Question 1

A sea squirt is thought to be more closely related to vertebrates than once thought because

Accepted Answer

A)  both the adult and larval forms of the sea squirt have a notochord. 
B)  adult sea squirts have notochords. 
C)  sea squirt larvae have a vertebral column. 
D)  both vertebrate embryos and sea squirt larvae have notochords. 
E)  adult frogs have notochords. 
A)  both the adult and larval forms of the sea squirt have a notochord. 
B)  adult sea squirts have notochords. 
C)  sea squirt larvae have a vertebral column. 
D)  both vertebrate embryos and sea squirt larvae have notochords. 
E)  adult frogs have notochords. D

Question 2

Discuss the implications of the following statement for the field of systematics: "DNA is the genetic material for all prokaryotes and eukaryotes."

Accepted Answer

Some of the implications of this statement are that DNA evolved as the genetic material before eukaryotes had diverged from prokaryotes, that DNA is an ancestral and general homologous trait, and that all surviving eukaryotes have DNA as their genetic material.

Question 3

According to the practices of biological nomenclature, if the same name is inadvertently given to two different species,

Accepted Answer

A)  the species named first keeps the name and the second species is given a replacement name. 
B)  the species named last keeps the name and the species named first is given a replacement name. 
C)  a coin is flipped. 
D)  the head of the Cladistics Society chooses which species keeps the name. 
E)  both species are given new names. 
A)  the species named first keeps the name and the second species is given a replacement name. 
B)  the species named last keeps the name and the species named first is given a replacement name. 
C)  a coin is flipped. 
D)  the head of the Cladistics Society chooses which species keeps the name. 
E)  both species are given new names. A

Question 4

Suppose you are writing a scientific paper about a unicellular green alga called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. What is the proper way to refer to this species after the full binomial has been used once?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chlamydomonas reinhardtii 
B)  Chlamydomonas spp. 
C)  Chlamydomonas sp. 
D)  C. reinhardtii 
E)  Chlamydomonas r. 
A)  Chlamydomonas reinhardtii 
B)  Chlamydomonas spp. 
C)  Chlamydomonas sp. 
D)  C. reinhardtii 
E)  Chlamydomonas r.

Question 5

Taxonomists strive to include taxa in biological classifications that are

Accepted Answer

A)  monophyletic. 
B)  paraphyletic. 
C)  polyphyletic. 
D)  homoplastic. 
E)  monomorphic. 
A)  monophyletic. 
B)  paraphyletic. 
C)  polyphyletic. 
D)  homoplastic. 
E)  monomorphic.

Question 6

In the last few decades, the number of studies in the study and classification of biodiversity, also called _______, has increased dramatically.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the last few decades, the number...

Question 7

Which of the following scientists proposed the molecular clock hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carolus Linnaeus 
B)  James Watson 
C)  Linus Pauling 
D)  Motoo Kimura 
E)  Charles Darwin 
A)  Carolus Linnaeus 
B)  James Watson 
C)  Linus Pauling 
D)  Motoo Kimura 
E)  Charles Darwin

Question 8

Histone genes, which evolve very slowly, would most likely be used to study

Accepted Answer

A)  relationships among very similar species. 
B)  relationships within the same genera. 
C)  relationships among extinct organisms. 
D)  organisms that diverged long ago. 
E)  None of the above 
A)  relationships among very similar species. 
B)  relationships within the same genera. 
C)  relationships among extinct organisms. 
D)  organisms that diverged long ago. 
E)  None of the above

Question 9

Gibbons are more distantly related to humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas than the three are related to one another. Thus, gibbons are considered to be a(n) _______ in relation to the other three.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gibbons are more distantly related to humans,...

Question 10

Which of the following would not be expected to result in homoplasy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Convergent evolution 
B)  The independent evolution of similar structures in different lineages 
C)  Selection for traits that perform similar functions 
D)  The inheritance of ancestral traits 
E)  An evolutionary reversal 
A)  Convergent evolution 
B)  The independent evolution of similar structures in different lineages 
C)  Selection for traits that perform similar functions 
D)  The inheritance of ancestral traits 
E)  An evolutionary reversal

Question 11

Which of the following practices tends to hinder taxonomic work?

Accepted Answer

A)  The use of monophyletic groups 
B)  The historical separation of botany and zoology 
C)  The use of universal data bases 
D)  A commonly accepted set of rules 
E)  All of the above 
A)  The use of monophyletic groups 
B)  The historical separation of botany and zoology 
C)  The use of universal data bases 
D)  A commonly accepted set of rules 
E)  All of the above

Question 12

In biological classification, the suffix "-aceae" refers to a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  genus of plants. 
B)  genus of animals. 
C)  family of plants. 
D)  family of animals. 
E)  order of plants. 
A)  genus of plants. 
B)  genus of animals. 
C)  family of plants. 
D)  family of animals. 
E)  order of plants.

Question 13

The suffix "-idae" (e.g., Sciuridae) refers to organisms of which Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bacteria 
B)  Fungi 
C)  Plant 
D)  Animal 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Bacteria 
B)  Fungi 
C)  Plant 
D)  Animal 
E)  All of the above

Question 14

The common ancestor of humans and the other "great apes" walked on all fours, while humans are bipeds. Bipedalism is thus the _______ trait.

Accepted Answer

A)  ancestral 
B)  homoplasic 
C)  synapomorphic 
D)  derived 
E)  monophyletic 
A)  ancestral 
B)  homoplasic 
C)  synapomorphic 
D)  derived 
E)  monophyletic

Question 15

A synapomorphy is

Accepted Answer

A)  the product of convergent evolution. 
B)  the result of an evolutionary reversal. 
C)  a shared derived characteristic. 
D)  a trait that was present in the ancestor of a group. 
E)  a phylogenetic tree. 
A)  the product of convergent evolution. 
B)  the result of an evolutionary reversal. 
C)  a shared derived characteristic. 
D)  a trait that was present in the ancestor of a group. 
E)  a phylogenetic tree.

Question 16

Which of the following can never be homologous features?

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA sequences 
B)  Anatomical structures 
C)  Inherited behavioral patterns 
D)  Secondary structures of proteins 
E)  All of the above have the potential to be homologous features. 
A)  DNA sequences 
B)  Anatomical structures 
C)  Inherited behavioral patterns 
D)  Secondary structures of proteins 
E)  All of the above have the potential to be homologous features.

Question 17

In systematics and phylogeny, the fossil record is especially important because

Accepted Answer

A)  most groups are well represented. 
B)  it provides the absolute timing of evolutionary events. 
C)  random mutations make most biochemical methods unreliable. 
D)  DNA can be extracted from nearly all ancient fossils and then analyzed. 
E)  it provides the only data that is useful in reconstructing the past. 
A)  most groups are well represented. 
B)  it provides the absolute timing of evolutionary events. 
C)  random mutations make most biochemical methods unreliable. 
D)  DNA can be extracted from nearly all ancient fossils and then analyzed. 
E)  it provides the only data that is useful in reconstructing the past.

Question 18

Phylogenies

Accepted Answer

A)  help in the reconstruction of ancestral states. 
B)  allow the comparison of living organisms. 
C)  can assist in the prediction of the future changes in viruses. 
D)  are the basis for classification of organisms. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  help in the reconstruction of ancestral states. 
B)  allow the comparison of living organisms. 
C)  can assist in the prediction of the future changes in viruses. 
D)  are the basis for classification of organisms. 
E)  All of the above

Question 19

A derived trait is one that

Accepted Answer

A)  differs from its ancestral form. 
B)  is homologous with another trait found in a related species. 
C)  is the product of an evolutionary reversal. 
D)  has the same function, but not the same evolutionary origin, as a trait found in another species. 
E)  is found only in members of the outgroup. 
A)  differs from its ancestral form. 
B)  is homologous with another trait found in a related species. 
C)  is the product of an evolutionary reversal. 
D)  has the same function, but not the same evolutionary origin, as a trait found in another species. 
E)  is found only in members of the outgroup.

Question 20

Do similar traits arise independently in species that are only distantly related?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is little evidence to suggest that similar traits arise independently. 
B)  Independently evolved traits subjected to similar selection pressures may become superficially similar, a phenomenon called convergent evolution. 
C)  All similar traits have a common ancestor origin. 
D)  A trait may revert from a derived state back to an ancestral state in an event called an evolutionary reversal. 
E)  Both b and d 
A)  There is little evidence to suggest that similar traits arise independently. 
B)  Independently evolved traits subjected to similar selection pressures may become superficially similar, a phenomenon called convergent evolution. 
C)  All similar traits have a common ancestor origin. 
D)  A trait may revert from a derived state back to an ancestral state in an event called an evolutionary reversal. 
E)  Both b and d

Exam 22: Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

A sea squirt is thought to be more closely related to vertebrates than once thought because

Discuss the implications of the following statement for the field of systematics: "DNA is the genetic material for all prokaryotes and eukaryotes."

According to the practices of biological nomenclature, if the same name is inadvertently given to two different species,

Suppose you are writing a scientific paper about a unicellular green alga called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. What is the proper way to refer to this species after the full binomial has been used once?

Taxonomists strive to include taxa in biological classifications that are

In the last few decades, the number of studies in the study and classification of biodiversity, also called _______, has increased dramatically.

Which of the following scientists proposed the molecular clock hypothesis?

Histone genes, which evolve very slowly, would most likely be used to study

Gibbons are more distantly related to humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas than the three are related to one another. Thus, gibbons are considered to be a(n) _______ in relation to the other three.

Which of the following would not be expected to result in homoplasy?

Which of the following practices tends to hinder taxonomic work?

In biological classification, the suffix "-aceae" refers to a(n)

The suffix "-idae" (e.g., Sciuridae) refers to organisms of which Kingdom?

The common ancestor of humans and the other "great apes" walked on all fours, while humans are bipeds. Bipedalism is thus the _______ trait.

A synapomorphy is

Which of the following can never be homologous features?

In systematics and phylogeny, the fossil record is especially important because

Phylogenies

A derived trait is one that

Do similar traits arise independently in species that are only distantly related?

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