Biology Quiz Darwin and Evolution 5/21/25

Homologous Structures

Occur in species with a recent common ancestor, but the functions of the structures are different. Ex: forelimb of a bat and forelimb of a cat.

Analogous Structures

Occur in species that are not closely related (do not have a recent common ancestor) but the function is the same or similar. Ex: wings of a bird and wings of a butterfly.

Vestigial Structures

Had a function at one time, but not now (are often reduce in size) Ex: wings on flightless birds, eye sockets of blind cave fish.

How long was Darwin's trip

5 years, 1831-1836

What was the name of Darwin's ship

HMS Beagle

Evolution

change over time

what was Darwin's theory

modern organisms evolved over long periods of time through descent from common ancestors

What Islands did Darwin visit

Galapagos islands

What flightless birds did Darwin study

ostriches, rheas and emus

What continent did Darwin spend the most time on

south america

what were geologists suggesting about the earth during Darwin's time

the earth was ancient and had changed over time

what does insight Darwin's work offer

organisms are constantly evolving

what important information about the Galapagos islands tortoises did Darwin learn

the shape of the tortoises shell could be used to identify the island it lived on

Which tortoise would require a habitat where food is easy to reach

isabela island tortoise, because the shell restricts its head movements

Darwin found that finches has differently shaped beaks. What might this suggest about the eating habits of the birds

differently shaped beaks suggested different diets for the birds

what did geologists James Hutton and Charles Lyell argue about the earth

they thought earth was just a MILLION years old and that volcanism and erosion changed earth in the past and present

Charles Lyell

wrote a book called Principles of Geology in 1830

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

first scientists to propose hypotheses about how evolution occurred. He also hypothesized that acquired characteristics could be passed on to an organism's offspring leading to evolution of the species

Thomas Malthus

thought that if human population continued to grow unchecked, it would run out of living space and food.

artificial selection

nature provides the variations, and humans select those they find desirable.

what did Hutton realize about the earth's age

the earth was much older than previously believed

what did Lyell think about most geological processes

that they operated extremely slowly