Question 1

Experimental evolution studies using bacteriophages have been most useful in showing that

Accepted Answer

A)   environmentally influenced traits are not useful in phylogenetic analysis.
B)   mutagens decrease the level of homoplasy.
C)   the methods used to reconstruct phylogenies are generally reliable.
D)   developmental stages can be useful in reconstructing phylogenies.
E)   phylogenetic approaches can be used to solve crimes.

Question 2

Refer to the phylogenetic tree below showing the phylogenetic relationships among eight species.Red dots indicate the appearance of derived traits.  The positions of which two taxa could be reversed without changing the meaning of the tree?

Accepted Answer

A)   Crocodile and pigeon
B)   Crocodile and lizard
C)   Mouse and pigeon
D)   Lizard and salamander
E)   Lamprey and chimpanzee

Question 3

Four different phylogenetic trees of a group of salamanders have been proposed.Trees A and B each require 12 homoplasies, but tree A requires 14 synapomorphies and tree B requires 13 synapomorphies.Tree C requires 15 homoplasies and 13 synapomorphies.Finally, tree D requires 10 homoplasies and 15 synapomorphies.According to the principle of parsimony, which tree is the best?

Accepted Answer

A)   Tree A
B)   Tree B
C)   Tree C
D)   Tree D
E)   The trees are equally good.

Question 4

Biologists are interested in determining the phylogenetic relationships of a group of beetles.Information about which of the following types of behavior would be least useful in reconstructing phylogenies?

Accepted Answer

A)   Inherited
B)   Locomotion
C)   Foraging
D)   Learned
E)   Mating

Question 5

Which event or situation would violate an assumption of the molecular clock?

Accepted Answer

A)   The gene that encodes histone H4 evolves much more slowly than the gene that encodes the enzyme hexokinase.
B)   Mitochondrial DNA evolves faster than most nuclear DNA.
C)   Lineages with organisms that have long generation times evolve more slowly than those with shorter generation times.
D)   The taxa involved evolved from a common ancestor more than 100 million years ago.
E)   The taxa involved evolved from a common ancestor less than 10,000 years ago.

Question 6

Which statement about phylogenetic trees is false?

Accepted Answer

A)   Rotation of lineages around a node can change the meaning of a tree.
B)   "Node" is another word for "branching point."
C)   A phylogenetic tree is a representation of the history of evolutionary relationships among organisms or their genes.
D)   Phylogenetic trees can represent genes within species.
E)   All lineages can be traced back to the root of the tree.

Question 7

Males of a species of grasshoppers sing very rapid songs.Experimental evidence shows that females of this species prefer these fast songs over slowed-down songs.Related species have males that do not sing as fast, but interestingly, the females from these other species also prefer very fast songs over songs of males from their own species.These results are consistent with the _______ hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

sensory ex...

Question 8

Which trait would be least useful in a phylogenetic analysis?

Accepted Answer

A)   A trait that is altered easily by small changes in temperature
B)   A trait that involves genetically inherited behaviors
C)   A trait that is detectable in observations of early development
D)   A trait that can be studied in museum specimens
E)   A trait that corresponds directly with sequence differences in a single gene

Question 9

Consider a phylogeny of metazoans.Snakes, which lack limbs, evolved from vertebrates that had legs.The limbs of snakes disappeared by _______, and the backbones of snakes are a _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   convergent evolution; synapomorphy
B)   an evolutionary reversal; synapomorphy
C)   convergent evolution; homoplastic trait
D)   an evolutionary reversal; homoplastic trait
E)   an evolutionary reversal; heteroplastic trait

Question 10

In the case where phylogenetic analysis of HIV was used to convict a physician of purposely injecting blood from his HIV-positive patient into his former girlfriend, which would be evidence that would most likely exonerate the physician?

Accepted Answer

A)   The victim's HIV sequences were a subset of the patient's HIV sequences.
B)   The victim's HIV sequences formed a clade.
C)   The victim's HIV sequences were a subset of sequences from another HIV-positive individual from the community.
D)   The patient's HIV sequences were a subset of sequences from another HIV-positive individual from the community.
E)   The patient's HIV sequences were sister to the victim's sequences.

Question 11

The ratites are a group of flightless birds comprising ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea, and kiwi.All share certain morphological similarities (such as a breastbone without a keel)  not found in other birds, but they live on different continents.In the past, some ornithologists regarded their similarities as homoplasies, but they are now thought to be synapomorphies.Based on this information, you would conclude that the ratites were once regarded as a _______ group but are now believed to be _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   polyphyletic; paraphyletic
B)   paraphyletic; monophyletic
C)   polyphyletic; monophyletic
D)   monophyletic; polyphyletic
E)   monophyletic; paraphyletic

Question 12

Refer to the figure.  Which synapomorphies are shared by lizards and salamanders?

Accepted Answer

A)   Lungs only
B)   Lungs and jaws
C)   Lungs, jaws, and claws/nails
D)   Lungs and claws/nails
E)   Jaws, lungs, and scales

Question 13

Drosophila mauritiana and D.melanogaster diverged 2 million years ago.Between these species, 40 nucleotide differences have accumulated at a gene.At that same gene, D.mauritiana and D.simulans have accumulated 8 nucleotide differences.Assuming that a molecular clock is operating, the best estimate for the divergence time between D.mauritiana and D.simulans is _______ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)   100,000
B)   200,000
C)   300,000
D)   400,000
E)   800,000

Question 14

Why are fossils useful for determining whether a trait is ancestral or derived?

Accepted Answer

A)   Fossils can be dated, and thus we can know when a trait evolved.
B)   Fossils can give us direct evidence of the character states of extinct lineages.
C)   Maximum likelihood methods can be used with fossil structures.
D)   With fossil information, we can know where animals actually lived in the past.
E)   None of the above; fossils are not useful in determining whether a trait is ancestral or derived.

Question 15

Which application of phylogenetic trees cannot be done without assuming a molecular clock?

Accepted Answer

A)   Determining whether one node occurred before another
B)   Allowing us to compare and contrast living organisms
C)   Revealing convergent evolution
D)   Assisting in reconstructing ancestral states
E)   Providing an estimate of the absolute date when two lineages split

Question 16

In the experimental tests of phylogenetic reconstruction methods done by Hillis et al, the experimenters mimicked the levels of homoplasy commonly seen in real organisms by

Accepted Answer

A)   running the experiments at high temperatures.
B)   adding mutagens.
C)   the use of computer simulations.
D)   freezing the organisms at specific times.
E)   The experimenters did not control for levels of homoplasy.

Question 17

Several unrelated species of spiders have evolved social behaviors presumably in response to selective pressures brought on by high density.The closest relatives of these spiders lack these behaviors.These social behaviors are likely examples of _______ evolution, which is a form of _______.

Accepted Answer

convergent...

Question 18

The Lamiaceae is a ________ of _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   order; plants
B)   order; animals
C)   genus; animals
D)   family; plants
E)   family; animals

Question 19

Which statement about phylogenetic trees is false?

Accepted Answer

A)   The positions of branches on the x axis indicate the order in which lineages split.
B)   The x axis represents time.
C)   The y axis shows degree of similarity between contemporaneous species.
D)   A split in the tree indicates the formation of two new species.
E)   The break points of the tree are determined by the appearance of particular derived traits.

Question 20

The suffix "-idae" (as in "Sciuridae")  refers to organisms of which kingdom?

Accepted Answer

A)   Bacteria
B)   Fungi
C)   Plants
D)   Animals
E)   Algae

Exam 21: Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

Which statement about phylogenetic trees is false?

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The Lamiaceae is a __ of _.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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sensory ex...
View Answer

Refer to the figure. Which synapomorphies are shared by lizards and salamanders?

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Biologists are interested in determining the phylogenetic relationships of a group of beetles.Information about which of the following types of behavior would be least useful in reconstructing phylogenies?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Which event or situation would violate an assumption of the molecular clock?

Correct Answer
verified

Consider a phylogeny of metazoans.Snakes, which lack limbs, evolved from vertebrates that had legs.The limbs of snakes disappeared by _, and the backbones of snakes are a _.

Correct Answer
verified

Several unrelated species of spiders have evolved social behaviors presumably in response to selective pressures brought on by high density.The closest relatives of these spiders lack these behaviors.These social behaviors are likely examples of _ evolution, which is a form of _.

Correct Answer
verified
convergent...
View Answer

In the experimental tests of phylogenetic reconstruction methods done by Hillis et al, the experimenters mimicked the levels of homoplasy commonly seen in real organisms by

Correct Answer
verified

Which statement about phylogenetic trees is false?

Correct Answer
verified

Refer to the phylogenetic tree below showing the phylogenetic relationships among eight species.Red dots indicate the appearance of derived traits. The positions of which two taxa could be reversed without changing the meaning of the tree?

Correct Answer
verified

Why are fossils useful for determining whether a trait is ancestral or derived?

Correct Answer
verified

Which trait would be least useful in a phylogenetic analysis?

Correct Answer
verified

Experimental evolution studies using bacteriophages have been most useful in showing that

Correct Answer
verified

The suffix "-idae" (as in "Sciuridae") refers to organisms of which kingdom?

Correct Answer
verified

In the case where phylogenetic analysis of HIV was used to convict a physician of purposely injecting blood from his HIV-positive patient into his former girlfriend, which would be evidence that would most likely exonerate the physician?

Correct Answer
verified

Which application of phylogenetic trees cannot be done without assuming a molecular clock?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 21: Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

Which statement about phylogenetic trees is false?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Lamiaceae is a ________ of _______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answerverifiedsensory ex...View AnswerShow Answer

Refer to the figure. Which synapomorphies are shared by lizards and salamanders?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Biologists are interested in determining the phylogenetic relationships of a group of beetles.Information about which of the following types of behavior would be least useful in reconstructing phylogenies?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which event or situation would violate an assumption of the molecular clock?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider a phylogeny of metazoans.Snakes, which lack limbs, evolved from vertebrates that had legs.The limbs of snakes disappeared by _______, and the backbones of snakes are a _______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Several unrelated species of spiders have evolved social behaviors presumably in response to selective pressures brought on by high density.The closest relatives of these spiders lack these behaviors.These social behaviors are likely examples of _______ evolution, which is a form of _______.

Correct Answerverifiedconvergent...View AnswerShow Answer

In the experimental tests of phylogenetic reconstruction methods done by Hillis et al, the experimenters mimicked the levels of homoplasy commonly seen in real organisms by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement about phylogenetic trees is false?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Refer to the phylogenetic tree below showing the phylogenetic relationships among eight species.Red dots indicate the appearance of derived traits. The positions of which two taxa could be reversed without changing the meaning of the tree?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why are fossils useful for determining whether a trait is ancestral or derived?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which trait would be least useful in a phylogenetic analysis?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Experimental evolution studies using bacteriophages have been most useful in showing that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The suffix "-idae" (as in "Sciuridae") refers to organisms of which kingdom?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the case where phylogenetic analysis of HIV was used to convict a physician of purposely injecting blood from his HIV-positive patient into his former girlfriend, which would be evidence that would most likely exonerate the physician?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which application of phylogenetic trees cannot be done without assuming a molecular clock?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

The Lamiaceae is a __ of _.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
sensory ex...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Consider a phylogeny of metazoans.Snakes, which lack limbs, evolved from vertebrates that had legs.The limbs of snakes disappeared by _, and the backbones of snakes are a _.

Correct Answer
verified

Several unrelated species of spiders have evolved social behaviors presumably in response to selective pressures brought on by high density.The closest relatives of these spiders lack these behaviors.These social behaviors are likely examples of _ evolution, which is a form of _.

Correct Answer
verified
convergent...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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