Bio 121 Exam 5 UPDATED Exam Questions
and CORRECT Answers
Lamarck's hypothesis of "inheritance of acquired characteristics". - CORRECT
ANSWER - an individual adapts in its lifetime, and that this adaptation is passed on to the
next generation.
the various example of inspiration that led Darwin to develop his idea - CORRECT
ANSWER - Extinct glyptodons (giant armadillo) and modern-day armadillos (seven-
banded armadillos) looking similar to each other, suggesting that they were related, but changed
to adapt to their environment.
b) Extinct megatherium and tree sloths looking similar to each other, suggesting they were
related, but both changed to adapt to their environment.
c) Two different populations of rheas. Located at different parts of South America, looking
similar to each other, suggesting that they were related, but both changed to adapt to their
environment.
d) The presence of species endemic to the Galapagos Islands (Marine Iguanas, Giant Tortoises,
Galapagos Finches), and how they resembled those of the mainland, but looked a little different.
They changed to adapted to their new environment.
how the ancestor species from the mainland made it to the Galapagos. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Some seeds dispersed by air, sea, and bird
Some animals arrived by air (birds, spiders, flying insects), or sea (some animals floating alone,
or floating [tortoises] on vegetation raft [green iguanas]).
the order of the principles of "descent with modification" - CORRECT ANSWER -A
population starts out with variation (variation already present in population + new mutations)
b) The population undergoes a selective pressure (limitation of food resources, presence of a new
predator, etc.)
c) The population undergoes natural selection, whereby organisms having beneficial traits
survive and reproduce to pass on those traits to the next generation.
d) Then the population undergoes adaptation, whereby the variation is now different in the
population, leading to an enhanced presence of beneficial traits.
, different pieces of evidence that supports evolution. - CORRECT ANSWER - a) Fossil
record: lower strata = organisms from earlier in time, higher strata (surface) = organisms later in
time (i.e. more recently).
b) Transitional/Intermediate forms in the fossil record: organisms that show up at the correct
geological time that exhibit intermediate features between two related organisms. Transitional
forms provide evidence for how organisms can slowly change from one type of organism into
another (Example a tetropod [having four legs] overtime evolves into an organism with smaller
legs [i.e. the transitional form] until finally evolving into a snake that lacks limbs. Example 2: a
mammalian tetropod evolving into a form with shorted limbs which then evolves into a whale)
c) Biogeography: helps us understand how changes in land impacts evolution. (Ex. Squirrels of
the Grand Canyon, and Marsupial mammals of Australia, vs. Placental mammals of the other
continents due to separation of the continents).
d) Convergent evolution: idea that two different species (that look different from each other and
are distantly related) can evolve to look like each other because that form is perfect for its
survival. (sharks, ichthyosaurs, and dolphins are example, euphorbs and cacti are examples
[desert plants that look like each other, but are not directly related], ocelots and fossas are
examples, raccoon dog and raccoon are examples, or sugar gliders, flying squirrels and flying
lemurs).
e) Artificial selection/Selective breeding: is a form of selection whereby humans cross plants or
animals together to select for certain traits (not survival of fittest, but survival of desired traits).
(Examples of this are... any breed of cattle, pigs, domestic cats, dogs, horses, goats, bunny
rabbits, lab mice, etc. many fruits, vegetables, and grain)
f) Experimental selection/Direct observation: in the laboratory, orga
anatomical homology - CORRECT ANSWER - when different species are related because
they share a common anatomical feature or homologous structure (Example: 1+2+ many
arrangement of limbs suggest that all tetrapods evolved from common ancestor with limbs, or
pharyngeal pouches in embryos, etc.)
and CORRECT Answers
Lamarck's hypothesis of "inheritance of acquired characteristics". - CORRECT
ANSWER - an individual adapts in its lifetime, and that this adaptation is passed on to the
next generation.
the various example of inspiration that led Darwin to develop his idea - CORRECT
ANSWER - Extinct glyptodons (giant armadillo) and modern-day armadillos (seven-
banded armadillos) looking similar to each other, suggesting that they were related, but changed
to adapt to their environment.
b) Extinct megatherium and tree sloths looking similar to each other, suggesting they were
related, but both changed to adapt to their environment.
c) Two different populations of rheas. Located at different parts of South America, looking
similar to each other, suggesting that they were related, but both changed to adapt to their
environment.
d) The presence of species endemic to the Galapagos Islands (Marine Iguanas, Giant Tortoises,
Galapagos Finches), and how they resembled those of the mainland, but looked a little different.
They changed to adapted to their new environment.
how the ancestor species from the mainland made it to the Galapagos. - CORRECT
ANSWER - Some seeds dispersed by air, sea, and bird
Some animals arrived by air (birds, spiders, flying insects), or sea (some animals floating alone,
or floating [tortoises] on vegetation raft [green iguanas]).
the order of the principles of "descent with modification" - CORRECT ANSWER -A
population starts out with variation (variation already present in population + new mutations)
b) The population undergoes a selective pressure (limitation of food resources, presence of a new
predator, etc.)
c) The population undergoes natural selection, whereby organisms having beneficial traits
survive and reproduce to pass on those traits to the next generation.
d) Then the population undergoes adaptation, whereby the variation is now different in the
population, leading to an enhanced presence of beneficial traits.
, different pieces of evidence that supports evolution. - CORRECT ANSWER - a) Fossil
record: lower strata = organisms from earlier in time, higher strata (surface) = organisms later in
time (i.e. more recently).
b) Transitional/Intermediate forms in the fossil record: organisms that show up at the correct
geological time that exhibit intermediate features between two related organisms. Transitional
forms provide evidence for how organisms can slowly change from one type of organism into
another (Example a tetropod [having four legs] overtime evolves into an organism with smaller
legs [i.e. the transitional form] until finally evolving into a snake that lacks limbs. Example 2: a
mammalian tetropod evolving into a form with shorted limbs which then evolves into a whale)
c) Biogeography: helps us understand how changes in land impacts evolution. (Ex. Squirrels of
the Grand Canyon, and Marsupial mammals of Australia, vs. Placental mammals of the other
continents due to separation of the continents).
d) Convergent evolution: idea that two different species (that look different from each other and
are distantly related) can evolve to look like each other because that form is perfect for its
survival. (sharks, ichthyosaurs, and dolphins are example, euphorbs and cacti are examples
[desert plants that look like each other, but are not directly related], ocelots and fossas are
examples, raccoon dog and raccoon are examples, or sugar gliders, flying squirrels and flying
lemurs).
e) Artificial selection/Selective breeding: is a form of selection whereby humans cross plants or
animals together to select for certain traits (not survival of fittest, but survival of desired traits).
(Examples of this are... any breed of cattle, pigs, domestic cats, dogs, horses, goats, bunny
rabbits, lab mice, etc. many fruits, vegetables, and grain)
f) Experimental selection/Direct observation: in the laboratory, orga
anatomical homology - CORRECT ANSWER - when different species are related because
they share a common anatomical feature or homologous structure (Example: 1+2+ many
arrangement of limbs suggest that all tetrapods evolved from common ancestor with limbs, or
pharyngeal pouches in embryos, etc.)
