Chapter 10 - Quiz

Prokaryotes are classified into _________ domain(s). a) 1 b) 6 c) 8 d) 4 e) 2

2

The oldest prokaryotic fossils have been dated: a) 3.5 billion years ago. b) 2.5 billion years ago. c) 2 billion years ago. d) 1.5 billion years ago. e) 4.6 billion years ago.

3.5 billion years ago.

Life arose from nonlife around _________ years ago. a) 400 billion b) 4 million c) 8 trillion d) 8 thousand e) 4 billion

4 billion

Life arose from nonlife around _________ years ago. a) 400 billion b) 8 thousand c) 8 trillion d) 4 million e) 4 billion

4 billion

What is the approximate age of Earth? a) 1.2 billion years b) 285 million years c) 7.2 billion years d) 4.6 billion years e) 565 million years

4.6 billion years

Which of the following scenarios would best facilitate adaptive radiation? a) A population of birds native to an island archipelago is forced to relocate to the mainland by a storm. b) A population of birds becomes stranded on an island archipelago. c) Darker-colored moths have a selective advantage over lighter-colored moths due to industrial soot on trees. d) A population of cheetahs goes through an event in which all genetic diversity in the population is wiped out. e) All of the above would facilitate adaptive radiation equally.

A population of birds becomes stranded on an island archipelago.

Habitat fragmentation can be a cause of: a) genetic drift. b) speciation. c) extinction. d) All of the above are correct. e) Only b) and c) are correct.

All of the above are correct.

Archaeans can be found in which of the following environments? a) hot springs b) very salty ponds c) on the bottom of the ocean d) All of the above are environments where archaeans live. e) Only b) and c) are true.

All of the above are environments where archaeans live.

Adaptive radiation might be expected after which of the following events? a) a mass extinction b) colonization of a new area c) evolution of a new feature, like the amniotic egg d) All of the above are true. e) Only a) and c) are true.

All of the above are true.

The RNA world hypothesis proposes that the world may have been filled with RNA-based life before it was filled with DNA-based life. This hypothesis is based on which of the following observations? a) RNA enzymes can link together nucleotides. b) RNA is abundant in living organisms. c) RNA has the ability to catalyze chemical reactions like proteins. d) RNA can store information like DNA. e) All of these observations support the RNA world hypothesis.

All of these observations support the RNA world hypothesis.

Which species concept is based on the degree of reproductive isolation between populations of species? a) Phylogenetic Species Concept b) Recognition Species Concept c) Morphological Species Concept d) Biological Species Concept e) Ecological Species Concept

Biological Species Concept

The idea of "punctuated equilibrium" suggests that species will show little to no evolutionary change throughout their history. When evolution does occur, according to this idea, it happens sporadically and relatively quickly compared to the species' full duration on Earth. This idea of evolution in spurts challenges which of the components of Darwin's theory of evolution? a) steady change b) gradualism c) species stasis d) Both a) and b) are correct. e) None of the above is correct.

Both a) and b) are correct.

The dark gray dots along the trunk of this evolutionary tree represent both common ancestors and: a) homologous features. b) speciation events. c) convergent traits. d) nodes. e) Both b) and d) are correct.

Both b) and d) are correct.

Which of the following BEST explains the finding that the nuclear DNA of house cats and African wild cats has a very high degree of similarity? a) House cats and African wild cats are both members of the family Felidae. b) House cats and African wild cats share a recent common ancestor. c) Convergent morphological evolution has occurred. d) Divergent morphological evolution has occurred. e) Environmental pressures were the same.

House cats and African wild cats share a recent common ancestor.

Different organisms with an identical specific epithet, such as Drosophila melanogaster and Thamnophis melanogaster, are related to each other at the level of: a) species. b) order. c) genus. d) family. e) No particular relationship is implied by the fact that two organisms have identical specific epithets.

No particular relationship is implied by the fact that two organisms have identical specific epithets.

Which of the following is NOT true about the tempo of evolution? a) Evolution always occurs gradually, with small changes over long periods of time. b) Rapid evolutionary changes by punctuated equilibrium proceed by a process different from natural selection. c) Scientific evidence now shows that gradualism, as proposed by Darwin, is wrong. d) Gaps in the fossil record mean that some creatures went extinct and then made a comeback. e) None of the above is true concerning the current view of the tempo of evolution.

None of the above is true concerning the current view of the tempo of evolution.

Which of the following could be classified as a postzygotic barrier leading to speciation? a) Two populations are isolated from each other by a mountain range. b) The sperm from males of one population cannot reach the egg in the ovaries of females in another population. c) Offspring from a mating between members of two populations are sterile. d) Two populations have different courtship rituals required for mating. e) The reproductive anatomy of those in one population prevents them from mating with another population.

Offspring from a mating between members of two populations are sterile.

Which of the following statements is INCORRECT? a) Oxygen was abundant in the Earth's early atmosphere, before the origin of life. b) Experiments like Miller and Urey's do not work in the presence of oxygen. c) Environments without oxygen are the best for preserving fossils. d) Oxygen attacks chemical bonds and extracts electrons, which prevents the formation of complex molecules. e) The accumulation of oxygen in the early environment was a result of the photosynthetic activity of terrestrial plants.

Oxygen was abundant in the Earth's early atmosphere, before the origin of life.

Which of the following lists the selected taxonomic categories in proper hierarchical order (from most inclusive to least inclusive)? a) Phylum; Class; Family; Genus b) Order; Family; Genus; Class c) Family; Class; Order; Species d) Phylum; Family; Class; Genus e) Kingdom; Class; Species; Order

Phylum; Class; Family; Genus

__________________ isolating mechanisms include hybrid mortality and hybrid infertility. a) Postzygotic b) Sympatric c) Prezygotic d) Barrier e) Environmental

Postzygotic

What kind of molecule is thought to have been the first genetic material? a) DNA b) protein c) microsphere d) carbohydrate e) RNA

RNA

Which of the following choices is NOT an important consideration when choosing a gene for phylogenetic sequence analysis? a) Mutations should occur randomly at a rate that reflects the true evolutionary distance between the organisms of interest. b) The marker gene should play a complex role in the cell so that it is unlikely to be subject to lateral transfer. c) The marker gene should have the same function in all the organisms of interest. d) The marker gene should be present in multiple copies due to duplication events in the organisms of interest. e) The marker gene should be large enough to contain a fair amount of phylogenetically useful information.

The marker gene should be present in multiple copies due to duplication events in the organisms of interest.

What scientist(s) first demonstrated in the laboratory that organic compounds could be synthesized in an abiotic environment? a) Rosalind Franklin b) Haldane and Oparin c) Urey and Miller d) Watson and Crick e) Anton Van Lueenhoech

Urey and Miller

Horses and donkeys can breed and produce sterile offspring known as mules. Horses and donkeys remain separate species because of this hybrid sterility, which is: a) a prezygotic barrier to reproduction. b) a postzygotic barrier to reproduction. c) a temporal barrier to reproduction. d) a geographical barrier to reproduction. e) a temporal barrier to isolation.

a postzygotic barrier to reproduction.

Phylogenetic trees are built using: a) similarities in the physical structure of organisms. b) similarities in the embryological development of organisms. c) similarities in the DNA sequences of organisms. d) tissue samples. e) a), b), and c) are all correct.

a), b), and c) are all correct.

The Eukarya split from the Archaea: a) about 2.5 billion years ago. b) about 4 million years ago. c) about 2.5 million years ago. d) about 4 billion years ago. e) about 400 million years ago.

about 2.5 billion years ago.

The phenomenon whereby a small number of species diversify into a much larger number of species, able to live in a wide diversity of habitats is known as: a) mass extinction. b) microevolution. c) adaptive radiation. d) colonization. e) background extinction.

adaptive radiation.

In a set of classic experiments performed in the early 1950s, Urey and Miller subjected an experimental system composed of H2, CH4 (methane), and NH4 (ammonia) to electrical sparks. A few days later, they found ________________ in their system. a) microspheres b) cells c) amino acids d) RNA e) DNA

amino acids

Which of the following groups would be placed nearest the fungi in a phylogenetic tree based on DNA sequences? a) archaea b) animals c) bacteria d) protists e) plants

animals

Which of the following domains share the most recent common ancestor? a) archaea and eubacteria b) eubacteria and eukarya c) archaea and eukarya d) None of the above: all three domains evolved from different ancestors. e) None of the above: all three domains are equally related to each other.

archaea and eukarya

The biomass of _______________, if they were all collected, dried out, and weighed, exceeds that of all the plants and animals on earth. a) bacteria b) mites c) nematodes d) archaea e) insects

bacteria

At the time life first appeared on earth, the atmosphere contained large amounts of nitrogen, methane, ammonia, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and: a) neon. b) oxygen. c) carbon dioxide. d) helium. e) ozone.

carbon dioxide.

Interacting systems of molecules enclosed in compartments called __________ evolved 3.8 billion years ago in living organisms. a) microspheres b) organs c) tissues d) circulatory systems e) cells

cells

Homo sapiens is the name of a species. Homo is the name of a genus. Hominidae is the name of a family. Primate is the name of an order. Mammal is the name of a: a) class. b) phylum. c) variety. d) kingdom. e) None of the above is correct.

class

The taxonomic rank that includes orders but not phyla is: a) kingdom. b) domain. c) genus. d) class. e) family.

class.

A group of birds fly off the mainland and end up on a distant set of islands. Once there, they find a large number of opportunities for diversification and adaptation. This situation is best described as which of the following? a) colonization event b) evolutionary innovation c) bottleneck d) discovery e) distribution of genes

colonization event

In comparing the streamlined nature of a dolphin and that of a shark, you conclude that the streamline feature evolved independently in sharks and dolphins. This common characteristic most likely is the result of: a) dolphins evolving from sharks. b) convergent evolution. c) homology. d) highly similar DNA sequences. e) descent from a recent common ancestor.

convergent evolution.

The Biological Species Concept: a) is the best and most accurate species concept. b) states that species that live together will eventually start breeding. c) states that a species is any group which shares similar DNA. d) states that any organisms that are biologically similar constitute a species. e) defines a species as any group of actually or potentially interbreeding species that produce viable offspring.

defines a species as any group of actually or potentially interbreeding species that produce viable offspring.

Which of the following is NOT a description of one group of archaea? a) disease-causing b) low-pH-tolerant c) methanogens d) high-pH-tolerant e) high-pressure-tolerant

disease-causing

Classification is an important aspect of understanding and describing the many life forms on earth. In their classification scheme, biologists use different "ranks" that are more or less inclusive. Which of the following correctly lists these ranks from most to least inclusive? a) phylum; family; order; genus; species b) kingdom; domain; family; genus; species c) genus; species; class; order; kingdom d) kingdom; order; class; genus; species e) domain; phylum; family; genus; species

domain; phylum; family; genus; species

Homo sapiens is the name of a species. Homo is the name of a genus. Hominidae is the name of a __________. Primate is the name of an order. Mammal is the name of a class. Animal is the name of a kingdom. Eukaryote is the name of a domain. a) family b) genera c) genome d) subspecies e) variety

family

The plural of genus is: a) genomus. b) genuses. c) genius. d) species. e) genera.

genera.

The taxonomic rank that includes species but not families is: a) class. b) order. c) variety. d) grade. e) genus.

genus

The taxonomic rank that includes species but not families is: a) class. b) domain. c) kingdom. d) variety. e) genus.

genus.

The idea that evolutionary change is slow and continuous is BEST described as: a) punctuated equilibrium. b) gradual change. c) microevolution. d) natural selection. e) geographic isolation.

gradual change.

The Morphological Species Concept: a) was developed early and still has major support. b) almost always incorrectly classified species due to homoplasies. c) is still the most accurate species concept in use. d) groups species based on how they have changed through time. e) groups species based on similar phenotype.

groups species based on similar phenotype.

All mammals have hair because they inherited that trait from a common ancestor. Features that are inherited from a common ancestor are called: a) convergent features. b) analogous features. c) homologous features. d) adaptive features. e) punctuated features.

homologous features.

The current mass extinction is believed to be primarily caused by: a) human actions. b) reduction in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. c) rising sea levels. d) asteroid impact. e) weather.

human actions.

The current mass extinction is believed to be primarily caused by: a) reduction in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. b) asteroid impact. c) weather. d) human actions. e) rising sea levels.

human actions.

The earth has gone through a series of mass extinctions caused by a variety of different factors. The current mass extinction is believed to be the result of: a) global warming. b) loss of the ozone layer. c) reduced levels of speciation. d) normal fluctuations in species diversity. e) human activities.

human activities.

Phylogenetic trees should be viewed as: a) intellectual exercises, not to be interpreted literally. b) true genealogical relationships of species. c) hypotheses regarding evolutionary relationships of groups of organisms. d) the result of vertical, but never horizontal, gene transfer. e) representations of allopatric speciation events.

hypotheses regarding evolutionary relationships of groups of organisms.

Phylogenetic trees should be viewed as: a) representations of allopatric speciation events. b) hypotheses regarding evolutionary relationships of groups of organisms. c) intellectual exercises, not to be interpreted literally. d) true genealogical relationships of species. e) the result of vertical, but never horizontal, gene transfer.

hypotheses regarding evolutionary relationships of groups of organisms.

Which of the following is NOT a difficulty with the biological species concept? a) asexual species b) ring species c) inbreeding species d) fossil species e) hybridizing species

inbreeding species

Which of the following lists of groupings or taxons is in descending order, from most inclusive to least inclusive? Some lists may be missing some of the intermediate taxons. a) family, order, class, species, genus b) class, family, species, order, phylum c) domain, phylum, family, class, species d) phylum, class, order, genus, family e) kingdom, class, family, genus, species

kingdom, class, family, genus, species

Which of the following is NOT caused by bacteria? a) strep throat b) morning breath c) malaria d) the taste of sourdough bread e) tuberculosis

malaria

The three phenomena that tend to trigger adaptive radiations are: a) horizontal gene transfer, convergent evolution, and polyploidy. b) sympatric speciation, allopatric speciation, and hybridization. c) mass extinctions, colonization events, and evolutionary innovations. d) hybridization, polyploidy, and background extinctions. e) reproductive isolation, punctuated equilibrium, and horizontal gene transfer.

mass extinctions, colonization events, and evolutionary innovations.

In the plant kingdom, all of the species are descended from a single common ancestor. In terms of phylogeny, what type of tree of life is this? a) uniphyletic b) allopatric c) sympatric d) monophyletic e) punctuated

monophyletic

The two individuals pictured above are members of different species because: a) hybrids between them are not fertile. b) they are at the far end of the ring in a ring species. c) of prezygotic barriers to their ability to breed. d) one is a predator, the other prey. e) of postzygotic barriers to their ability to breed.

of prezygotic barriers to their ability to breed.

Which by-product of photosynthesis was important in altering the atmosphere of the earth so that aerobic organisms could evolve? a) air b) carbon dioxide c) nitrogen d) fossil fuels e) oxygen

oxygen

Which of the following gases was the least abundant in the Earth's atmosphere 3.5 billion years ago? a) water vapor b) oxygen c) nitrogen d) carbon monoxide e) carbon dioxide

oxygen

The taxonomic rank that includes classes but not domains is: a) phylum. b) genus. c) grade. d) order. e) family.

phylum.

Polyploidy as mechanism of speciation occurs most commonly in which of the following? a) fungi b) plants c) sponges d) polychaete worms e) molluscs

plants

Bacteria and Archaea are the two domains whose members are: a) decomposers. b) primary consumers. c) eukaryotic. d) prokaryotic. e) multicellular.

prokaryotic.

Though you were not on earth at the time, if you had to predict the method of reproduction utilized by the earliest organisms on this planet, which of the following choices would you select? a) alternating between sexual and asexual reproduction b) reproduction by duplicating their DNA material and dividing in two c) sexual reproduction as it is seen in current eukaryotic organisms d) None of the above are correct; the earliest organism most likely did not reproduce. e) None of the above are correct, a combination of fission and fusion occurred.

reproduction by duplicating their DNA material and dividing in two

Though you were not on earth at the time, if you had to predict the method of reproduction utilized by the earliest organisms on this planet, which of the following choices would you select? a) reproduction by duplicating their DNA material and dividing in two b) alternating between sexual and asexual reproduction c) sexual reproduction as it is seen in current eukaryotic organisms d) None of the above are correct; the earliest organism most likely did not reproduce. e) None of the above are correct, a combination of fission and fusion occurred.

reproduction by duplicating their DNA material and dividing in two

If formerly interbreeding organisms are prevented from the production of fertile offspring, ____________ has occurred. a) reproductive isolation b) geographic isolation c) psychological isolation d) behavioral isolation e) physiological isolation

reproductive isolation

The biological species concept is primarily based on: a) genome. b) morphological differentiation. c) phylogenetic history. d) reproductive isolation. e) behavioral differentiation.

reproductive isolation.

According to the Biological Species Concept, species are natural populations of organisms that have the potential to interbreed and that are ____________ isolated from other such populations. a) reproductively b) spatially c) prezygotically d) temporally e) auditorially

reproductively

Populations of Larus gulls around the North Pole show an unusual pattern of reproductive isolation: each population is able to interbreed with its neigboring populations, but populations separated by larger geographic distances are not able to interbreed. This type of species complex is known as a(n): a) ring species b) linked species c) polyploid species d) circular species e) Escher species

ring species

The more morphological characteristics that two species of animals share, the more likely it is that they: a) live in the same habitat. b) have evolved by genetic drift. c) have hybridized. d) have evolved by convergent evolution. e) share a common descent.

share a common descent.

The dark gray dots along the trunk of this evolutionary tree represent both common ancestors and: a) branches. b) analogous traits. c) convergent traits. d) bi-modal distribution e) speciation events.

speciation events.

Which of the following taxonomic ranks is least inclusive? a) species b) class c) genus d) family e) order

species

A population of organisms that breaks away and becomes different from the original population through isolation and separate evolution might eventually become a separate: a) class. b) order. c) genus. d) diversity. e) species.

species.

Horses and donkeys can breed and produce offspring known as mules. Yet horses and donkeys remain separate species. This is because of the __________________ of the mules. a) sterility b) hybrid breakdown c) geographic isolation d) temporal isolation e) inviability

sterility

Speciation without geographic isolation is called: a) sympatric speciation. b) polyploidy speciation. c) allopatric speciation. d) parapatric speciation. e) autopatric speciation.

sympatric speciation.

Phase 1 of the creation of life on earth was the formation of small molecules containing carbon and hydrogen. Phase 2 was the formation of self-replicating, information containing molecules. Phase 3 was: a) the development of a nucleus, enabling metabolism and creating the first cells. b) the formation of RNA. c) the cooling of the earth to a temperature conducive to life. d) the formation of DNA. e) the development of a membrane, enabling metabolism and creating the first cells.

the development of a membrane, enabling metabolism and creating the first cells.

Phase 1 of the creation of life on earth was _____________________. Phase 2 was the formation of self-replicating, information containing molecules. Phase 3 was the development of a membrane, enabling metabolism and creating the first cells. a) the formation of RNA b) the formation of small molecules containing carbon and hydrogen c) the formation of DNA d) the increase in the amount of atmospheric oxygen. e) the formation of membranes so that later cells could develop

the formation of small molecules containing carbon and hydrogen

Several factors influence whether a family or a species becomes extinct--these include competition and changing environmental conditions. Which graphical feature of the data on background extinctions is related to this issue? a) the green line indicating rate of background extinctions is not straight b) rates of mass extinctions are shown to higher than background extinctions c) data is for families and not species d) the green line never gets higher than around 15% e) only data from the last 500 million years are shown

the green line indicating rate of background extinctions is not straight

Which of the following accurately states the goal of biological classification? a) the acknowledgement that ancestral eukaryotes gave rise to ancestral bacteria and archaeans b) a way to include all biological entities, including viruses, in the tree of life c) the separation of all organisms into four separate kingdoms d) the grouping of organisms into categories that reflects their evolutionary history e) the grouping of organisms into three large polyphyletic categories

the grouping of organisms into categories that reflects their evolutionary history

Which of the following accurately states the goal of biological classification? a) the grouping of organisms into three large polyphyletic categories b) the separation of all organisms into four separate kingdoms c) the grouping of organisms into categories that reflects their evolutionary history d) the acknowledgement that ancestral eukaryotes gave rise to ancestral bacteria and archaeans e) a way to include all biological entities, including viruses, in the tree of life

the grouping of organisms into categories that reflects their evolutionary history

The mass extinction that occurred on earth 65 million years ago was immediately followed by: a) the rise of archaea. b) the emergence of the first non-photosynthetic organisms. c) an increase in atmospheric oxygen levels. d) the rapid divergence and radiation of modern mammals. e) the rise of the reptiles, including the dinosaurs.

the rapid divergence and radiation of modern mammals.

Much of what is known about the history of the origin of life came from: a) written history. b) educated guesses. c) the study of climatic change. d) the study of fossils. e) None of the above; nothing is known about the history of the origin of life.

the study of fossils.

Scientists disagree about how many species are currently on earth for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: a) there is controversy over whether natural selection is the only mode of speciation. b) there is not one true definition of species. c) at any one time, there are few populations in the process of speciation. d) there are many organisms on Earth that have yet to be discovered. e) different scientists use different techniques to estimate the actual number of species from the known number of species.

there is controversy over whether natural selection is the only mode of speciation.

At the time life first evolved on earth: a) there was more oxygen and less methane in the atmosphere than there is today. b) there was less oxygen and more methane in the atmosphere than there is today. c) there was less oxygen and less methane in the atmosphere than there is today. d) the amounts of oxygen and methane in the atmosphere were the same as today. e) None of the above is correct.

there was less oxygen and more methane in the atmosphere than there is today.

Analogous features are problematic when constructing evolutionary trees because: a) they are the result of common ancestry rather than natural selection b) they are based on comparative anatomy rather than embryology. c) they diverge and eventually converge. d) they are the result of natural selection rather than common ancestry. e) they are based on DNA rather than comparative anatomy.

they are the result of natural selection rather than common ancestry.

The green arrow in the diagram above represents: a) number of evolved characteristics. b) direction of stabilizing evolution. c) number of common ancestors. d) evolutionary advancement. e) time.

time.

Which of the following molecules was NOT present in the pre-biotic environment? a) methane (CH4) b) triethylene glycol c) ammonia (NH3) d) water (H20) e) hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

triethylene glycol

Mass extinctions are periods during which a large number of species on earth become extinct over a short period of time. Which of the following typically follows mass extinctions? a) natural selection can no longer occur b) species' size is reduced c) unusually rapid adaptive radiation and diversification of species d) a sharp increase in background extinctions e) the rate at which species can adapt to changing environmental conditions slows down

unusually rapid adaptive radiation and diversification of species

Urey and Miller's experimental setup was able to produce all twenty of the amino acids found in proteins. Some amino acids contain the element oxygen. What starting material in the Urey-Miller experiment was source of this element? a) methane b) ammonia c) hydrogen gas d) water e) electrical sparks

water

Which of the following is not a pair of homologous structures? a) wing of a house fly and the eye of a dog b) tail of a cat and the tailbones in humans c) the antenna of a butterfly and the antenna of a moth d) the front leg of a horse and the flipper of a seal e) bird wing and the human hand

wing of a house fly and the eye of a dog