Evolution of Living Organisms

The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms

• Phylogeny

• Evolution

• Taxonomy

• Ecology

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According to scientists, cycads share more homologous features with banana plants than they do with mosses.

Which evolutionary tree correctly shows the relationship between cycads, bananas, and mosses?

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Vestigial structures

• structures that perform a similar function but are not similar in origin

• remnants of once-important structures that have slowly lost all or most of their function

• features found in different organisms that share structural similarities but may have very different functions

• preserved remains of an organism

Which scientist is known for the theory of natural selection?

• Charles Darwin

• Gregor Mendel

• Louis Pasteur

• Isaac Newton

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What is the term for a structure that has lost its original function through evolution?

• Vestigial

• Analogous

• Homologous

• Adaptive

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Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?

• Wings of bats and birds

• Legs of mammals and reptiles

• Fins of fish and whales

• Leaves of ferns and mosses

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What is the primary mechanism by which evolution occurs?

• Natural selection

• Genetic drift

• Mutation

• Gene flow

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Which of the following best describes genetic drift?

• Random changes in allele frequencies

• Selection of advantageous traits

• Migration of individuals

• Mutation of genes

What is the significance of the fossil record in understanding evolution?

• It provides evidence of past life forms and their changes over time

• It shows the exact age of Earth

• It explains the origin of life

• It predicts future evolutionary changes

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Which of the following is a vestigial structure in humans?

• Appendix

• Heart

• Liver

• Brain