Prework

Proteins are involved in _______ cellular processes.

Almost all

The field of ________ studies life

Biology

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

Closely matching genetic information

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

DNA to RNA to protein

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

Evolution

The mineralized traces of formerly living species are called ________.

Fossils

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 Fossils DNA molecules

Which of these is a component of the process of natural selection?

Individuals vary in their traits.

Because individuals vary in their traits, compete for resources, and vary in their fitness, the final component of natural selection results. What is this final step?

Populations become adapted to their environment.

Which molecules within a cell are involved in nearly every cellular process?

Proteins

Which of these molecules contain instructions for specific traits?

RNA DNA

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

Teeth Bones Shells

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).

Evolution, by its scientific definition, refers to

changes in a species or population over time.

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.

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.

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

have a close evolutionary relationship.

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

instructions for specific traits.

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

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

natural selection.

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