Question 1

Which of the following taxa are monophyletic?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 only. 
B)  2 only. 
C)  3 only. 
D)  1 and 3 only. 
E)  2 and 3 only. 
A)  1 only. 
B)  2 only. 
C)  3 only. 
D)  1 and 3 only. 
E)  2 and 3 only. C

Question 2

A group of organisms that are morphologically similar but descended from two or more ancestral forms, is known as a

Accepted Answer

A)  monophyletic group. 
B)  polyphyletic group. 
C)  paraphyletic group. 
D)  homologous group. 
E)  heterologous group. 
A)  monophyletic group. 
B)  polyphyletic group. 
C)  paraphyletic group. 
D)  homologous group. 
E)  heterologous group. B

Question 3

Which of the following statements about classification schemes for the major groups of cellular life is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Domain Eukarya consists of the Kingdoms Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and some of the Protista. 
B)  The Kingdom Monera, in the five-kingdom classification, is equivalent to the Kingdoms Eubacteria and Archaeobacteria, in the six-kingdom classification. 
C)  The Domain Archaea includes the Kingdoms Archaeobacteria and Eubacteria. 
D)  The domain Eukarya includes the Kingdoms of Protists, Archaea, Fungi and Animalia. 
E)  The three-domain classification scheme is the oldest system of classification. 
A)  The Domain Eukarya consists of the Kingdoms Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and some of the Protista. 
B)  The Kingdom Monera, in the five-kingdom classification, is equivalent to the Kingdoms Eubacteria and Archaeobacteria, in the six-kingdom classification. 
C)  The Domain Archaea includes the Kingdoms Archaeobacteria and Eubacteria. 
D)  The domain Eukarya includes the Kingdoms of Protists, Archaea, Fungi and Animalia. 
E)  The three-domain classification scheme is the oldest system of classification. B

Question 4

Two different species of bacteria have long been placed in the same clade in a phylogenetic tree. However, this placement is based on morphological and physiological similarities. How would a scientist determine if these bacteria actually share a common ancestor, or have shared traits due to convergent evolution and are therefore a polyphyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chromatography 
B)  Glycoprotein similarities 
C)  gDNA sequence analysis 
D)  UV microscopy 
E)  cpDNA or mtDNA sequence analysis 
A)  Chromatography 
B)  Glycoprotein similarities 
C)  gDNA sequence analysis 
D)  UV microscopy 
E)  cpDNA or mtDNA sequence analysis

Question 5

The following table shows the bases at six positions in a region of nuclear DNA from five genera of ferns. A, B, C and D are genera within the Family Blechnaceae whereas E is from the Family Dicksoniaceae.
Base position 41 52 63 69 75 96
Genus A T G A C A C
Genus B C A A C G C
Genus C T G A C G T
Genus D C G A C G C
Genus E C A A T G C
The change (base substitution) at base position 52 is a synapomorphic character for genera

Accepted Answer

A)  A and C only. 
B)  A, C and D only. 
C)  A, B, C and D only. 
D)  B and E only. 
E)  A and D only. 
A)  A and C only. 
B)  A, C and D only. 
C)  A, B, C and D only. 
D)  B and E only. 
E)  A and D only.

Question 6

Which of the following pairs could be considered both analogous and homologous?

Accepted Answer

A)  The wings of bats and butterflies. 
B)  The pectoral flippers of seals and dolphins. 
C)  The pectoral flippers of seals and the wings of bats. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
E)  None of the answers are correct. 
A)  The wings of bats and butterflies. 
B)  The pectoral flippers of seals and dolphins. 
C)  The pectoral flippers of seals and the wings of bats. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
E)  None of the answers are correct.

Question 7

Echidnas, wombats and ghost bats have hair and suckle their young with milk from mammary glands, and these characteristics distinguish them from other amniotes, including their ancestors, early reptiles. Wombats and ghost bats have separate anal and urogenital openings, and mammary glands with teats. Wombat young are born at an early embryonic stage and complete their development attached to teats inside a protective pouch.
When determining the evolutionary relationship between wombats and ghost bats, the teats and pouches of wombats would both be considered

Accepted Answer

A)  plesiomorphic characters. 
B)  apomorphic characters. 
C)  synapomorphic characters. 
D)  autapomorphic characters. 
E)  phylogenetic character. 
A)  plesiomorphic characters. 
B)  apomorphic characters. 
C)  synapomorphic characters. 
D)  autapomorphic characters. 
E)  phylogenetic character.

Question 8

Both moles (mammals) and mole crickets (insects) are burrowing animals. They dig with robust forelimbs, which are in both, relatively short, broad and somewhat flattened. Because of these similarities in structure and function, the forelimbs of moles and mole crickets are

Accepted Answer

A)  vestigial structures. 
B)  homologous structures. 
C)  analogous structures. 
D)  apomorphic structures. 
E)  heterologous structures. 
A)  vestigial structures. 
B)  homologous structures. 
C)  analogous structures. 
D)  apomorphic structures. 
E)  heterologous structures.

Question 9

A cladogram

Accepted Answer

A)  shows the evolutionary relationship between all organisms. 
B)  indicates the relationship between organisms based on comparison of features. 
C)  shows which characteristics animals share. 
D)  is an analysis of the function of specific related genes of organisms. 
E)  is a tree based on the relatedness of the genes of organisms. 
A)  shows the evolutionary relationship between all organisms. 
B)  indicates the relationship between organisms based on comparison of features. 
C)  shows which characteristics animals share. 
D)  is an analysis of the function of specific related genes of organisms. 
E)  is a tree based on the relatedness of the genes of organisms.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the construction of phylogenetic trees from molecular data is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Organisms with similar enzymes are probably closely related. 
B)  All organisms share identical coding sequences for each amino acid. 
C)  The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide can be used to construct a phylogenetic tree. 
D)  Analysis of the amino acid sequence may be used to confirm parallel evolution of species. 
E)  Knowledge of the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide is only useful when comparing organisms with morphological homologies. 
A)  Organisms with similar enzymes are probably closely related. 
B)  All organisms share identical coding sequences for each amino acid. 
C)  The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide can be used to construct a phylogenetic tree. 
D)  Analysis of the amino acid sequence may be used to confirm parallel evolution of species. 
E)  Knowledge of the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide is only useful when comparing organisms with morphological homologies.

Question 11

Echidnas, wombats and ghost bats have hair and suckle their young with milk from mammary glands, and these characteristics distinguish them from other amniotes, including their ancestors, early reptiles. Wombats and ghost bats have separate anal and urogenital openings, and mammary glands with teats. Wombat young are born at an early embryonic stage and complete their development attached to teats inside a protective pouch.
In constructing a phylogeny for wombats, echidnas and ghost bats, having hair would be considered a

Accepted Answer

A)  plesiomorphic character. 
B)  apomorphic character. 
C)  synapomorphic character. 
D)  autapomorphic character. 
E)  phylogenetic character. 
A)  plesiomorphic character. 
B)  apomorphic character. 
C)  synapomorphic character. 
D)  autapomorphic character. 
E)  phylogenetic character.

Question 12

Mitochondrial DNA is suitable for tracing the evolutionary history of closely related species because it

Accepted Answer

A)  has a highly conserved gene order. 
B)  is more easily sequenced than nuclear DNA. 
C)  accumulates transition mutations quickly. 
D)  accumulates transversion mutations slowly. 
E)  is single stranded and so easier to sequence. 
A)  has a highly conserved gene order. 
B)  is more easily sequenced than nuclear DNA. 
C)  accumulates transition mutations quickly. 
D)  accumulates transversion mutations slowly. 
E)  is single stranded and so easier to sequence.

Question 13

When constructing a cladogram, which of the following is considered most important?

Accepted Answer

A)  Analogous characteristics 
B)  Homologous characteristics 
C)  Overall phenotypic similarity 
D)  Comparative embryology 
E)  Gene homology 
A)  Analogous characteristics 
B)  Homologous characteristics 
C)  Overall phenotypic similarity 
D)  Comparative embryology 
E)  Gene homology

Question 14

The most highly conserved sequences of DNA in eukaryotic organisms are found within particular sections of

Accepted Answer

A)  mitochondrial DNA. 
B)  neutral DNA. 
C)  nuclear DNA. 
D)  chloroplast DNA. 
E)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  mitochondrial DNA. 
B)  neutral DNA. 
C)  nuclear DNA. 
D)  chloroplast DNA. 
E)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Highly conserved genes, such as the DNA of mitochondrial DNA, are useful for studying primitive relationships between organisms. 
B)  The stability of DNA is the basis for studying the evolutionary relatedness of organisms. 
C)  Regions of DNA where base substitutions accumulate rapidly are useful for studying the phylogeny of closely related organisms. 
D)  As the DNA mutation rate is constant, DNA analysis provides more accurate information on relatedness of organisms than morphology. 
E)  Nuclear genes such as ribosomal DNA are constant and so are no use in examining relatedness of organisms. 
A)  Highly conserved genes, such as the DNA of mitochondrial DNA, are useful for studying primitive relationships between organisms. 
B)  The stability of DNA is the basis for studying the evolutionary relatedness of organisms. 
C)  Regions of DNA where base substitutions accumulate rapidly are useful for studying the phylogeny of closely related organisms. 
D)  As the DNA mutation rate is constant, DNA analysis provides more accurate information on relatedness of organisms than morphology. 
E)  Nuclear genes such as ribosomal DNA are constant and so are no use in examining relatedness of organisms.

Question 16

A new species of rainforest tree, with orange berries and hairy leaves, is discovered in Queensland. The berries are found to contain a compound with potent antifungal properties but the plant is rare and endangered. Where would you look first for a more abundant source of this compound?

Accepted Answer

A)  Other rainforest plants with orange berries. 
B)  Other plants in the same family. 
C)  Other plants in the same genus. 
D)  Plants growing in similar climates. 
E)  Other plants in the same area. 
A)  Other rainforest plants with orange berries. 
B)  Other plants in the same family. 
C)  Other plants in the same genus. 
D)  Plants growing in similar climates. 
E)  Other plants in the same area.

Question 17

In the Linnaean hierarchy, which of the following taxonomic ranks includes all the others?

Accepted Answer

A)  Phylum 
B)  Family 
C)  Order 
D)  Class 
E)  Genus 
A)  Phylum 
B)  Family 
C)  Order 
D)  Class 
E)  Genus

Question 18

Which one of the following plants has NOT had its entire cpDNA genomes sequenced?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some algae 
B)  Maize 
C)  Cyclamen 
D)  Oranges 
E)  Blue gum 
A)  Some algae 
B)  Maize 
C)  Cyclamen 
D)  Oranges 
E)  Blue gum

Question 19

Comparative study of DNA or proteins from different species often demonstrates different relatedness of organisms that a study of morphology. This is because

Accepted Answer

A)  some organisms may be related, but have no morphological similarity. 
B)  all proteins from a similar DNA sequence have the same function. 
C)  chloroplast DNA more accurately demonstrates the relatedness of plants as it has changed little with evolution. 
D)  point mutations in DNA may lead to very different organisms being produced. 
E)  most organisms have similar genes, so small changes in sequence have large morphological effects 
A)  some organisms may be related, but have no morphological similarity. 
B)  all proteins from a similar DNA sequence have the same function. 
C)  chloroplast DNA more accurately demonstrates the relatedness of plants as it has changed little with evolution. 
D)  point mutations in DNA may lead to very different organisms being produced. 
E)  most organisms have similar genes, so small changes in sequence have large morphological effects

Question 20

Which of the following techniques is likely to be used in constructing a phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

A)  Examination of DNA-DNA hybridisation data 
B)  Comparison of ectoparasites 
C)  Comparison of chromosome structure and banding patterns 
D)  Comparative morphology 
E)  All of the answers are correct 
A)  Examination of DNA-DNA hybridisation data 
B)  Comparison of ectoparasites 
C)  Comparison of chromosome structure and banding patterns 
D)  Comparative morphology 
E)  All of the answers are correct

Exam 32: Evolving Life

Which of the following taxa are monophyletic?

A group of organisms that are morphologically similar but descended from two or more ancestral forms, is known as a

Which of the following statements about classification schemes for the major groups of cellular life is true?

Which of the following pairs could be considered both analogous and homologous?

Both moles (mammals) and mole crickets (insects) are burrowing animals. They dig with robust forelimbs, which are in both, relatively short, broad and somewhat flattened. Because of these similarities in structure and function, the forelimbs of moles and mole crickets are

A cladogram

Which of the following statements about the construction of phylogenetic trees from molecular data is true?

Mitochondrial DNA is suitable for tracing the evolutionary history of closely related species because it

When constructing a cladogram, which of the following is considered most important?

The most highly conserved sequences of DNA in eukaryotic organisms are found within particular sections of

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A new species of rainforest tree, with orange berries and hairy leaves, is discovered in Queensland. The berries are found to contain a compound with potent antifungal properties but the plant is rare and endangered. Where would you look first for a more abundant source of this compound?

In the Linnaean hierarchy, which of the following taxonomic ranks includes all the others?

Which one of the following plants has NOT had its entire cpDNA genomes sequenced?

Comparative study of DNA or proteins from different species often demonstrates different relatedness of organisms that a study of morphology. This is because

Which of the following techniques is likely to be used in constructing a phylogenetic tree?

Nature of Molecules

Biomolecules

The Chemistry of Life

Functioning Cells

Movement Across Membranes

Harvesting Energy

Cells, Tissues and Signals

Cell Division

Inheritance

Genes, Chromosomes and Dna

The Genetic Code

Gene Expression

Genomes, Mutation and Cancer

Viruses

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Reproduction, Growth and Development of Flowering Plants

Structure of Plants

Plant Nutrition, Transport and Adaptation to Stress

Plant Hormones and Growth Responses

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Homeostasis: Water, Solutes and Excretion

Gas Exchange in Animals

Circulation

Metabolism, Temperature Regulation and Environmental Stress

Animal and Human Nutrition

Innate Defences and the Immune System

Hormonal Control in Animals

Nervous Systems

Animal Movement

Animal Behaviour

Evolving Earth

Mechanisms of Evolution

Bacteria

The Protists

Plants

Fungi

Simple Animals: Sponges to Flatworms

Annelids, Molluscs, Nematodes and Arthropods

Echinoderms and Chordates

Australian Biota

Population Ecology

Living in Communities

Ecosystems

Human Impacts

Filters