Question 1

The current classification system used by biologists is
A)complex and unchanging.
B)universally accepted by all biologists.
C)based on four generalized types of living organisms: the Bacteria, the Archaea, the Eukarya, and the Protista.
D)updated and revised whenever new information becomes available.

Accepted Answer

The current classification system used by biologists is updated and revised whenever new information becomes available. It is not universally accepted by all biologists and is based on three (not four) generalized types of living organisms: the Bacteria, the Archaea, and the Eukarya. The Protista are now considered a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms rather than a distinct kingdom.

Question 2

DNA analysis has become a useful tool for understanding the relationships between organisms because
A)shared characteristics are usually the products of shared genes.
B)DNA is used by all organisms to collect energy.
C)only mammals have DNA.
D)knowing the DNA codes means biologists no longer have to use taxonomy.

Accepted Answer

Shared characteristics, or traits, are often determined by shared genes. DNA analysis can reveal the genetic similarities and differences between organisms, allowing scientists to better understand their relationships and evolutionary histories.

Question 3

The organisms most distant from the base of an evolutionary tree are
A)unrelated to the organisms separated by one or more branch points.
B)less primitive than the organisms lower on the tree.
C)those that have evolved most recently.
D)chronologically older than the organisms lower on the tree.

Accepted Answer

The organisms most distant from the base of an evolutionary tree are those that have evolved most recently, as they are located at the tips of the branches, representing the latest evolutionary developments.

Question 4

A set of shared derived features
A)will be unique to each Linnaean taxon.
B)marks a group of species as a set of close relatives.
C)most often indicates convergences.
D)can be found only in humans.

Accepted Answer

Shared derived features, also known as synapomorphies, are traits that are shared among a group of species and are unique to that group. These features are useful in determining the evolutionary relationships among species and can help to identify a set of close relatives. While shared derived features can also indicate convergences (similar features that evolved independently in different lineages), they are not unique to humans alone.

Question 5

Any two groups of organisms will have
A)2 most recent common ancestors.
B)no more than 4 most recent common ancestors.
C)only 1 most recent common ancestor.
D)as many as 16 most recent common ancestors.

Accepted Answer

Any two groups of organisms will have only 1 most recent common ancestor. This is because every species has a unique evolutionary history and can only have one most recent common ancestor with another species. However, if the groups are more distantly related, they may have multiple common ancestors further back in time.

Question 6

Evolutionary tree diagrams representing the relationships between various organisms can be drawn only when those organisms share a
A)common cellular metabolism.
B)distinct lineage.
C)common cellular organization.
D)common ancestor.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary tree diagrams are based on the concept of common descent, which means that all living organisms that have ever existed are descended from a single common ancestor. Therefore, in order to draw an evolutionary tree diagram, the organisms being compared must share a common ancestor. Choices A and C do not necessarily indicate common ancestry, and choice B is not a requirement for drawing an evolutionary tree diagram.

Question 7

The diagram below is an evolutionary tree showing the relationship between the three domains. Which letter represents the most recent common ancestor of the Archaea and Eukarya? 
A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Accepted Answer

The answer of The diagram below is an evolutionary tree...

Question 8

Convergence is an evolutionary process that produces similar but not shared derived traits in organisms having common life histories but not common ancestors; which of the pairs of features is not convergent?
A)the caudal fins of the whale and shark
B)the opposable thumbs of the human and panda
C)the hands of the chimpanzee and human
D)the wings of the bat and bird

Accepted Answer

The hands of the chimpanzee and human are not convergent because they share a common ancestor, making them homologous structures rather than analogous ones.

Question 9

At the base of the evolutionary tree of all life is the
A)universal ancestor.
B)convergent ancestor.
C)derived ancestor.
D)descended ancestor.

Accepted Answer

The universal ancestor is considered to be the common ancestor of all life on Earth. It is believed that all organisms today are descended from this single ancestor, making it the base of the evolutionary tree of all life. Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe this ancestor.

Question 10

What single feature, shared by all organisms, allows scientists to reliably compare distantly related living or recently extinct organisms?
A)most recent common ancestor
B)universal ancestor
C)most recent common lineage
D)DNA

Accepted Answer

DNA is the single feature shared by all organisms that allows scientists to reliably compare distantly related living or recently extinct organisms. DNA contains the genetic code that determines an organism's traits and evolutionary history. By comparing the DNA sequences of different organisms, scientists can identify similarities and differences, and reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between them.

Question 11

Which of the following events occurred between each branch on an evolutionary tree?
A)the evolution of a new derived feature
B)the loss of a derived feature
C)the evolution of a shared ancestral feature
D)the evolution of a convergent feature

Accepted Answer

Evolution of a new derived feature occurred between each branch on an evolutionary tree as each branch represents a group that has accumulated unique traits or adaptations over time through evolutionary processes.

Question 12

The science of biological classification is used to
A)predict an organism's future evolution.
B)decide when an organism died.
C)show relationships among organisms.
D)decipher an organism's DNA.

Accepted Answer

The science of biological classification, also known as taxonomy, is used to show relationships among organisms. By organizing organisms into groups based on similarities, taxonomists can infer evolutionary relationships and ancestry.

Answer: D 
 While biological classification can help with understanding an organism's evolutionary history, it is not used to decipher an organism's DNA. This is the field of genetics and genomics.

Question 13

The following numbered sets of characters each represent a distinct group of organisms:
1. three toes per foot, feathers, cold-blooded, no finger adaptations 
2. three toes per foot, body hair, warm-blooded, opposable thumbs
3. three toes per foot, feathers, warm-blooded, no finger adaptations
4. three toes per foot, body hair, warm-blooded, no finger adaptations
Which of the following choices is the most likely to represent the order in which these groups would appear on an evolutionary tree, from oldest to youngest group? (Hint: the more primitive characters are cold-bloodedness, feathers, and no finger adaptations.)"
A)1, 2, 3, 4
B)4, 2, 3, 1
C)1, 3, 4, 2
D)2, 1, 4, 3

Accepted Answer

The most primitive characteristic among the given options is cold-bloodedness, so group 1 with this character would be the oldest. Feathers and no finger adaptations are the next primitive traits, and since group 1 has these traits, group 3 would be the next group to evolve.  Group 4 with body hair and no finger adaptations would come next because hair is a more advanced adaptation than feathers. Finally, group 2 with opposable thumbs, a more advanced trait compared to other groups, would be the youngest group. Therefore, the correct order of groups from oldest to youngest is 1, 3, 4, 2, which matches option C.

Question 14

Evolutionary trees are based on
A)the principle of convergent evolution.
B)a set of shared characteristics believed to have arisen in a common ancestor.
C)similarities in the function of a characteristic or trait.
D)consensus among biologists regarding the usefulness of particular traits.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary trees are based on a set of shared characteristics believed to have arisen in a common ancestor. This is known as homology, and it is used to infer evolutionary relationships between organisms. Convergent evolution and similar functions of characteristics or traits can also inform evolutionary trees, but they are not the primary basis. The consensus among biologists regarding the usefulness of particular traits can inform the construction of an evolutionary tree, but it is not the sole basis.

Question 15

Descendant organisms
A)do not share any features with their descendants.
B)have all the same features as their descendants.
C)share some features with their ancestors.
D)do not have features their ancestors lacked.

Accepted Answer

Descendant organisms typically share some features with their ancestors, but they can also have new features due to evolution and adaptation. It is rare for descendant organisms to have all the same features as their ancestors, as there is usually some degree of change and divergence over time. Similarly, it is unlikely that descendant organisms would lack all the features of their ancestors, as there is often some overlap and continuity between generations.

Question 16

The emergence of each new branch on the evolutionary tree represents
A)the addition of a new Linnaean taxon within that lineage.
B)the completion of a generation for that particular organism.
C)the introduction of the most important features of a group.
D)a common ancestor and the introduction of a new shared derived feature.

Accepted Answer

The emergence of each new branch on the evolutionary tree represents a common ancestor and the introduction of a new shared derived feature. This is the essence of how evolution works, where new traits or features arise and get passed down through generations to create new lineages with unique characteristics. Choices A, B, and C do not accurately describe the process of branching on the evolutionary tree.

Question 17

In order to determine relationships among different organisms scientists would examine
A)DNA.
B)behavior.
C)body structures.
D)all of the above

Accepted Answer

In order to determine relationships among different organisms, scientists would examine DNA, behavior, and body structures. By analyzing these factors, scientists can determine the similarities and differences between organisms and use that information to classify and group them into different taxonomic categories.

Question 18

All of the following sources of information except _____ can be used to construct evolutionary trees.
A)habitat preferences
B)body form
C)instinctive behavior
D)learned behaviors

Accepted Answer

Learned behaviors are not fixed traits and can vary within a species or even within an individual's lifetime. Therefore, they are not reliable indicators of evolutionary relationships and cannot be used to construct evolutionary trees. However, habitat preferences, body form, and instinctive behavior are all traits that can be used to infer evolutionary relationships.

Question 19

Examine the evolutionary tree pictured below. 
In this evolutionary tree, which number represents the most recent common ancestor of A, B, and C?
A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Accepted Answer

The answer of Examine the evolutionary tree pictured below. 
In...

Question 20

To produce an evolutionary tree it is necessary to first determine
A)which organisms are the oldest.
B)the full DNA sequence of each organism that will be included within the tree.
C)the shared derived features present within each group of organisms.
D)the number of lineages in each group.

Accepted Answer

To produce an evolutionary tree, it is necessary to determine the shared derived features present within each group of organisms. This is because these features represent evolutionary changes that occurred in the ancestors of the organisms being studied, allowing us to infer their evolutionary relationships. While determining the oldest organisms and the number of lineages in each group may be helpful for understanding the evolution of a particular lineage, it is not essential for building an evolutionary tree. Similarly, while full DNA sequences are useful for some types of phylogenetic analyses, they are not always necessary for producing an evolutionary tree.

Quiz 2: Biological Diversity, Bacteria, and Archaea

The current classification system used by biologists is

DNA analysis has become a useful tool for understanding the relationships between organisms because

The organisms most distant from the base of an evolutionary tree are

A set of shared derived features

Any two groups of organisms will have

Evolutionary tree diagrams representing the relationships between various organisms can be drawn only when those organisms share a

The diagram below is an evolutionary tree showing the relationship between the three domains. Which letter represents the most recent common ancestor of the Archaea and Eukarya?

Convergence is an evolutionary process that produces similar but not shared derived traits in organisms having common life histories but not common ancestors; which of the pairs of features is not convergent?

At the base of the evolutionary tree of all life is the

What single feature, shared by all organisms, allows scientists to reliably compare distantly related living or recently extinct organisms?

Which of the following events occurred between each branch on an evolutionary tree?

The science of biological classification is used to

Evolutionary trees are based on

Descendant organisms

The emergence of each new branch on the evolutionary tree represents

In order to determine relationships among different organisms scientists would examine

All of the following sources of information except _____ can be used to construct evolutionary trees.

Examine the evolutionary tree pictured below. In this evolutionary tree, which number represents the most recent common ancestor of A, B, and C?

To produce an evolutionary tree it is necessary to first determine