Module 2

Which of these molecules contain instructions for specific traits?

-DNA -RNA

Select all that apply to complete this sentence. Fossils often form when the ______ of once-living organisms mineralize over time.

-bones -shells -teeth

Select all that apply. If you were to create a list to summarize the scientific evidence that supports the idea that populations evolve over time, which of these items would you include?

-homologous structures -DNA molecules -fossils

The Spanish flu infected one-third of the world's population, killing between ______and _____ million people.

30; 50

Which of these explains one of the processes by which the influenza virus evolves?

A mutation that changes the viral spikes is introduced into the genetic material.

-Studied biogeography in the South Pacific Islands. -Proposed the concept of speciation

Alfred Russel Wallace

-Is the result of the introduction of mutation -Results in a change to the surface spikes of the influenza virus -Can be attributed to RNA polymerase inefficiency -May make the annual vaccine less effective and cause local outbreaks

Antigenic drift

Why is Archaeopteryx considered to be a transitional fossil?

Because it has features of both birds and dinosaurs

Which of these choices explains how the process of evolution relates to the study of biology?

Biology is the study of the natural world and the process of evolution is a part of that world.

-Studied biogeography on the west coast of South America and the Galapágos Islands. -Proposed descent with modification -Proposed the process of natural selection

Charles Darwin

Normally, the flow of information in a cell is in which direction?

DNA to RNA to protein

In all organisms, except retroviruses, the flow of information is from _____ to _____ to ______.

DNA; RNA; protein

The process of natural selection and the idea of descent with modification were proposed by _______ after he notably studied beak size in finches on the Galapágos Islands.

Darwin

Which of these scientists is one of the two who independently proposed the mechanism for evolutionary change?

Darwin

Which is the correct comparison of the sources and ideas of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace?

Darwin studied biogeography and finches and proposed the theory of natural selection. Wallace studied biogeography and proposed the idea of speciation.

Which of these offers an explanation of the relationship between biology and evolution?

Evolution is the unifying theme of biology. This process helps to explain nearly every aspect of the biological sciences.

In the quest to produce effective influenza vaccinations, what are the consequences of evolution in the virus?

Sometimes the vaccines are not effective because predictions about the path of the viral evolution don't hold up.

Which statement summarizes the scientific evidence that supports the idea that populations evolve over time?

The idea that populations evolve over time is supported by physical evidence (including fossils, homologous structures, and embryonic development) and chemical evidence (including DNA and protein sequences).

Which best describes the consequences of evolution on producing effective influenza vaccines?

The process is more challenging because the virus evolves quickly.

Which of these explains one of the processes by which the influenza virus evolves?

Two different forms of the same virus infect the same host cell and a new virus is created with parts of each form.

During his voyage on the HMS Beagle, which of these observations did Darwin note as evidence for natural selection?

Very similar species of large, flightless birds in South America and Africa

The idea that changes in a population over time could lead to the formation of a new species was proposed by _______ after his study of biogeography in the South Pacific Islands.

Wallace

Which of these scientists is one of the two who independently proposed the mechanism for evolutionary change?

Wallace

Which of the following lists a pair of analogous structures?

a butterfly's wing/ a bird's wing

What is a transitional fossil?

a fossil that provides a link between groups of organisms

Many fields of biology study evolution, because evolution is involved in __ levels of biology.

all

-wing of a bat and wing of an insect -legs of a spider and legs of a dog

analogous

Structures that serve the same purpose but evolved independently are called ______ structures.

analogous

Which method of influenza evolution can be attributed in large part to the efficiency of RNA polymerase?

antigenic drift

-Typically involves animal hosts -Poses a relatively greater threat -A host cell manufactures particles from two forms of the virus -Delays immune response and may cause an outbreak

antigenic shift

Why are there fewer differences (mutations) between closely related organisms?

because there has been little time for mutation to arise

The field of ______ studies life.

biology

The evolution of a species is driven by genetic _______ , which can be passed from one generation to the next.

change

Evolution, by its scientific definition, refers to

changes in a species or population over time.

Which of the following would you expect to see between two species that have a close evolutionary relationship?

closely matching genetic information

Despite differences in their adult forms, similar embryonic structures suggest descent from a(n)

common ancestor

The study of homologous and analogous structures, also called ________ anatomy, studies the similarity of both living and fossilized species' structures to infer evolutionary relationships.

comparative

The importance of transitional fossils is that they

demonstrate relationships between two groups of organisms.

Which of these is suggested by similarities among embryos (like human and chicken) despite differences in the adult forms of these animals?

descent from a common ancestor

Which type of selection favors one extreme variant for a trait within a population?

directional selection

favors an extreme variant for a trait

directional selection

Which type of selection favors both extremes, making the most common variant for a trait in a population detrimental?

disruptive selection

favors two extremes, selecting against the most common variant for a trait

disruptive selection

From changes in cells over time to the interactions of ecosystems, ______ plays a role in all levels of biology.

evolution

The scientific definition of ______ refers to changes in a species or population over time.

evolution

Transitional fossils can tell us about the ______ among groups of organisms.

evolutionary relationships

The forelimbs of modern vertebrates are homologous structures, meaning that they may have changed evolutionarily to perform different functions, but they ______.

evolved from the same body part in a common ancestor

If a favorable mutation increases the ability of an individual to reproduce, then natural selection would

favor this variation.

The process of natural selection

favors some mutations, when they increase fitness.

Reproductive success among individuals with favorable traits, which they pass on to the next generation is often described using the term

fitness

One of the components of the process of natural selection is based upon an individual's ability to compete for resources in order to survive and reproduce. This component addresses the

fitness of individuals.

Even though the soft parts of an organism usually decompose when it dies, its hard parts may become mineralized to form _______ over time.

fossila

The mineralized traces of formerly living species are called

fossils

When an organism dies, its Blank______ may become mineralized, forming fossils.

hard parts

If two species have very similar genetic information, this means that they

have a close evolutionary relationship.

-cat foreleg and human forearm -dolphin flipper and wing of a bat

homologous

The pace of influenza evolution is ______ because of an enzyme called RNA polymerase, which is not very efficient and may introduce mutations when the virus reproduces within a host.

increased

The evolution of a species is driven by

inheritable genetic changes.

The genetic material of living things, DNA, or of a virus, which may be DNA or RNA, contains

instructions for specific traits.

Mutations arise over time, so when two organisms are closely related (in time), there has been

little time for mutations to alter their genes.

In support of the idea that species change over time, Darwin proposed a four step process called

natural selection

The process that drives evolution, and relies on variation in individuals, competition among individuals, differences in individual fitness, and adaptation to the environment, is called

natural selection

When fossils are arranged and compared according to their age, from _______, successive evolutionary change becomes apparent.

oldest to youngest

Because of the efficiency of RNA polymerase, which produces mRNA from viral RNA, the flu virus is able to

quickly acquire mutations and evolve rapidly.

With regards to evolution, fitness is most closely related to successful

reproduction

One of the steps in the process of natural selection involves the individual's struggle to exist, which is based upon competition for available ________ like food and shelter.

resources

While aboard the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin observed which of these as evidence for natural selection?

similarity in overall appearance in finches, but variation in beak shape and size

Which type of selection favors the most common variant for a trait in a population?

stabilizing selection

favors the average, or most common variant for a trait

stabilizing selection

Even though there are gaps in the fossil record, some of the most direct evidence for evolution comes from fossils called ______ fossils, which can show relationships between groups.

transitional

How many people were infected by the Spanish flu in 1918?

~ 500 million