Question 1

Which of the following groups is composed of eukaryotic organisms?
A) Protists
B) Bacteria
C) Monera
D) Archaea

Accepted Answer

Protists are eukaryotic organisms, meaning their cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes. Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic, lacking a nucleus, and Monera is an outdated classification that included all prokaryotes.

Question 2

Genetics studies of human populations have revealed that
A) all humans are virtually identical.
B) it is nearly impossible to determine the relatedness of human populations.
C) human populations vary tremendously at the level of DNA sequences.
D) humans have very little genetic variation compared to other mammals.
E) Homo sapiens probably did not evolve from primates.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Genetics studies of human populations have revealed...

Question 3

Based on evolutionary lineage, fungi and animals belong to the same
A) genus.
B) clade.
C) family.
D) species.
E) order.

Accepted Answer

Fungi and animals share a common ancestor and are part of the same broad group known as Opisthokonta, making them part of the same clade, but not as closely related as to be in the same genus, family, species, or order.

Question 4

Which of the following groups is composed of eukaryotic organisms?
A) Monera
B) Archaea
C) Fungi
D) Bacteria

Accepted Answer

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning their cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes. Monera (a term that is no longer widely used in modern taxonomy) and Bacteria are both groups of prokaryotic organisms, lacking a nucleus. Archaea, while distinct from bacteria, are also prokaryotes.

Question 5

An organism with a nucleus would be placed in which domain?
A) Fungi
B) Animalia
C) Eukarya
D) Bacteria
E) Archaea

Accepted Answer

Organisms with a nucleus are classified under the domain Eukarya. This domain includes all eukaryotic organisms, which are characterized by having cells with a true nucleus enclosed in a membrane.

Question 6

Which group contains mostly unicellular, eukaryotic organisms?
A) Bacteria
B) Fungi
C) Plantae
D) Protists
E) Animalia

Accepted Answer

Protists are primarily unicellular and eukaryotic organisms, distinguishing them from the multicellular or prokaryotic nature of the other groups listed.

Question 7

Before 1970, what was the basis for the biological classification system?
A) Five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Animalia, and Plantae
B) Three kingdoms: Bacteria, Animalia, and Plantae
C) Two kingdoms: Bacteria and Eukarya
D) Two kingdoms: Monera and Animalia
E) Two kingdoms: Animalia and Plantae

Accepted Answer

Before 1970, the biological classification system was primarily based on two kingdoms: Animalia and Plantae. This system classified organisms into either the plant or animal kingdoms based on their physical characteristics.

Question 8

The greatest genetic diversity among humans is found between some ___________populations.
A) African
B) Asian
C) North American
D) European
E) Australian

Accepted Answer

The greatest genetic diversity among humans is found within African populations. This is because modern humans originated in Africa and have had the longest time to accumulate genetic diversity there. As humans migrated out of Africa to other parts of the world, only subsets of this original genetic diversity were carried along, leading to less diversity in non-African populations.

Question 9

What should biologists do when two similar organisms that were originally thought to be separate species are found to interbreed freely and produce normal offspring whenever they live in the same habitat?
A) Develop a new name for the hybrids.
B) Separate the two groups until they become dissimilar enough to prevent interbreeding.
C) Consider both types to be a single species.
D) Retain the two speciesʹ names if the organisms have very different appearances.

Accepted Answer

According to the biological species concept, if two organisms can interbreed freely and produce viable, fertile offspring, they are considered to be part of the same species. Therefore, if two similar organisms thought to be separate species are found to interbreed freely and produce normal offspring, biologists should consider both types to be a single species.

Question 10

Which biologist first proposed that all organisms share a common ancestry?
A) Aristotle
B) Linnaeus
C) Whittaker
D) Woese
E) Darwin

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin is the biologist who first proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection, which includes the idea that all organisms share a common ancestry. This concept is a cornerstone of modern biology.

Question 11

If genetic studies reveal that a population has genetic sequences in common with two closely related species but has no unique sequences of its own, then
A) all three should be assigned to the same species.
B) all three should be considered subspecies within the same species.
C) it should be considered a hybrid of the two species.
D) it should be assigned separate species status.
E) it should be assigned to the species with which it shares more sequences.

Accepted Answer

This population is likely a hybrid of the two closely related species, as indicated by its shared genetic sequences with both and lack of unique sequences.

Question 12

Systematics reassigns phylogenetic placement based on
A) reproduction.
B) new information about genetic relationships.
C) seed formation.
D) physical features.
E) behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Systematics often reassigns phylogenetic placement based on new information about genetic relationships, as advancements in genetic sequencing and analysis provide more accurate insights into the evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Question 13

Evolutionary relationships among organisms are most likely to be revised at the ___________level.
A) species
B) domain
C) genus
D) order
E) kingdom

Accepted Answer

Species-level classifications are most frequently revised due to new genetic and morphological data that provide more detailed insights into the relationships and distinctions between closely related organisms.

Question 14

A modern system of classification gives the category name domain to
A) Fungi.
B) Hominidae.
C) Prokaryota.
D) Eukarya.
E) insects.

Accepted Answer

Domain is the highest level of classification in the modern system of classification. Eukarya is one of the three domains, which includes all eukaryotes, organisms with cells that have a nucleus.

Question 15

Who introduced the ʺtwo-partʺ system (genus and species) that biologists use to name organisms?
A) Aristotle
B) Linnaeus
C) Whittaker
D) Woese
E) Darwin

Accepted Answer

Carl Linnaeus introduced the binomial nomenclature system, which is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms.

Question 16

Which of the following is prokaryotic?
A) Archaea
B) Plantae
C) humans
D) Animalia
E) Fungi

Accepted Answer

Archaea are prokaryotic, meaning they lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, distinguishing them from eukaryotic organisms found in kingdoms such as Plantae, Animalia, and Fungi.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a monophyletic group?
A) You, your parents, and your siblings
B) The class Mammalia, which includes all mammals
C) Turtles and lizards
D) The family Semionotidae, which includes fish that may not share a common ancestor
E) The kingdom Animalia, which includes all animals

Accepted Answer

The family Semionotidae, which includes fish that may not share a common ancestor, is not a monophyletic group. A monophyletic group is a group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants.

Question 18

Modern systematics constructs clades and evolutionary relationships on the basis of
A) mating behaviors.
B) whether or not an organism reproduces sexually.
C) fossils.
D) anatomical similarities.
E) genetic similarities.

Accepted Answer

Modern systematics primarily uses genetic similarities to construct clades and determine evolutionary relationships, as genetic data provides the most accurate and detailed information about the evolutionary history and relatedness of organisms.

Question 19

Which of the following is a prokaryote?
A) Porifera
B) Vibrio cholerae
C) Blechnum nudum
D) Homo sapiens
E) Troglodytes gorilla

Accepted Answer

Vibrio cholerae is a prokaryote because it is a bacterium, and all bacteria are classified as prokaryotes, which are characterized by the absence of a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Question 20

Why do some biologists NOT consider reptiles to be a monophyletic group?
A) Reptiles evolved independently at several different times in the past and from several different ancestral species.
B) Reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish appeared in the fossil record at approximately the same time.
C) All reptiles do not reproduce sexually.
D) The ancestors of reptiles are the class Amphibia.
E) Birds are the direct descendants of some reptiles.

Accepted Answer

Reptiles are not considered a monophyletic group because birds, which are direct descendants of certain reptiles (like theropod dinosaurs), are not traditionally included in the reptile group, making reptiles paraphyletic instead.

Quiz 19: Systematics: Seeking Order Amid Diversity

Which of the following groups is composed of eukaryotic organisms?

Genetics studies of human populations have revealed that

Based on evolutionary lineage, fungi and animals belong to the same

Which of the following groups is composed of eukaryotic organisms?

An organism with a nucleus would be placed in which domain?

Which group contains mostly unicellular, eukaryotic organisms?

Before 1970, what was the basis for the biological classification system?

The greatest genetic diversity among humans is found between some ___________populations.

What should biologists do when two similar organisms that were originally thought to be separate species are found to interbreed freely and produce normal offspring whenever they live in the same habitat?

Which biologist first proposed that all organisms share a common ancestry?

If genetic studies reveal that a population has genetic sequences in common with two closely related species but has no unique sequences of its own, then

Systematics reassigns phylogenetic placement based on

Evolutionary relationships among organisms are most likely to be revised at the ___________level.

A modern system of classification gives the category name domain to

Who introduced the ʺtwo-partʺ system (genus and species) that biologists use to name organisms?

Which of the following is prokaryotic?

Which of the following is NOT a monophyletic group?

Modern systematics constructs clades and evolutionary relationships on the basis of

Which of the following is a prokaryote?

Why do some biologists NOT consider reptiles to be a monophyletic group?