Biology 1108 Final Exam Questions with
Correct Answers 2026-2027
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.
Correct Answers 2026-2027
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.
