USF BSC2011 Final Exam 1 Questions
with All Actual Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
descent with modification - Answer principle that each living species has descended, with
changes, from other species over time
Homology - Answer similarity resulting from common ancestry
homologous structures - Answer similar structures that related species have inherited from a
common ancestor
analogous structures - Answer structures that do not have a common evolutionary origin but
are similar in function
convergent evolution - Answer Evolution toward similar characteristics in unrelated species
Fossil - Answer The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past
vestigial structures - Answer A structure that is present in an organism but no longer serves its
original purpose
evolutionary tree - Answer A branching diagram that reflects a hypothesis about evolutionary
relationships among groups of organisms.
Biogeography - Answer study of the distribution of organisms around the world
artificial selection - Answer Selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural
variation among different organisms
Adaptation - Answer A characteristic that improves an individual's ability to survive and
reproduce in a particular environment.
Evolution - Answer Change of one or more a kind of organism from one generation to the
next; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms. Occurs in
populations
, Population - Answer A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the
same area
natural selection - Answer A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits
tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
Main process of evolution. Must have variation in population,
Microevolution - Answer Change in allele frequencies in a population over generations.
1. New genetic variation
- Mutation
- Gene duplication
- Exon shuffling
- Horizontal gene transfer
Macroevolution - Answer Evolutionary change above the species level, including the
appearance of major evolutionary developments, such as flight, that we use to define higher
taxa.
Species - Answer a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of
exchanging genes or interbreeding.
Alfred Russel Wallace - Answer British naturalist who developed a hypothesis of natural
selection similar to Darwin's
Darwin - Answer English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural
selection (1809-1882)
Aristotle - Answer Greek philosopher, thought species were fixed, no evolution
Carolus Linnaeus - Answer (1707-1778) Founder of taxonomy, the branch of biology concerned
with naming and classifying organisms. Developed two part system of naming organisms.
Georges Cuvier - Answer (1769-1832) Largely developed paleontology, the study of fossils.
Advocated catastrophism. Used sedimentary rock. Older rock has less similar organisms.
Thought replacement came from large catastrophes.
James Hutton - Answer father of geology, created the idea of gradual
with All Actual Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
descent with modification - Answer principle that each living species has descended, with
changes, from other species over time
Homology - Answer similarity resulting from common ancestry
homologous structures - Answer similar structures that related species have inherited from a
common ancestor
analogous structures - Answer structures that do not have a common evolutionary origin but
are similar in function
convergent evolution - Answer Evolution toward similar characteristics in unrelated species
Fossil - Answer The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past
vestigial structures - Answer A structure that is present in an organism but no longer serves its
original purpose
evolutionary tree - Answer A branching diagram that reflects a hypothesis about evolutionary
relationships among groups of organisms.
Biogeography - Answer study of the distribution of organisms around the world
artificial selection - Answer Selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural
variation among different organisms
Adaptation - Answer A characteristic that improves an individual's ability to survive and
reproduce in a particular environment.
Evolution - Answer Change of one or more a kind of organism from one generation to the
next; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms. Occurs in
populations
, Population - Answer A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the
same area
natural selection - Answer A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits
tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
Main process of evolution. Must have variation in population,
Microevolution - Answer Change in allele frequencies in a population over generations.
1. New genetic variation
- Mutation
- Gene duplication
- Exon shuffling
- Horizontal gene transfer
Macroevolution - Answer Evolutionary change above the species level, including the
appearance of major evolutionary developments, such as flight, that we use to define higher
taxa.
Species - Answer a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of
exchanging genes or interbreeding.
Alfred Russel Wallace - Answer British naturalist who developed a hypothesis of natural
selection similar to Darwin's
Darwin - Answer English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural
selection (1809-1882)
Aristotle - Answer Greek philosopher, thought species were fixed, no evolution
Carolus Linnaeus - Answer (1707-1778) Founder of taxonomy, the branch of biology concerned
with naming and classifying organisms. Developed two part system of naming organisms.
Georges Cuvier - Answer (1769-1832) Largely developed paleontology, the study of fossils.
Advocated catastrophism. Used sedimentary rock. Older rock has less similar organisms.
Thought replacement came from large catastrophes.
James Hutton - Answer father of geology, created the idea of gradual
