Question 1

Which of the following best describes the principle of maximum parsimony when constructing phylogenetic trees?

Accepted Answer

It selects the tree that requires the fewest evolutionary changes.

Question 2

In the Linnaean system of classification, which of the following is the correct order from most inclusive to least inclusive?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Which of the following statements about phylogenetic trees is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The length of a branch always represents the time since divergence.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A monophyletic group

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Hair

Question 6

Why is it important to distinguish between homology and analogy when constructing phylogenies?

Accepted Answer

Homologies reflect shared ancestry, while analogies result from convergent evolution.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes horizontal gene transfer?

Accepted Answer

The movement of genes from one genome to another, not by descent from parent to offspring.

Question 8

A phylogenetic tree shows that snakes and glass lizards both lack limbs. What is the most likely explanation for this trait?

Accepted Answer

The loss of limbs evolved independently in both lineages (convergent evolution).

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE about binomial nomenclature?

Accepted Answer

It assigns each species a two-part Latin name: genus and species.

Question 10

If a phylogenetic tree is rooted, what does the root represent?

Accepted Answer

The most recent common ancestor of all taxa in the tree.

Question 11

Which of the following is a limitation of phylogenetic trees?

Accepted Answer

They do not indicate when species evolved.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a paraphyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A group that includes an ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants.

Question 13

Which of the following best explains why molecular data is useful in constructing phylogenies?

Accepted Answer

It allows comparison of genetic sequences to identify evolutionary relationships.

Question 14

A scientist is comparing the DNA sequences of two species. She finds that they share a large number of identical sequences. What does this most likely indicate?

Accepted Answer

They share a recent common ancestor.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Vertebral column

Question 16

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the use of phylogenetic trees as hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

A scientist revises a tree after new fossil evidence is discovered.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A eukaryote acquiring nuclear genes from bacteria.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a rule of binomial nomenclature?

Accepted Answer

The genus name is written in lowercase.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A lineage that diverges early and remains unbranched.

Question 20

If two species share a derived character that is not found in their ancestors, what does this suggest about their evolutionary relationship?

Accepted Answer

They are more closely related to each other than to species lacking the character.

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life: Structured Study Notes

스터디 가이드 - 연습 문제

학습 가이드 - 플래시카드