Staar Evidence of Evolution

Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid sequences. The table shows four partial amino acid sequences from four organisms.

Which organism is the LEAST related to the other three organisms?

• Organism 1

• Organism 2

• Organism 3

• Organism 4

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The image shows part of the human bone in different genera of primates.

Which statement is best supported by the observable structures of the different humerus bones?

• The primates lived in similar environments.

• The primates shared a common ancestor.

• The primates interbreed with similar organisms in a population.

• The primates had diets that consisted of similar types of foods.

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Researchers studying populations of lizards from the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands compared the protein cytochrome b in different populations. The table shows the number of differences in the cytochrome b protein between different populations.

Which conclusion about the relatedness of the lizards do these data support?

• G. atlantica and G.stehlini are the least closely related.

• G. simonyi and G. bravoana are the most closely related.

• G. galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti palmae are the most closely related.

• G. galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti are the least closely related.

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Cetaceans are whales and their relatives. The diagram shows some fossils of cetaceans.

Which statement provides the best evidence that Ambulocetus natans is an ancestor of Basilosaurus isis?

• Homologous structures occur in each fossil.

• Similar nitrogenous bases are found in the DNA of each fossil.

• The fossils were found in different locations.

• The youngest fossil is larger than the older fossils.

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Bactran camels, dromedaries, llamas, and alpacas are all members of the same taxonomic family, Camelidae. Members of this family all have two toes, no hooves, true canine teeth, and a split upper lip. The family Camelidae originated in North America. The physical features of animals in this family and the family's geographical origin provide evidence that all these animals-

• live in the same type of ecosystem

• have slowly evolved to become herbivores

• have a common ancestor

• exchanged DNA at some point in the past

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In 2010, scientists excavated a skull fossil that provides evidence of a newly discovered species of big cat. Based on the evidence, scientists hypothesize that big cats branched off from smaller wild cats about 6 million years ago. Which of these resources did the scientists most likely rely on to form their hypothesis?

• A food web showing feeding relationships of organisms where the fossil skull was found

• Population and migration data for small wild cats living in the ecosystem where the skull was found

• The fossil record and DNA comparisons of big cats and small cats

• The historical record of interactions between different species of big cats

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Genome maps provide the DNA sequences of chromosomes. Some scientists have compared the genome maps of a hedgehog and sloth. What do these genome maps allow the scientists to determine?

• The color patterns of the offspring of each species

• How much the size ranges of the two species differ

• The methods of protein synthesis that each species uses

• How closely related the two species are to each other

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As analysis of DNA and RNA sequences can be used to classify organisms. A dendrogram, such as the one shown below, is based on molecular data. It can be used to represent evolutionary relationships within a group of organisms that are hypothesized to have descended from a common ancestor.

Which statement is best supported by the information in this dendrogram?

• Lesser pandas are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to raccoons.

• Brown bears are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to sun bears.

• Lesser pandas are more genetically similar to raccoons than they are to giant pandas.

• The bear species are all more genetically similar to dogs than they are to giant pandas.

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Three species of lizards of the genus Gallotia are found on the Canary Islands, a chain of seven volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. The easternmost island, Lanzarote, is the oldest while the westernmost island, E; Hierro, is the youngest. The distribution of lizard species is shown on the map.

Which statement about the ancestry of the lizards from the genus Gallotia is best supported by this information?

• The common ancestor of the lizards first colonized the island of Hierro.

• The ancestors of each species came from different continents at different times.

• The common ancestor of the lizards probably came from Africa

• The ancestors of each species evolved in Spain and were brought to the islands at the same time.

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The opossum, which is native to North America, and the kangaroo, which is native to Australia, are marsupials.

The fact that both these mammals incubate their immature offspring in a pouch provides evidence that they -

• belong to the same species

• must range great distances to eat

• have very similar skeletal structures

• are descended from a common ancestor

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