Correct Answers 2025-2026
Monophyletic Group - CORRECT ANSWER -
includes all the descendants of a common ancestor, and its considered a natural grouping o
f organisms based on a shared ancestry.
Paraphyletic Group CORRECT ANSWER
some (not all) of descendants of a common ancestor
Polyphyletic Group CORRECT ANSWER
organisms from distinct lineages based on shared characters, but no common ancestor
Homologies CORRECT ANSWER similarities based on shared ancestry
Analogies CORRECT ANSWER similarities based on independent adaptations
Synapomorphies CORRECT ANSWER shared, derived characters.
Fossils CORRECT ANSWER remains of organisms preserved in sedimentary rock
Cambrian Explosion CORRECT ANSWER first major marine life diversity exploded—
significant benchmark in time
Phenotype CORRECT ANSWER expression of a physical, behavioral, or biochemical trait
Genotype CORRECT ANSWER
genetic makeup of a cell or organism, the particular combination of alleles present in an in
dividual
, Somatic CORRECT ANSWER Non reproductive cells that make up body tissues
Germ-Line CORRECT ANSWER
has to do with sexual cells and gametes (can be passed on)
Recombination CORRECT ANSWER
gives new combinations not present in population (used to describe genes, not alleles)
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium CORRECT ANSWER
describe situations in which allele frequencies do not change
Natural Selection CORRECT ANSWER
differential reproductive success of genetic variants. Harmful alleles are deleted over time a
nd beneficial ones increase in frequency
Sexual Selection CORRECT ANSWER
evolution of traits that increase an individuals access to members of opposite sex
Gene Flow CORRECT ANSWER Movement of alleles between populations
Migration CORRECT ANSWER gene flow and tends to have homogenizing effect
Berman's Rule CORRECT ANSWER
The further North or South from the equator you go, the stockier the organisms
Biological Species Concept (BSC) CORRECT ANSWER
species are groups of actually/potentially interbreeding populations that are reproductively i
solated from other groups. Emphasizes reproductive isolation.