Have separate sexes with external fertilization
Eggs hatch into fry

Salmon Life Cycle:

Migrate up to 3200 kilometers following magnetic cues in the ocean
Follow mucus trails when navigating rivers
Return to birthplace to spawn
Males change color & jaw lengthens & develops a hook

Female uses her tail to build gravel nest & lays up to 10,000 eggs 
Male deposits sperm over eggs
Adults usually die after spawning
Pacific salmon return to sea when 15 cm long; while Atlantic salmon may stay in river up to 7 years
Secrete mucus coating in river as return to sea
May stay in ocean 6 months to 5 years

 

 

Evolution BI Worksheet

 

EVOLUTION

 

Section 14-1     Biogenesis

1. Define biogenesis.

 

2. What is spontaneous generation & give an example. Can spontaneous generation occur?

 

3. Describe Redi’s experiment and its results.

 

 

4. Describe Spallanzani’s experiment and its results.

 

 

5. Did Redi & Spallanzani’s experiments disprove spontaneous generation? Explain.

 

 

6. Describe Pasteur’s experiment and its results. Did it prove or disprove spontaneous generation?

 

 

 

Section 14-2     Earth’s History

7. What is the estimated age of the earth?

8. a. What is radioactive dating, and how is it used to tell the age of materials?

 

 

b. Use a science dictionary to look up and explain relative dating of fossils.

 

9. What is meant by half-life?

10. Name 3 radioactive isotopes and give their half-life.

 

11. a. What 2 scientists set up an experiment that simulated the atmosphere of early earth?

 

b. What molecules were made during this experiment?

 

Section 14-3     The First Life Forms

12. Why was there no oxygen in the early atmosphere?

 

13. Were the 1st cells probably aerobic or anaerobic? Why?

 

14. What gases did the early atmosphere contain primarily?

 

15. What bacteria live in harsh environments containing methane gas?

 

16. Oxygen didn’t become part of our atmosphere until what process started taking place?

 

 

Section 15-1     Fossil Record

17. What is a fossil?

18. In what type of rock are fossils usually found?

19. What is sedimentary rock?

20. From what part or parts of organisms do sedimentary fossils usually form?

 

21. How do sedimentary fossils form?

22. How do casts form?

 

23. What do you call imprint fossils?

24. Complete insect fossils can be found inside of a clear, golden material called  ________________.
25. Who was one of the first scientists to study fossils?

26. In which rock layer or strata would the oldest fossils be found? The newest fossils?

27. Name the 4 eras of earth’s history in order beginning with the oldest & going to present day.

 

28. Which organisms appeared first in earth’s history?

29. Name the period in which each of these events occurred:
a. Humans appeared?
b. Mass extinction of dinosaurs?
c. Land plants appeared?
d. Birds appeared?
e. Fish appeared?
f. Reptiles appeared?
g. Modern mammals appeared?

30. What is true about fossils in the same rock layer or strata?

31. a. What is meant by mass extinction and give an example?

 

 

b. Has there been more than one mass extinction in earth’s history? Explain.

 

32. Radioactive isotopes are used to determine the ___________________ age of fossils.

Section 15-2     Theories of Evolution

33. What was Lamarck’s hypothesis about how species change?

 

34. What is meant by acquired trait?

35. What did Lamarck think had caused the webbed feet of water birds?

 

36. How did Lamarck think the offspring of these web-footed birds got their web-feet?

 

37. Can traits be passed in this way? Explain why or why not.

 

38. Was Lamarck’s idea of acquired traits proven or rejected?

39. Charles Darwin’s idea of how species change over time is called what?

40. Explain natural selection.

 

41. What other scientist came up with this same idea about evolution?

42. What was the name of the book that Darwin published with his ideas about evolution?

43. Explain how Darwin obtained all of his records & supporting evidence that led him to his theory of natural selection.

 

44. Describe the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle.

 

45. What book did Darwin read that influenced his ideas when he sailed on the Beagle? Who was the author?

46. What unusual information did Darwin collect about the Galapagos finches on his voyage?

 

 

47. What forced Darwin to move ahead and publish his ideas?

 

48. State the 2 theories that sum up Darwin’s ideas about evolution & natural selection.

 

49. State Darwin’s Descent with Modification theory.

 

 

50. Darwin’s theory stated that all the Galapagos finches had descended from what?

51. State Darwin’s Modification by Natural Selection theory.

 

52. What idea, published in a book by Thomas Malthus, did Charles Darwin use?

 

53. According to Darwin, what limits the growth of populations?

54. How do populations of organisms adapt to their environment?

 

55. What is meant by the fitness of an organism?

 

Section 15-3     Evolution in Process

56. What are homologous structures and give an example?

 

57. What are analogous structures & give an example?

 

58. Which structures, homologous or analogous, show that organisms are more closely related?

59. What are vestigial structures & give an example?

 

60. Vestigial structures show __________________________ ancestry.

61. In the early stages, how do all vertebrate embryos compare with each other? What does this indicate?

 

62. Organisms with homologous (similar) _________________ & __________________ acids are probably more closely related.
63. What is co-evolution & give 2 examples of organisms that co-evolve?

 

64. Are a shark and a porpoise closely related? Explain your answer.

 

65. When does convergent evolution occur?

 

66. What is divergent evolution?

 

67. Divergent evolution usually results in new ________________________.

68. What is adaptive radiation & give an example?

 

69. How can adaptive radiation be sped up & give an example?

 

Section 16-1     Genetic Equilibrium

70. Do populations change quickly or slowly?

71. What is the study of evolution using genetics called?

72. Do individuals evolve?

73. Do populations evolve?

74. Variations in traits may be due to ___________________ factors or __________________.
75. Name the 3 ways variations in genotypes arise.

 

76. What is meant by the gene pool?

77. How many alleles exist for each trait in a gene pool?

78. How is allele frequency determined?

 

79. Determine the frequency of each allele in the following genotypes:
a. AA?
b. Aa?
c. aa?

80. How is phenotypic ratio determined?

81. What is the phenotypic frequency of white, pink, & red four-o-clocks in these crosses?
a. RR x rr ?
b. Rr x Rr ?
c. Rr x rr ?

82. The frequency of alleles or phenotypes in a cross must always add up to ______________.

83. What does the Hardy-Weinberg theory state about allele frequencies in a population?

 

84. List the 5 conditions that must hold true in the ideal population for Hardy-Weinberg to be correct.

 

 

85. Would the Hardy-Weinberg law apply to real populations?

Section 16-2    Disruption of Genetic Equilibrium
86. What effect does evolution have on a population’s genetic material?

87. Does evolution affect allele frequencies?
88. Any violations of the 5 conditions necessary for Hardy-Weinberg can result in _____________.

89. A change in genetic material is known as a _______________________.

90. Mutations occur constantly at _______________ rates unless an organism is exposed to ___________.

91. Most mutations are __________________, but some may be _____________________ & help the population evolve & survive.
92. Compare & contrast population immigration & emigration.

 

93. What is gene flow & give an example?

 

94. Does the Hardy-Weinberg law apply to small and medium sized populations?

95. What is genetic drift?

 

96. In what size populations does genetic drift apply & explain why?

 

97. Do all populations mate randomly? Explain.

 

98. What is the effect of matings of related individuals?

 

99. What is the most significant factor that affects genetic equilibrium?

 

100. Name the 4 types of natural selection & explain each.

a.

b.

c,

d.

 

101. Give an example of stabilizing selection using body size of lizards.

 

102. Give an example of directional selection using tongue length of anteaters.

 

103. Give an example of disruptive selection using limpets.

 

104. Explain the following — “genes of successful reproducers, rather than those of successful survivors, are amplified through natural selection.”

 

 

Section 16-3    Formation of Species

105. Do new species ever form? Do old species ever disappear? Explain your answer.

 

 

106. Define speciation.

 

107. Are all new species similar to their ancestral species? Explain.

 

108. What did scientists use for many years to help classify organisms?

109. What is morphology?

110. What are some limitations of using only morphology to identify organisms?

 

111. What is the biological species concept?

 

112. Does this concept help identify extinct species & why?

 

113. Members of a species are _________________similar & can __________________ to produce _____________________ offspring.
114. What does speciation begin with & does it affect mating?

 

 

115. Name 2 important types of isolation.

a.

 

b.

 

116. Define geographic isolation.

 

117. Give an example of how this type of isolation could occur.

 

118. What happens to the 2 subgroups after being geographically isolated from each other?

 

119. Define reproductive isolation.

 

120. Name & describe the 2 types of reproductive isolations.

a.

 

b.

 

121. Not recognizing mating calls or having different breeding times are examples of what type of isolation?

122. An infertile mule produced when a donkey and a horse mate is an example of ______________________ isolation.
123. Speciation often requires ______________________ of years.
124. Can some species form more quickly than others? Explain.

 

125. Does fossil record support a slow, gradual or more “instant” change in species?

126. A more “instant” formation or change occurs in ___________________, not millions of years.
127. What is this type of quicker species formation called?

 

128. What does punctuated equilibrium mean?

 

 

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Fish Study Guide BI

 

Fish Study Guide

 

What structure in fish filters wastes from their blood?
Lobe finned fish were ancestors to what other amphibian group?
What special problem do marine fish have?
What shape mouth do agnathans have?
How do agnathans get their food?
Why do land animals need stronger bones and muscles than fish?
Name three ways sharks can detect their prey.
What does the word “Agnatha” mean?
Which group of fish has a swim bladder?
What structure in fish gives them buoyancy?
What does “Chondrichthyes” mean?
Describe the scales in bony fish.
What covers the gills of bony fish?
What type of fertilization occurs in sharks?
What class of fish has bony skeletons?
Name the 2 classes of bony fish.
Do sharks have a swim bladder? bony fish?
What makes up the skeleton of sharks? bony fish?
What chordate characteristics do lampreys and hagfish keep as adults?
BACK

 

Evolution Myths

 

 

Myths About Evolution

 

 

Myth
Debunked
1. Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution The theory of evolution existed before Darwin, it was Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection that became widely accepted.
2. Living things adapt to their environment As a whole, living things are adapted to their environment. Individuals are unchanging, they either live or die based on the traits they are born with.
3. Biologists “believe” in evolution. Science is not based on belief. The theory of evolution provides a model for scientists to understand the relationships between organisms on the planet.
4. Monkeys will eventually become human. There are many species of primates and all are adapted to their environment. A chimpanzee would not turn into a human over time anymore than a cheetah would turn into a lion (or vice versa)
5. Evolution is JUST a theory. Saying that it is “just” a theory implies that it is a guess, or that its not well supported. There is much evidence to support the theory of evolution, as well as direct observation of species change.
6. Only atheists accept the Theory of Evolution. Scientists of many religions across the world accept evolution, and do not find it incompatible with their faith.
7. If evolution is disproven, creationism must be true. A problem with logic (disconfirming evidence). Even if you disproved evolution, you would have to develop and support another model of organism diversity. Disproving one, doesn’t prove the other.
8. No one has ever seen evolution happen. In organisms that reproduce quickly (like bacteria) changes in species can be directly observed, such as resistances to antibiotics.
9. Order cannot come from disorder, so evolution is false. Many instances in nature show molecules and substance organizing, such requires energy. The sun provides the energy that ultimately fuels all of life’s processes.
10. There is evidence that dinosaurs lived with humans There is no evidence that suggests humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time.
11. Scientists regularly debate that evolution occurs. Scientists debate elements of evolution, relationships between organisms, and fossils. The only place the evolution debate really happens is in the social settings.
12. Creationism is a valid scientific theory and should be presented with evolution. Creationism violates the scientific principle of natural causality.
13. There are no transition fossils. Museums are filled with fossils that show intermediate species.
14. Carbon dating is not accurate, therefore the age of the earth cannot be determined. Carbon dating is one of many methods used to date the earth. Taken as a whole, the evidence is overwhelming that the earth is very old.