Honors Bio Test Terms

What is evolution?

The process by which species change over time through genetic variation and natural selection.

What are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms called?

Fossils

What would be a more precise way to date fossils (besides comparing layers)?

Radiometric Dating

The wings of a bat and the wings of a butterfly are similar in that they both allow the organisms to fly. Are bats and butterflies closely related?

What type of structure is this? Homologous, Analogous, or Vestigial?

Are they closely related: Yes or No?

Analogous structures; No

A duck and a platypus both lay eggs. Are they closely related? What type of trait is egg-laying?

Inherited trait; No

Humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas all have similar hand structures. Are humans, chimps, and gorillas closely related? What type of structure are the hands?

Homologous structures; Yes

Shark and penguin both have flippers to propel through water. Are they closely related? What type of trait are the flippers?

Analogous structures; No

Monarch and Blue Morpho butterflies have similar wings. Are they closely related? What type of structure are the wings?

Homologous structures; No

Whales and dolphins have a pelvis and femur but don’t walk on legs. What type of structure is the pelvis and femur?

Vestigial structures

Snakes have reduced hind limbs and skeletal structures for walking but do not have legs like lizards. What type of structure are the reduced hind limbs?

Vestigial structures

Minnows and cave fish both have eyes, but cave fish have diminished eyes and cannot see. What type of structure are the eyes in cave fish?

Vestigial structures

What is natural selection?

• Variation – Individuals in a population have differences (like coat thickness, beak size, etc.)

• Inheritance – These variations are inherited (passed down from parents to offspring)

• Competition – Organisms compete for limited resources (food, space, mates)

• Differential survival and reproduction – Those with traits better suited to the environment survive and reproduce more, passing on those favorable traits.

What is genetic drift?

A random change in the allele (gene) frequencies of a population, usually more noticeable in small populations. It isn’t driven by natural selection, but by chance events (like natural disasters or accidents).

What is gene flow?

The movement of genes (alleles) from one population to another, often through migration and reproduction.

Polar bears have variations in coat thickness. Some have thick coats, others thin. In a cold climate, the thicker-coated bears survive and reproduce more. Over time, the population becomes mostly thick-coated bears.

What do you think this is an example of?

Natural selection

A pond population had flat-tailed, round-tailed, and pointed-tailed guppies. The pond dried up. After it refilled, only round- and pointed-tailed guppies were left.

What do you think this is an example of?

Genetic drift

A population of Canadian geese is migrating. Two geese get blown off course, land elsewhere, and the next day join a different goose population.

Which process is this?

Gene flow

Giraffes have different neck lengths. Tall giraffes can reach more leaves, survive better, and reproduce more. Over time, more tall-neck giraffes exist.

What’s your answer?

Natural selection

What is an adaptation?

An adaptation is a heritable trait that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

What is camouflage?

Camouflage is an adaptation that allows an organism to blend in with its surroundings, making it harder for predators (or prey) to detect them.

Which of the following are examples of camouflage?

A) Zebras herding together
B) Tigers blending with branches
C) Snowshoe hares changing color
D) Chameleons changing color
E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Viceroy butterflies look like monarch butterflies to avoid being eaten by birds (because monarchs are poisonous). This is an example of ______________.

Mimicry