Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

A phylogenetic tree is constructed to show the evolutionary relationships among several species. What does each branch point (node) on the tree represent?

Accepted Answer

A divergence event from a common ancestor.

Question 3

Which of the following is a monophyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A group containing a common ancestor and all its descendants.

Question 4

In the binomial naming system, which of the following correctly represents the scientific name of a species?

Accepted Answer

Genus species

Question 5

Which of the following statements about phylogenetic trees is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Phylogenetic trees show patterns of descent, not phenotypic similarity.

Question 6

A researcher is comparing the forelimbs of turtles and dolphins. The bone structure is similar, but the limbs function differently. What does this similarity in bone structure most likely represent?

Accepted Answer

Homology due to shared ancestry.

Question 7

Which taxonomic rank is the highest in the hierarchy of biological classification?

Accepted Answer

Domain

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Presence of hair

Question 9

A group of species is classified together because they all have amniotic eggs, but the group does not include all descendants of their common ancestor. What type of group is this?

Accepted Answer

Paraphyletic

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the role of an outgroup in cladistic analysis?

Accepted Answer

It is a species that is more distantly related to the ingroup and helps determine which traits are ancestral.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT considered informative in cladistic analysis for determining evolutionary relationships?

Accepted Answer

Shared ancestral characters

Question 12

If two species share a complex structure with many similar elements, what does this most likely indicate?

Accepted Answer

The structure is homologous.

Question 13

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

Bat wings and bird wings are similar in function but evolved independently.

Question 14

Which of the following is a polyphyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A group containing species with similar traits but no common ancestor.

Question 15

Which of the following is the correct order of taxonomic ranks from highest to lowest?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

A scientist is constructing a cladogram using the following character states: jaws, lungs, amniotic membrane, hair, and bipedalism. Which character would be considered ancestral for mammals?

Accepted Answer

Presence of jaws

Question 17

Which of the following is a reason why classification of organisms is important in biology?

Accepted Answer

It allows scientists to standardize names and conventions.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about systematics is correct?

Accepted Answer

Systematics is the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Question 19

Which of the following is true about cladistics?

Accepted Answer

Cladistics groups organisms based on shared derived characters.

Question 20

A student is analyzing a phylogenetic tree and notices that rotating the branches around a branch point does not change the evolutionary relationships. What does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Phylogenetic trees are flexible in showing evolutionary relationships.

Systematics and Phylogeny: Classification and Evolutionary Relationships in Biology

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