Exam 16: An Introduction to Evolution: Charles Darwin, Evolutionary Thought, and the Evidence for Evolution

Instead of being trained as a biologist, Charles Darwin actually received a ________ degree.

The so-called modern synthesis of evolution brought together the evidence for evolution and the ideas of genetics.

Match the following. A) evidence for evolution from the existence of vestigial characters B) experimental evidence for evolution C) evidence for evolution from homologous structures D) supportive evidence for evolution from radiometric dating E) evidence for evolution from gene modification -Measuring the decay of radioactive elements suggests that the Earth is about 4.6 billion years old.

Match the following. A) evidence for evolution from the existence of vestigial characters B) experimental evidence for evolution C) evidence for evolution from homologous structures D) supportive evidence for evolution from radiometric dating E) evidence for evolution from gene modification -Male guppies evolve brighter coloration when they are placed in a predator-free environment and less-brilliant colors when they are placed in an environment with predators.

Even though nineteenth-century scientists came to accept the fact of evolution, what was required for natural selection to be accepted as the driving force of evolution?

The most important concept that Charles Darwin brought to the discussion of evolution was that natural selection was the driving force behind the change that occurred in organisms over time.

Match the following. A) evidence for evolution from the existence of vestigial characters B) experimental evidence for evolution C) evidence for evolution from homologous structures D) supportive evidence for evolution from radiometric dating E) evidence for evolution from gene modification -Whales, cats, bats, and gorillas all have similar sets of forelimb bones despite the fact that these forelimbs are used for extremely different functions.

Animals use auricular muscles to swivel their ears to home in on sounds. Humans have auricular muscles but we can't turn our ears. So why do humans have auricular muscles?

Evolution can be used to explain all of the following except:

Match the following. A) evidence for evolution from the existence of vestigial characters B) experimental evidence for evolution C) evidence for evolution from homologous structures D) supportive evidence for evolution from radiometric dating E) evidence for evolution from gene modification -The number of nucleotide differences between cytochrome c oxidase genes in different species is related to how recently the two species shared a common ancestor.

Evidence that supports the theory of evolution is found in studies of:

In science, theories are well established and thus are not "theoretical" in the everyday usage of the word.

If you are studying the physical forms that organisms take, you are studying:

Who believed that species evolve by passing acquired characteristics to offspring?

Scientists have been able to date objects from nearly the formation of the Earth using:

Refer to the figure below, and then answer the question that follows. -The forelimb of the common ancestor of whales, cats, bats, and gorillas would have had how many digits?

Natural selection is regarded as a theory because:

Charles Darwin usually gets more credit for the theory of evolution than Alfred Russel Wallace because Darwin thought of the idea first and published a mass of evidence in its support.

Refer to the scenario below and then answer the following question(s). In a fossil bed, you discover the preserved bones of a winged animal mixed in with the bones of small rodents. The small rodents are known from other fossils to have lived about two million years ago, but they are now extinct. -What can you conclude from the fact that the bones of the winged animal are found in the same fossil bed as the rodent bones?

The scientist in Darwin's time who championed the idea of the inheritance of acquired characteristics was ________.