Question 1

Species are fixed entities,unchanging over time.

Accepted Answer

The concept of species being fixed and unchanging over time has been disproven by scientific evidence, including observations of evolution and the development of new species through processes such as natural selection and genetic drift.

Question 2

Most scientists would agree that losing 10 percent of the currently classified 1.4 million species would not directly affect the biodiversity of Earth.

Accepted Answer

Losing 10 percent of 1.4 million species equates to 140,000 extinctions, which could have significant impacts on the interconnectedness and functioning of ecosystems, ultimately affecting the biodiversity of Earth.

Question 3

What happened when bent grass was transplanted to soils contaminated with heavy metals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What happened when bent grass was transplanted...

Question 4

The four underlying conditions of Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection are as follows: variation,overproduction of offspring,competition,and the reproduction of the fittest (those that leave the most offspring).

Accepted Answer

These are indeed the four underlying conditions of Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.

Question 5

Barcoding relies on a "genetic barcode," a short segment of DNA that is used as a standard for a particular group of organisms,and not necessarily on an "expert" for that group.

Accepted Answer

Barcoding relies on a short segment of DNA as a standard, not an expert for that group.

Question 6

The goal of PhyloCode is to offer an alternative to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The goal of PhyloCode is to offer an alternative to the Linnaean nomenclature system, which is currently used to name and classify organisms based on their morphological and structural characteristics. PhyloCode proposes a new system based on the evolutionary history and relationships of organisms, as determined by molecular and genetic data.

Question 7

What is a clade?

Accepted Answer

A clade is defined as any group of individuals or higher taxonomic rank of any size that share common ancestry. This includes groups of organisms that may not necessarily look similar or interbreed successfully but are still linked by shared ancestry. It is a fundamental concept in modern evolutionary biology and helps to accurately classify and study organisms based on their evolutionary history.

Question 8

Which of the following is a disadvantage to using DNA from organelles o obtain barcode genes?

Accepted Answer

Organelles are inherited only maternally, so paternal DNA cannot be considered. This limits the scope of genetic diversity that can be analyzed using organelle DNA as barcode genes.

Question 9

Cows have been bred over by farmers over centuries to produce more milk.Some cows produce so much milk,that their enlarged udders make it difficult for the cows to walk.The increased milk production of the cows is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The process of intentionally breeding certain traits in organisms by humans is known as artificial selection. In this case, farmers have purposely bred cows over time to produce more milk, leading to the cows having enlarged udders. This is not an example of recombinant DNA engineering, natural selection, sexual selection, or animal cruelty (which is a separate ethical issue).

Question 10

The theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is best described by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

The theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is a well-supported explanation that explains how species change over time through the process of natural selection. It is a principle of biology that has been extensively tested and corroborated by various lines of evidence, and it has never been disproven.

Question 11

There is a current movement to replace the artificial Linnaean taxonomic scheme with a ________ scheme.

Accepted Answer

The Linnaean taxonomic scheme is based on physical characteristics and similarities, while the phylogenetic scheme is based on evolutionary relationships and genetic similarities. This newer scheme is seen as more accurate and reflective of the evolutionary history of organisms.

Question 12

A barcode gene used for discriminating between plant species is the ________ gene.

Accepted Answer

The rbcL gene is a widely used barcode gene for discriminating between plant species. It encodes for the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), which is an enzyme involved in photosynthesis. The rbcL gene has a moderate rate of evolution and is highly conserved across plant species, making it a reliable choice for species identification.

Question 13

The PhyloCode abandons the Linnaean ranks of the taxonomic hierarchy,recognizing only clades,not necessarily specific Linnaean ranks.

Accepted Answer

The statement is correct. The PhyloCode only recognizes clades, which are defined as a group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all of its descendants. It does not require the use of specific Linnaean ranks such as kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Question 14

The barcode gene used for discriminating between animals and algal species is the ________ gene.

Accepted Answer

The coxL gene, also known as cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), is commonly used as a barcode gene for identifying and discriminating between animal species.

Question 15

Scientific names are unique because a scientific name can only be assigned to a single species.

Accepted Answer

This is because the scientific name is made up of two parts, the genus and the species, that are specifically assigned to a particular organism. No two species can have the same scientific name.

Question 16

The phylogenetic system was a method of naming plants that included a lengthy description.

Accepted Answer

The phylogenetic system is a method of classifying organisms based on their evolutionary relationships, but it does not necessarily require a lengthy description. It is often represented as a branching diagram called a phylogenetic tree.

Question 17

In Linnaeus's sexual system of classification,"husband and wife have separate beds" indicates that the plant has imperfect flowers.

Accepted Answer

In Linnaeus's sexual system of classification, "husband and wife have separate beds" indicates that the plant has separate male and female flowers, which are considered imperfect flowers.

Question 18

The naturalist who formulated a hypothesis of evolution very similar to Darwin's was

Accepted Answer

Wallace independently formulated a hypothesis of evolution by natural selection very similar to Darwin's, and the two men jointly presented their findings in 1858.

Question 19

Why is the coxL gene less useful in both in plants and fungi as a barcode gene?

Accepted Answer

The coxL gene is less useful in both plants and fungi as a barcode gene because the nucleotide sequence of this gene is too similar in plants and fungi. This similarity makes it difficult to differentiate between different species using this gene as a barcode.

Question 20

Which of the following is not a true clade?

Accepted Answer

Paleomonocots is not a true clade because it is a paraphyletic group, meaning that it does not include all of the descendants of a common ancestor.

Quiz 8: Plant Systematics and Evolution