Question 1

The theory that complex organisms could arise suddenly from the nonliving was called "The theory of Spontaneous Generation."

Accepted Answer

Spontaneous generation was a theory that proposed that living organisms could arise suddenly from nonliving matter, which has since been disproven by scientific experimentation.

Question 2

Scientists use mitochondrial DNA to track the migration of humans across the planet.After a group migrates away from their ancestral homeland,any mutations that occur are not mixed with those left in the ancestral population.Based on this,mitochondrial DNA samples taken from ____ would have the fewest unique mutations,representing the original and oldest DNA sequences.

Accepted Answer

Africa is the origin of the human species, so mitochondrial DNA samples taken from there would have the fewest unique mutations and represent the oldest DNA sequences.

Question 3

Scientists use mitochondrial DNA to track the migration of humans across the planet.After a group migrates away from their ancestral homeland,any mutations that occur are not mixed with those left in the ancestral population.Based on this,mitochondrial DNA samples taken from ____ would have the most unique mutations,representing the most recent population to migrate to a new area.

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrial DNA samples taken from the Americas would have the most unique mutations, representing the most recent population to migrate to a new area. The Americas were the last continent to be inhabited by humans, with the earliest evidence of human presence dating back to about 15,000 years ago. Therefore, the mitochondrial DNA samples taken from indigenous populations in the Americas would have accumulated the most mutations since their migration.

Question 4

Humans are less hairy and muscular than chimps,yet have 99% DNA sequence similarity.This is consistent with which hypothesis to account for the differences between humans and chimps?

Accepted Answer

The fact that humans are less hairy and muscular than chimps despite having 99% DNA sequence similarity suggests that changes occurred in the human lineage after the divergence from chimps that caused some genes to stop working. This is consistent with hypothesis C. Hypothesis A is also a possibility, but it does not specifically account for the differences in hairiness and muscularity between humans and chimps. Hypotheses B, D, and E are not supported by the given information.

Question 5

Which of the following allowed Homo sapiens to develop complex cultures unlike other members of the Homo genus?

Accepted Answer

The development of agriculture allowed Homo sapiens to settle in one place, leading to the growth of communities, specialization of labor, and the development of complex cultures.

Question 6

Humans and chimps are both able to:

Accepted Answer

Both humans and chimpanzees are known to use tools for various purposes and are able to communicate, including through the use of sign language or gestures. While both species are capable of walking upright, this is not a unique trait to them, as other primates and even some animals are capable of bipedal motion.

Question 7

The earliest cells probably originated about 3.5 billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

This is based on current scientific understanding and evidence.

Question 8

Natural selection would have favored progenotes that could use more diverse food sources.

Accepted Answer

Progenotes that were able to use a wider variety of food sources would have had a higher chance of survival and reproduction, leading to the proliferation of this trait through natural selection.

Question 9

To determine the sequence of Clint the chimpanzee's DNA,the DNA was first:

Accepted Answer

To determine the sequence of Clint the chimpanzee's DNA, it would need to be cloned into a plasmid, which could then be sequenced using methods such as Sanger sequencing or Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Question 10

The transcription factor FOXP2 has two mutations in humans that are not found in chimps.This transcription factor regulates the expression of genes that allow humans to speak.This is consistent with which hypothesis to account for the differences between humans and chimps?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The transcription factor FOXP2 has two mutations...

Question 11

To determine the sequence of Clint the chimpanzee's DNA,the tens of millions of DNA sequences were ____ to create a complete genome sequence.

Accepted Answer

To determine the sequence of Clint the chimpanzee's DNA, the tens of millions of DNA sequences were analyzed on a computer to create a complete genome sequence. This involves using bioinformatics tools and software to piece together the fragments of DNA sequences and identify the order of nucleotides in the genome.

Question 12

Chromosome 2 in Homo sapiens formed when two smaller chromosomes fused,after the chimpanzee and human lineages split.As a result,humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes and chimpanzees have 24 and can no longer form fertile offspring (Fig.14.31).This would be an example of:

Accepted Answer

Chromosome fusion leading to speciation is an example of punctuated equilibrium, which involves rapid bursts of genetic changes that lead to new species. The fusion of chromosomes in the human lineage occurred relatively quickly in evolutionary terms, resulting in a distinct change from the ancestral chromosome number and leading to the formation of a new species that cannot interbreed with its closest relative, the chimpanzee.

Question 13

Humans and chimps are both:

Accepted Answer

Humans and chimps are both primates and hominids. Primates are a group of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys, and lemurs. Hominids are a group of primates that includes humans and their extinct ancestors.

Question 14

The early report that Stanley Miller had created "Life in a Test Tube" in his prebiotic simulations was correct.

Accepted Answer

While Stanley Miller's prebiotic simulations did produce amino acids, he did not create life in a test tube. Life requires much more than just amino acids to exist.

Question 15

Based on DNA sequence analysis,humans and chimps have 96% of their DNA sequences alike,with 99% of the coding regions alike.The biggest differences between the sequences of chimps and humans are in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The biggest differences between humans and chimps are in the non-coding regions of DNA, which do not encode proteins. These regions can include regulatory sequences that affect gene expression.

Question 16

The enzyme that copies RNA into complementary DNA is RNA polymerase.

Accepted Answer

The enzyme that copies RNA into complementary DNA is reverse transcriptase. RNA polymerase is the enzyme that copies DNA into RNA.

Question 17

The "endosymbiotic theory" states that eukaryotic cells work together to form a multicellular organism.

Accepted Answer

The endosymbiotic theory proposes that eukaryotic cells evolved from the symbiotic relationships of simpler prokaryotic cells, with one cell engulfing another and eventually forming a mutualistic partnership. This theory does not address multicellularity in eukaryotic organisms.

Question 18

The geologic time scale is divided into eons,eras,periods,and epochs defined by major geological or biological events.

Accepted Answer

This is a true statement. The geologic time scale is divided into eons (the largest divisions), followed by eras, periods, and epochs (the smallest divisions), based on significant geological or biological events.

Question 19

By comparing the sequences of human and chimpanzee DNA sequences,scientists may be able to answer which of the following questions?

Accepted Answer

B  D  By comparing human and chimpanzee DNA, scientists can identify genetic differences that may explain unique human traits such as speech (A), opposable thumbs (B), and large brain development (D). Binocular vision and depth perception are common to both species, so these comparisons are less likely to yield insights specific to humans.

Question 20

Chromosome 2 in Homo sapiens formed when two smaller chromosomes fused,after the chimpanzee and human lineages split.As a result,humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes and chimpanzees have 24 and can no longer form fertile offspring (Fig.14.31).This would allow humans and chimps to evolve independently while living in the same location also known as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chromosome 2 in Homo sapiens formed when...

Quiz 14: The Origin and History of Life