Question & Answers 2023 APPROVED
adaptation correct answers inherited characteristic of an organism that enhances its survival and
reproduction in a specific environment
analogy correct answers similarity between two species that is due to convergent evolution rather than
to descent from a common ancestor with the same trait
analogous correct answers having characteristics that are similar because of convergent evolution, not
homology
artificial selection correct answers the selective breeding of domesticated plants and animals to
encourage the occurrence of desirable traits
basal taxon correct answers in a specified group of organisms, a taxon whose evolutionary lineage
diverged early in the history of the group
binomial correct answers a common term for the two-part, latinized format for naming a species,
consisting of the genus and specific epithet; also called a binomen
biogeography correct answers the scientific study of the past and present geographic distributions of
species
branch point correct answers the representation on a phylogenetic tree of the divergence of two or
more taxa from a common ancestor
clade correct answers a group of species that includes an ancestral species and ALL of its descendants
cladistics correct answers an approach to systematics in which organisms are placed into groups called
clades based primarily on common descent
class correct answers in Linnaean classification, the taxonomic category above the level of order
convergent evolution correct answers the evolution of similar features in independent evolutionary
lineages
domain correct answers a taxonomic category above the kingdom level; Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya
endemic correct answers referring to a species that is confined to a specific geographic area
evolution correct answers descent with modification; the idea that living species are descendants of
ancestral species that were different from the present-day ones; change in the genetic composition of a
population from generation to generation
family correct answers in Linnaean classification, the taxonomic category above genus
, fossil correct answers a preserved remnant or impression of an organism that lived in the past
genus correct answers a taxonomic category above the species level, designated by the first word of a
species' two-part scientific name
homologous structures correct answers structures in different species that are similar because of
common ancestry
homology correct answers similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry
homoplasies correct answers a similar (analogous) structure or molecular sequence that has evolved
independently in two species
horizontal gene transfer correct answers transfer of genes from one genome to another through
mechanisms such as plasmid exchange
ingroup correct answers a species or a group of species whose evolutionary relationships are being
examined in a given analysis
kingdom correct answers taxonomic category, second broadest after domain
maximum parsimony correct answers principle that states when considering multiple explanations for
an observation, one should investigate the simplest that is consistent with the fatcs
molecular clock correct answers a method for estimating the time required for a given amount of
evolutionary change
monophyletic correct answers pertaining to a group of taxa that consists of common ancestor and all of
its descendants; equivalent to a clade
natural selection correct answers process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to
survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits
order correct answers in linnaean classification, the taxonomic category above the level of family
outgroup correct answers a species or group of species from an evolutionary lineage that is known to
have diverged before the lineage that contains the group of species being studied
paleontology correct answers scientific study of fossils
Pangaea correct answers supercontinent formed near the end of the Paleozoic era
paraphyletic correct answers pertaining to a group of taxa that consists of a common ancestor and
some, but NOT ALL, of its descendants
phylum correct answers taxonomic category above class