Common Ancestry - AP Biology
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Which process results in gene flow between populations?
Which process results in gene flow between populations?
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Migration. Movement of individuals transfers alleles between populations.
Migration. Movement of individuals transfers alleles between populations.
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Which type of selection favors intermediate traits?
Which type of selection favors intermediate traits?
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Stabilizing selection. Reduces extreme variations by favoring average characteristics.
Stabilizing selection. Reduces extreme variations by favoring average characteristics.
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What is adaptive radiation?
What is adaptive radiation?
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Diversification of a species into various forms. Shows rapid evolution from a common ancestor into new niches.
Diversification of a species into various forms. Shows rapid evolution from a common ancestor into new niches.
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What does a phylogenetic tree represent?
What does a phylogenetic tree represent?
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Evolutionary relationships among species. Shows how species diverged from common ancestors over time.
Evolutionary relationships among species. Shows how species diverged from common ancestors over time.
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What is the significance of fossil records in common ancestry?
What is the significance of fossil records in common ancestry?
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They show transitional forms and evolutionary history. Fossils provide direct evidence of evolutionary changes over time.
They show transitional forms and evolutionary history. Fossils provide direct evidence of evolutionary changes over time.
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Define monophyletic group.
Define monophyletic group.
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A group that includes a common ancestor and all its descendants. Represents a complete evolutionary unit with no missing lineages.
A group that includes a common ancestor and all its descendants. Represents a complete evolutionary unit with no missing lineages.
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What is convergent evolution?
What is convergent evolution?
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Different species evolve similar traits independently. Creates analogous structures through similar environmental pressures.
Different species evolve similar traits independently. Creates analogous structures through similar environmental pressures.
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How do vestigial structures support common ancestry?
How do vestigial structures support common ancestry?
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Remnants of structures from common ancestors. These useless structures indicate inheritance from functional ancestral forms.
Remnants of structures from common ancestors. These useless structures indicate inheritance from functional ancestral forms.
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What is horizontal gene transfer?
What is horizontal gene transfer?
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Transfer of genes between organisms in a manner other than reproduction. Allows rapid spread of advantageous genes between species.
Transfer of genes between organisms in a manner other than reproduction. Allows rapid spread of advantageous genes between species.
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What is the definition of common ancestry?
What is the definition of common ancestry?
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Organisms share a common ancestor if they descend from a shared species. This defines the fundamental concept of shared evolutionary origin.
Organisms share a common ancestor if they descend from a shared species. This defines the fundamental concept of shared evolutionary origin.
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Which theory explains the origin of mitochondria?
Which theory explains the origin of mitochondria?
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Endosymbiotic theory. Explains how bacteria became organelles through symbiosis.
Endosymbiotic theory. Explains how bacteria became organelles through symbiosis.
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What is an analogous structure?
What is an analogous structure?
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Structures with similar function but different origins. Result of convergent evolution, not common ancestry.
Structures with similar function but different origins. Result of convergent evolution, not common ancestry.
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Which molecule's universality supports common ancestry?
Which molecule's universality supports common ancestry?
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DNA. All life uses the same genetic code, indicating common origin.
DNA. All life uses the same genetic code, indicating common origin.
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Which type of evolution results in similar traits across unrelated species?
Which type of evolution results in similar traits across unrelated species?
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Convergent evolution. Independent evolution produces similar solutions to environmental challenges.
Convergent evolution. Independent evolution produces similar solutions to environmental challenges.
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What is the role of genetic drift in evolution?
What is the role of genetic drift in evolution?
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Random changes in allele frequencies. Causes random evolutionary changes independent of natural selection.
Random changes in allele frequencies. Causes random evolutionary changes independent of natural selection.
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What is the bottleneck effect?
What is the bottleneck effect?
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Reduction in genetic diversity due to population reduction. Severe population decline randomly eliminates genetic variants.
Reduction in genetic diversity due to population reduction. Severe population decline randomly eliminates genetic variants.
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What is the principle of parsimony in phylogenetics?
What is the principle of parsimony in phylogenetics?
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Simplest explanation with fewest evolutionary changes. Minimizes assumptions by choosing the most economical evolutionary pathway.
Simplest explanation with fewest evolutionary changes. Minimizes assumptions by choosing the most economical evolutionary pathway.
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Which is an example of a transitional fossil?
Which is an example of a transitional fossil?
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Tiktaalik. Shows transition between fish and tetrapods with intermediate features.
Tiktaalik. Shows transition between fish and tetrapods with intermediate features.
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Which structure indicates common ancestry: homologous or analogous?
Which structure indicates common ancestry: homologous or analogous?
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Homologous. Homologous structures share ancestry; analogous structures do not.
Homologous. Homologous structures share ancestry; analogous structures do not.
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What does a sister group in phylogenetics represent?
What does a sister group in phylogenetics represent?
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Two lineages that are each other's closest relatives. Shows the closest evolutionary relationship possible between lineages.
Two lineages that are each other's closest relatives. Shows the closest evolutionary relationship possible between lineages.
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Which molecular evidence supports common ancestry?
Which molecular evidence supports common ancestry?
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DNA and protein sequence similarities. These molecules show evolutionary relationships through sequence conservation.
DNA and protein sequence similarities. These molecules show evolutionary relationships through sequence conservation.
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Identify a molecular clock's role in phylogenetics.
Identify a molecular clock's role in phylogenetics.
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Estimating divergence times based on mutation rates. Uses constant mutation rates to calculate when species diverged.
Estimating divergence times based on mutation rates. Uses constant mutation rates to calculate when species diverged.
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Which term describes the evolutionary history of a species?
Which term describes the evolutionary history of a species?
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Phylogeny. The complete evolutionary history and relationships of a lineage.
Phylogeny. The complete evolutionary history and relationships of a lineage.
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Which term describes a trait inherited from a common ancestor?
Which term describes a trait inherited from a common ancestor?
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Homologous trait. Shows direct inheritance from a shared ancestor.
Homologous trait. Shows direct inheritance from a shared ancestor.
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Define co-evolution.
Define co-evolution.
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Reciprocal evolutionary changes in interacting species. Species evolve together, each influencing the other's evolution.
Reciprocal evolutionary changes in interacting species. Species evolve together, each influencing the other's evolution.
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What does a polyphyletic group lack?
What does a polyphyletic group lack?
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A common ancestor. Polyphyletic groups incorrectly combine unrelated lineages.
A common ancestor. Polyphyletic groups incorrectly combine unrelated lineages.
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Identify the term for a branching point in a phylogenetic tree.
Identify the term for a branching point in a phylogenetic tree.
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Node. Each branching point shows where lineages split from ancestors.
Node. Each branching point shows where lineages split from ancestors.
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Which evidence from biogeography supports common ancestry?
Which evidence from biogeography supports common ancestry?
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Species distribution correlates with geological history. Geographic patterns match evolutionary divergence from common ancestors.
Species distribution correlates with geological history. Geographic patterns match evolutionary divergence from common ancestors.
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What evidence supports the idea of a universal common ancestor?
What evidence supports the idea of a universal common ancestor?
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Universal genetic code. Same code in all life suggests all organisms share one ancestor.
Universal genetic code. Same code in all life suggests all organisms share one ancestor.
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What is the significance of gene duplication in evolution?
What is the significance of gene duplication in evolution?
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Provides material for evolutionary innovation. Extra gene copies can evolve new functions without losing originals.
Provides material for evolutionary innovation. Extra gene copies can evolve new functions without losing originals.
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