Question 1

Daisies and daffodils, have flowers that serve as organs of reproduction, leaves that serve as organs of photosynthesis, and xylem and phloem that move water and food throughout the plant. These similarities are best explained by

Accepted Answer

The similarities between daisies and daffodils in terms of their reproductive organs, leaves, and vascular systems (xylem and phloem) are best explained by a common ancestry. This concept is a fundamental principle of evolutionary biology, suggesting that organisms with similar structures likely evolved from a common ancestor.

Question 2

Most commercial pesticides are effective for only 2 or 3 years because

Accepted Answer

Pests with mutations that provide immunity to the pesticides survive and reproduce, passing on their resistance to future generations, making the pesticides less effective over time.

Question 3

A farmer noticed that two of her cotton plants produce cotton with a slight greenish hue. By repeatedly crossing the greenish plants, she has produced a variety of deep-green cotton without the use of any dyes. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of artificial selection, where humans selectively breed plants or animals to enhance or modify specific traits, in this case, the greenish hue of cotton.

Question 4

Observations of a wide variety of vertebrate embryos suggest that

Accepted Answer

All vertebrate species share a common set of developmental genes, which reflects their common ancestry. This is evident in the similarities observed in the early stages of development across different vertebrate species.

Question 5

Convergent evolution occurs when

Accepted Answer

Convergent evolution refers to the process where organisms that are not closely related independently evolve similar traits or features, known as analogous structures, as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

Question 6

The fact that whales have pelvic and leg bones leads to the conclusion that

Accepted Answer

Whales have pelvic and leg bones that are vestigial, meaning they are remnants from their evolutionary ancestors. This suggests that ancestral whales once had legs, supporting the idea that they evolved from land-dwelling mammals that returned to the sea.

Question 7

The amino acid sequences of human and chimpanzee hemoglobin are almost identical, yet they differ considerably from the sequence of the hemoglobin of dogs. This fact

Accepted Answer

The similarity in amino acid sequences of hemoglobin between humans and chimpanzees, compared to the considerable differences with dogs, supports the theory of evolution. It suggests a closer evolutionary relationship between humans and chimpanzees, indicating that they share a more recent common ancestor than either does with dogs. This pattern of similarity and difference aligns with evolutionary predictions about common ancestry and divergence.

Question 8

ʺColeʺ refers to any of various plants belonging to the Cruciferae or mustard family, which include broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, and other familiar vegetables. The controlled breeding of cole crops to produce certain physical traits in those organisms is called

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection is the process by which humans breed plants or animals for specific traits, such as size, color, or yield. This is the method used in the controlled breeding of cole crops to enhance or select for certain desirable characteristics.

Question 9

The many different breeds of domestic dog were produced by

Accepted Answer

The many different breeds of domestic dogs were produced through artificial selection, where humans selectively bred dogs with desirable traits to produce various breeds.

Question 10

The controlled breeding of domestic plants and animals by humans to produce certain physical traits in those organisms is called

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection is the process where humans breed plants and animals for specific traits, distinguishing it from natural selection where the environment plays the key role in determining which traits are passed on.

Question 11

Dolphins (which are mammals) and sharks (which are fish) have stiff dorsal fins projecting from their backs that help them maneuver through water. These relationships of structures to each other are best described as

Accepted Answer

Dolphin fins and shark fins are examples of analogous structures because they serve similar functions in different species that do not share a common ancestor for this trait. This is a result of convergent evolution, where different species evolve similar traits independently.

Question 12

When unrelated organisms living under similar environmental demands evolve superficially similar structures, it is called

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as convergent evolution, where organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

Question 13

Imagine that a biologist develops a strain of corn with a lower fat content by choosing low -fat variants and crossbreeding them over several generations. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of artificial selection, where humans selectively breed plants or animals for specific traits, such as lower fat content in this case. This process involves choosing individuals with desirable traits and breeding them to enhance those traits in future generations.

Question 14

A farmer produces a variety of apple with deep pink flesh by selectively crossbreeding apples with pinkish hues. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The process described is artificial selection, where humans selectively breed plants or animals for specific traits, in this case, apples with deep pink flesh. This is different from natural selection, where environmental pressures determine which traits are passed on.

Question 15

The amino acid sequences of human and bonobo hemoglobin are almost identical, yet they differ considerably from the sequence of the hemoglobin of wolves. This fact indicates that

Accepted Answer

The similarity in amino acid sequences of hemoglobin between humans and bonobos suggests a closer evolutionary relationship between these two species compared to their relationship with wolves. This is because species that are more closely related tend to have more similarities in their genetic material, including proteins like hemoglobin.

Question 16

Strong evidence for the common ancestry of all vertebrates is

Accepted Answer

The similarity of embryological stages among vertebrates supports the idea of a common ancestry, as it suggests that they share a fundamental developmental plan that has been modified over time through evolution.

Question 17

Charles Darwin believed that artificial selection was

Accepted Answer

Darwin believed that artificial selection (selective breeding by humans) was similar to natural selection because both processes result in changes in traits over generations. However, he noted that artificial selection is guided by human preferences, while natural selection is driven by environmental pressures.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection refers to the process by which humans breed specific plants or animals for desired traits. The many different breeds of domestic cats are a result of artificial selection, where humans have selectively bred cats for certain physical characteristics, behaviors, or other traits over generations.

Question 19

Which of the following supports the idea that all organisms share a common ancestry?

Accepted Answer

E is correct because the universal presence of amino acids, nucleic acids, and ATP in all cells supports the idea of a common ancestry. These molecules are fundamental to the biochemistry of life, suggesting that all organisms evolved from a common ancestor that used these molecules for similar biological processes.

Question 20

Of all the possible amino acids, all living organisms make use of only the same 20 amino acids. This supports the idea that

Accepted Answer

The universal use of the same 20 amino acids by all living organisms suggests a common origin, supporting the idea of a single common ancestor from which all life descended. This is a key piece of evidence for the theory of evolution.

Quiz 15: Principles of Evolution