EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS

Which best describes derived characteristics?

They are newly evolved traits.
They appear in all the ancestors.
They appear at the end of each branch.
They stem from primary characteristics.

They are newly evolved traits.

If two organisms are in the same clade, what can you predict about their relationship?

They are not closely related.
They share a common ancestor.
They compete for resources.
One organism evolved into the other organism.

They share a common ancestor.

Protists are a group of organisms that are characterized as eukaryotes (they have cells with nuclei) that are neither plants nor animals nor fungi. They are very diverse, and there are many hypotheses about their classification. The cladogram for protists is constantly changing and, sometimes, there are opposite hypotheses that both have data to support them. What is the implication of a changing hypothesis?

It is acceptable because data are still being collected.
It is acceptable because everything in science should always change.
It is not acceptable because the correct answer needs to be found.
It is not acceptable because science never changes.

It is acceptable because data are still being collected.

Which describes the modern classification system?

based on evolutionary relationships
called Linnean classification
based on similar appearances
called Darwinian classification

based on evolutionary relationships

Consider the diagram.

mc004-1.jpg

Josiah says this is a phylogenetic tree of the dinosaurs. Maleek says it is a cladogram of the dinosaurs. Who is correct?

Josiah is correct.
Maleek is correct.
Both are correct.
Neither is correct.

Both are correct.

Which best describes traditional classification?

It is based on shared characteristics.
It is based on evolutionary relationships.
It is called phylogenetic classification.
It is called cladistics.

It is based on shared characteristics.

In a cladogram, what occurs at a node?

A derived trait appears.
Evolution is stopped.
An ancestor dies.
The cladogram ends.

A derived trait appears.

Consider the phylogenetic tree of Old World primates.

mc012-1.jpg

According to the tree, which primates share the most recent common ancestor with humans?

gorillas
chimpanzees
bonobos and chimpanzees
bonobos and gorillas

bonobos and chimpanzees

Phylogenetic trees are also called _________

cladograms

Consider the cladogram.

mc014-1.jpg

Which group of organisms has the derived characteristics of true tissues, bilateral symmetry, and a pseudocoelom?

sponges
roundworms
annelids
chordates

roundworms

According to the cladogram, which organisms are in the smallest clade with birds?

mc011-1.jpg

crocodiles
primates
rodents and rabbits
sharks

crocodiles

A scientist is trying to determine how closely related a moth species is to four other moth species. He examined the DNA of each species and compared it to the study subject. He then created this table.

Species
# of genetic differences
Species A
12
Species B
3
Species C
14
Species D
28

Which species is most closely related to the original moth species?

species A
species B
species C
species D

species B

Julia is trying to place a duckbilled platypus, lizard, bear, and monkey on a phylogenetic tree. She learns that the duckbilled playpus, bear, and monkey are classified as mammals. She also learns that mammals share a common ancestor with reptiles.

Which additional piece of information will be most helpful to Julia to properly build her phylogenetic tree?

The platypus has fur like other mammals.
The platypus does not have feathers like a bird.
The platypus lays eggs like a reptile.
The platypus does not have fins like a fish.

The platypus lays eggs like a reptile.

Dr. Digger, a paleontologist, finds a fossil that he describes in his journal.

The creature was approximately 1 meter long, with its backbone fused into a large shell covering the body cavity. It had a beaklike mouth, without teeth, and all four limbs were in the form of flippers.

Based on anatomical similarities, to which modern animal is Dr. Digger’s creature most closely related?

zebra
bony fish
sea turtle
snake

sea turtle