Living Environments: Evolution
Which of the following observations could best be used to indicate an evolutionary relationship between two species?
They have similar base sequences.
A basketball player develops speed and power as a result of practice. This athletic ability will not be passed on to her offspring because
base sequences in DNA are not affected by this activity.
In several species of birds, the males show off their bright colors and long feathers. The dull- colored females usually pick the brightest- colored males for mates. Male offspring inherit their father's bright colors and long feathers. Compared too earlier generations, future generations of these birds will be expected to have a greater proportion of
bright- colored males.
According to the theory of biological evolution, most present- day species of organisms
descended from earlier, different species of organisms.
Species of bacteria can evolve more quickly than species of mammals because bacteria have
higher rates of reproduction.
Throughout the history of life on Earth, many processes have resulted in new traits in organisms. Which list shows some of these processes in order from the oldest to the most recently used?
natural selection, selective breeding, gene manipulation.
If these two animals did have a common ancestor, which statement would best explain why there are differences in the bones?
Changes contributed to the survival of the organisms in their new environment.
Certain insects resemble the bark of the trees on which they live. Which statement provides a possible biological explanation for this resemblance?
Natural selection played a role in the development of this protective coloration.
Which statements is most closely related to the modern theory of evolution?
Organisms best adapted to a changed environment are more likely to reproduce and pass their genes to offspring.
Natural selection and its evolutionary consequences provide a scientific explanation for each of the following except
a stable physical environment.
Extinction occurs when the environment changes and
all members of a species are no longer living.
Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium commonly known as Bt, produces a protein that can kill certain insects that feed on corn crops. Scientists have been successful in transferring the gene that codes for this protein from the bacterium to the corn, so the corn can now make the Bt protein. A potential problem associated with increased production of Bt corn is
corn borers may develop resistance to the BT protein.
The fossil record of ancient life forms provides scientific evidence of
evolutionary changes.
The presence of some similar structures in all vertebrates suggests that these vertebrates
may have an evolutionary relationship.
Ancestors of the giant panda had rounded paws with five very short toes. Today, the giant panda has a sixth toe, often referred to as a thumb, even though it develops from a wrist bone. This unique thumb is an adaption that allows the panda to easily hold and eat bamboo shoots. The The presence of the giant panda's thumb is most likely the result of
natural selection.
The finite resources of Earth are often affected by increasing human consumption. These finite resources are
not renewable over a short period of time.
To determine evolutionary relationships between organisms, a comparison would most likely be made between all of the characteristics below except
number of their ATP molecules.
Years ago, an article was written titled, "Medicine Chest in the Jungle." This article most likely described the
potential for ecosystems to be a source for new drugs.
In a group of mushroom exposed to a poisonous chemical, only a few of the mushrooms survived. The best explanation for the resistance of the surviving mushrooms is that the resistance
resulted from the presence of mutations in the mushrooms.
The theory of biological evolution includes the concept that
species of organisms found on Earth today have adaptions not always found in earlier species.
Evidence that best supports the theory of biological evolution was obtained from the
study of fossil records.