Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Developmental Genetics Quiz

With recapitulation, a somatic trait can appear ________ in development or a reproductive trait can appear ________ in development.

earlier; later.

What is a totipotent cell?

A cell that can differentiate into any adult cell.

The characteristics identified in the figure are examples of what?

evo-devo.

What is a paralog?

A duplicate of an existing gene.

According to the phylogeny in the figure, which of the following statements is true?

All chordates have a neural tube.

What is the goal of the relatively new field of studying how developmental processes can shed light on the evolutionary history of life?

evolutionary developmental biology.

Which of the following conditions favors fossilization?

A dead organism is covered by soft sediment.

The probability of extinction via predation is not particularly high when?

predators are new arrivals to the prey's habitat.

Which mass extinction led to the disappearance of the dinosaurs?

K-Pg.

What does it mean if a species is endemic?

It is native to only one geographic area.

Why would a paleontologist focus their field work in Africa?

The vast majority of previous fossil finds regarding human origins have been discovered on the African continent.

Why is the Permian mass extinction event often referred to as an event where life almost died?

It was caused by huge volcanic eruptions releasing massive amounts of CO2, causing extreme warming and acid rain, leading to low oxygen levels in the water and the collapse of ecosystems.

Why did Tibbetts and Izzo manipulate the wasps' aggressiveness in addition to facial patterns?

To test whether the facial pattern is a conventional signal that is kept honest by continuous testing from conspecifics.

Which concept could be applied to test a kinship and cooperation hypothesis?

Hamilton's rule.

What is inclusive fitness?

An individual's total fitness, including both successfully producing offspring of its own and helping its kin in their reproductive efforts.

What is the coefficient of relatedness between a haplodiploid female worker bee and a male drone in the same hive if they do not have the same mother?

potentially, zero.

What three evolutionary paths can lead to the evolution of cooperation?

Kinship, Reciprocity, and Group Selection.

What do the two diagrams illustrate regarding human evolution?

The multiregional hypothesis and the out-of-Africa hypothesis, respectively.

How did Neanderthals differ physically from modern humans?

Neanderthals were heavier, stronger, and stockier, with a more pronounced brow ridge and larger eyes.

What accurately reflects the order of relationships between humans and other apes?

sister taxa with chimpanzees and bonobos, then gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons.

Which species of Homo may have survived until more recently?

Homo neanderthalensis.

Which hominid species is associated with sophisticated tool making using the Levallois technique?

Homo heidelbergensis.

What is a regulatory enhancer of a gene?

A section of DNA that lies outside of that gene but is involved in regulating the timing and level of that gene's expression.

Which of the following cell types would you expect to be totipotent?

embryonic cells early in development.

Which embryonic developmental stage in which all three groups are LEAST similar?

Stage 4