Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between homology and analogy in evolutionary biology?

Accepted Answer

Homology refers to similarities due to shared ancestry, while analogy refers to similarities due to convergent evolution.

Question 2

A phylogenetic tree is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis about the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms.

Question 3

Which of the following is the correct order of taxonomic groups from broadest to most specific?

Accepted Answer

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 4

In the binomial nomenclature system, which part of the name Panthera pardus refers to the genus?

Accepted Answer

Panthera

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a shared derived character (synapomorphy) in mammals?

Accepted Answer

The presence of hair

Question 6

Why might the placement of a species in the Linnaean classification system not always reflect its evolutionary history?

Accepted Answer

Because species may lose key features shared by close relatives or new evidence may support reclassification

Question 7

Which principle is used to select the simplest scientific explanation that fits the evidence when constructing phylogenetic trees?

Accepted Answer

Maximum parsimony

Question 8

A group that includes an ancestral species and all of its descendants is called:

Accepted Answer

A monophyletic group (clade)

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a method by which horizontal gene transfer can occur?

Accepted Answer

Binary fission

Question 10

If two unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Convergent evolution

Question 11

Which of the following best describes a basal taxon in a phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

A taxon that diverges from all other members of the group early in the history of the group

Question 12

Which of the following statements about phylogenetic trees is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

They always show the exact number of genetic changes in each lineage.

Question 13

Which of the following is a reason why the kingdom Protista is no longer recognized as a valid kingdom?

Accepted Answer

Some protists are more closely related to plants, fungi, or animals than to other protists.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of phylogenetic bracketing used to make predictions about extinct organisms?

Accepted Answer

Predicting that dinosaurs built nests and brooded their eggs because both birds and crocodiles do

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why horizontal gene transfer complicates the construction of the tree of life?

Accepted Answer

It results in genes moving between distantly related lineages, creating a network rather than a simple branching tree.

Question 16

Which of the following is true about the three-domain system of classification?

Accepted Answer

It divides all life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Question 17

A researcher is comparing the DNA sequences of two species and finds that they share many identical nucleotide sequences. What is the most likely explanation for this observation?

Accepted Answer

The species are closely related and the similarities are due to homology.

Question 18

Which of the following is a shared ancestral character for all vertebrates?

Accepted Answer

Backbone

Question 19

Which method would a systematist use to infer the most likely phylogenetic tree based on probability rules about DNA changes over time?

Accepted Answer

Maximum likelihood

Question 20

A polyphyletic group is defined as:

Accepted Answer

A group that includes distantly related species but not their most recent common ancestor

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life: Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards