Exam 22: Evolution and the Origins of Life

In each local environment, populations of living organisms have evolved to possess the traits necessary to survive and reproduce. This concept is called

Which one of the following taxonomic categories is defined as a group of organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring?

________ was an early human ancestor thought to be among the first tool makers.

The branch of science that deals with the naming and grouping of organisms is known as

In the scientific process, the word ________ is reserved for those few major concepts that offer the best explanation to fit a broad range of established facts.

In the early Earth, the development of ________ created oxygen gas in the atmosphere.

The early atmosphere of Earth did not contain the gas ________; it is believed that life as we know it would not have evolved if this gas had been present.

Match each stage in the evolution of humans to its description. -used a spoken language; large brain size; humanlike anatomy

The evolution of ________ caused the death of many anaerobic organisms, and in their place evolved new aerobic organisms.

In the history of Earth and in the evolution of living cells, two self-replicating molecules have formed: DNA and RNA. Determine whether each of the following characteristics can be attributed to DNA or RNA. Answers may be used more than once. A) both DNA and RNA B) DNA C) RNA -molecule first formed on templates of clay in mudflats

There are several sources of scientific evidence to support the theory of evolution. Match each of the following to its description. -branch of science that focuses on classifying and naming life-forms

Approximately how long ago did the first distinctly human ancestor appear?

Based on the figure above, which one of the following appears to be in the direct ancestral path of modern humans?

Anatomical parts of the body that serve little or no function are referred to as

The ability to extract oxygen from the environment and use it to make energy is called

Based on the figure above, which one of the following groups is most closely related to humans?

Life began on Earth approximately ________ years ago.

Match each stage in the evolution of humans to its description. -first in the lineage in the development of humans; ape-like anatomy; sexual dimorphism; walked upright

When conditions are right, many new species may develop in a relatively short period of time from a single ancestor. Such short bursts of evolutionary activity are called

As geographically isolated human subpopulations became adapted to different environments over time, different phenotypes resulted, causing the evolution of various human ________.