Evolutionary Theory

Which best describes traditional classification?

Which describes the modern classification system?

Why was modern classification invented?

A scientist discovers a new organism that is related to clownfish. What can the scientist discover by using molecular clocks?

Which best describes derived characteristics?

In a cladogram, what occurs at a node?

If two organisms are in the same clade, what can you predict about their relationship?

According to the cladogram, which organisms are in the smallest clade with birds?

Dr. Digger, a paleontologist, finds a fossil that he describes in his journal.

The creature was approximately 1 meter long, with its backbone fused into a large shell covering the body cavity. It had a beaklike mouth, without teeth, and all four limbs were in the form of flippers.

Based on anatomical similarities, to which modern animal is Dr. Digger’s creature most closely related?

A scientist is trying to determine how closely related a moth species is to four other moth species. He examined the DNA of each species and compared it to the study subject. He then created this table.

Which species is most closely related to the original moth species?

Josiah says this is a phylogenetic tree of the dinosaurs. Maleek says it is a cladogram of the dinosaurs. Who is correct?

According to the tree, which primates share the most recent common ancestor with humans?

Julia is trying to place a duckbilled platypus, lizard, bear, and monkey on a phylogenetic tree. She learns that the duckbilled platypus, bear, and monkey are classified as mammals. She also learns that mammals share a common ancestor with reptiles. Which additional piece of information will be most helpful to Julia to properly build her phylogenetic tree?

According to the cladogram, which organisms have roundworms as a common ancestor?

Which group of organisms has the derived characteristics of true tissues, bilateral symmetry, and a pseudocoelom?