BIO 180 Exam 3 Questions With Correct
Answers
What is a monophyletic group? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a common ancestor and
| | | | | | | | | | |
all of its descendants
| | |
What is an outgroup? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a taxon that is closely related to a
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
monophyletic group, but not part of it | | | | | |
Homology and homoplasy produce similar traits. What is the key difference? -
| | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-whether or not the similar traits were inherited from a
| | | | | | | | | | |
common ancestor |
What is a synapomorphy? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a trait that is derived from an
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
ancestor and identifies a monophyletic group
| | | | |
As a principle in logic, what does parsimony mean? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-the
| | | | | | | | | | | |
simplest explanation is preferred (more complicated explanations are less likely)
| | | | | | | | |
Why does convergent evolution occur? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-When natural
| | | | | | | | |
selection favors similar traits in similar environments.
| | | | | |
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a
| | | | | | | | | | |
population through time
| | |
, On most phylogenetic trees, what does the length of a branch represent? -
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-nothing |
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a
| | | | | | | | | | | |
splitting event (one population becomes two or more evolutionarily independent
| | | | | | | | | |
populations)
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a tip represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-any
| | | | | | | | | | | |
taxon (named group)
| |
What criterion does the biological species concept use to identify species? -
| | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-reproductive isolation
| |
Which of the following is a strength of the biological species concept? - CORRECT
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ANSWER✔✔-it is focused on genetic isolation—the key to speciation
| | | | | | | |
Which of the following is a weakness of the biological species concept? -
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-It isn't applicable to asexual, fossil, or geographically
| | | | | | | | |
isolated species |
Why is the morphological species concept a logical criterion for identifying
| | | | | | | | | | |
species? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-If species are evolving independently, they
| | | | | | | | |
should have recognizable morphological differences
| | | |
Answers
What is a monophyletic group? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a common ancestor and
| | | | | | | | | | |
all of its descendants
| | |
What is an outgroup? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a taxon that is closely related to a
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
monophyletic group, but not part of it | | | | | |
Homology and homoplasy produce similar traits. What is the key difference? -
| | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-whether or not the similar traits were inherited from a
| | | | | | | | | | |
common ancestor |
What is a synapomorphy? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a trait that is derived from an
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
ancestor and identifies a monophyletic group
| | | | |
As a principle in logic, what does parsimony mean? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-the
| | | | | | | | | | | |
simplest explanation is preferred (more complicated explanations are less likely)
| | | | | | | | |
Why does convergent evolution occur? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-When natural
| | | | | | | | |
selection favors similar traits in similar environments.
| | | | | |
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a
| | | | | | | | | | |
population through time
| | |
, On most phylogenetic trees, what does the length of a branch represent? -
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-nothing |
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-a
| | | | | | | | | | | |
splitting event (one population becomes two or more evolutionarily independent
| | | | | | | | | |
populations)
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a tip represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-any
| | | | | | | | | | | |
taxon (named group)
| |
What criterion does the biological species concept use to identify species? -
| | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-reproductive isolation
| |
Which of the following is a strength of the biological species concept? - CORRECT
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ANSWER✔✔-it is focused on genetic isolation—the key to speciation
| | | | | | | |
Which of the following is a weakness of the biological species concept? -
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-It isn't applicable to asexual, fossil, or geographically
| | | | | | | | |
isolated species |
Why is the morphological species concept a logical criterion for identifying
| | | | | | | | | | |
species? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-If species are evolving independently, they
| | | | | | | | |
should have recognizable morphological differences
| | | |