Divergent and Convergent Evolution

A number of different species arise from one common ancestor.

• Adaptive Radiation (aka, Divergent Evolution)

• Gradualism

• Coevolution

• Speciation

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Convergent evolution is when

• Species share traits due to a common ancestor

• Species have similar traits because of similar environment

• Species have same traits due to different environments

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What most likely caused the finches on the Galapagos Islands to have beaks that were different from the finches on the mainland?

• There were different types of predators on the islands.

• The finches on the mainland could not fly high enough.

• There was no water on the islands.

• There were different food types on each island.

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Two organisms that are closely related would have

• Very similar DNA sequences

• Very different DNA sequences

• The same exact DNA sequences

• No similarity in DNA

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The kit fox lives in the desert and has large ears with greater surface area that keep the fox from getting overheated.  The red fox lives in the forest and has a red coat that keeps it camouflaged.

• divergent evolution

• convergent evolution

• coevolution

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The Galapagos finches evolved through natural selection from a common mainland ancestor into a wide variety of different looking species.

• divergent evolution

• convergent evolution

• coevolution

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In the ocean surrounding Antarctica, there are fish that survive the cold water by using a molecule made of glycoproteins that circulates the blood and keeps it from freezing.  Certain kinds of worms that live in the Arctic ocean also make antifreeze proteins that help them live in icy water.

• convergent evolution

• divergent evolution

• coevolution

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Ostriches (birds) and giraffes (mammals) are both native to the savannahs of Africa.  They eat food that is high off the ground and share the same characteristic of an elongated neck.

• divergent evolution

• convergent evolution

• coevolution

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The extinct pterosaurs (reptile) of the Jurassic period and the modern albatross (bird) both evolved wings as well as a distinct long beak, but are not derived from a common ancestor.

• divergent evolution

• convergent evolution

• coevolution

Which of the following is an example of divergent evolution?

• A) The development of wings in bats and birds

• B) The evolution of the eye in vertebrates and cephalopods

• C) The variety of beak shapes in Darwin's finches

• D) The similar streamlined body shape of dolphins and sharks

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2