Evidenve For Evolution

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

The slow and continuous change of organisms from one generation to the next.

Question 2

Who proposed the theory of natural selection?

Answer 2

Charles Darwin

Question 3

What does natural selection mean?

Answer 3

Survival of the fittest

Question 4

What are alleles?

Answer 4

Versions of genes

Question 5

What causes genetic variation in a population?

Answer 5

Differences in their alleles

Question 6

How do new alleles arise?

Answer 6

Through mutations

Question 7

What are selection pressures?

Answer 7

Factors like predation, competition for resources, and disease that affect an organism’s chance of surviving and reproducing.

Question 8

What happens to individuals with characteristics better adapted to selection pressures?

Answer 8

They have a better chance of survival and are more likely to breed successfully.

Question 9

What is the result of beneficial characteristics in a population over time?

Answer 9

They become more common.

Question 10

What can happen to a species that can’t compete?

Answer 10

It is likely to go extinct.

Question 11

How do bacteria provide evidence for evolution?

Answer 11

They develop random mutations that can create new alleles, affecting their characteristics.

Question 12

What is an example of an advantageous mutation in bacteria?

Answer 12

Antibiotic resistance

Question 13

Why is antibiotic resistance advantageous for bacteria?

Answer 13

It allows them to survive better in the presence of antibiotics.

Question 14

What happens to resistant bacteria in a host treated with antibiotics?

Answer 14

They survive longer and reproduce more times.

Question 15

Why do resistant alleles become more common in a population of bacteria?

Answer 15

Through natural selection, as resistant bacteria reproduce and pass on the resistance.

Question 16

What is a fossil?

Answer 16

Any trace of an animal or plant that lived a long time ago.

Question 17

Where are fossils most commonly found?

Answer 17

In rocks

Question 18

What can be observed by arranging fossils in chronological order?

Answer 18

Gradual changes in organisms.

Question 19

What does the study of fossils provide evidence for?

Answer 19

Evolution and how species have changed over billions of years.

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The emergence of other resistant organisms, such as rats resistant to ______, also provides evidence for evolution.

Answer 20

warfarin

Question 21

True or False: The deeper the rock, the younger the fossil.

Answer 21

False

Question 22

What evidence suggests that humans evolved from a common ancestor with other apes?

Answer 22

Fossil evidence indicates that humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor around 6 million years ago.

This ancestor is considered a key point in human evolutionary history.

Question 23

What are human beings and their ancestors classified as?

Answer 23

Hominids.

Hominids include all species on the human side of the evolutionary tree.

Question 24

What does the fossil evidence of hominids reveal?

Answer 24

It shows characteristics that are between apes and humans, illustrating human evolution over time.

This evidence helps trace the physical changes in our lineage.

Question 25

What is the age and species of the fossil known as 'Ardi'?

Answer 25

4.4 million years old, Ardipithecus ramidus. ## Footnote Ardi was discovered in Ethiopia.

Question 26

What features did Ardi possess that were ape-like?

Answer 26

Ape-like big toe, long arms, and short legs. ## Footnote These features indicate her climbing ability.

Question 27

What evidence suggests that Ardi walked upright?

Answer 27

The structure of her legs and hand bones suggests upright walking, differing from apes. ## Footnote This is significant in understanding the evolution of bipedalism.

Question 28

What is the significance of cranial capacity?

Answer 28

It measures the space taken up by the brain in the skull. ## Footnote This measurement is crucial for understanding brain size in evolutionary terms.

Question 29

What is the age and species of the fossil known as 'Lucy'?

Answer 29

3.2 million years old, Australopithecus afarensis. ## Footnote Lucy was also found in Ethiopia.

Question 30

What adaptations did Lucy have compared to Ardi?

Answer 30

Arched feet, no ape-like big toe, and a more human-like structure of arms and legs. ## Footnote These adaptations indicate a greater efficiency in walking.

Question 31

How did Lucy's brain size compare to Ardi's?

Answer 31

Lucy's brain was slightly larger than Ardi's but still similar in size to a chimp's brain. ## Footnote This reflects gradual brain development in hominids.

Question 32

What was discovered by Richard Leakey's team in 1984?

Answer 32

Important fossils of different Australopithecus and Homo species. ## Footnote This expedition contributed significantly to our understanding of human evolution.

Question 33

What is the age and species of the fossil known as 'Turkana Boy'?

Answer 33

1.6 million years old, Homo erectus. ## Footnote Turkana Boy shows a mixture of human and ape-like features.

Question 34

What notable physical characteristics did Turkana Boy have?

Answer 34

Short arms, long legs, and a brain size similar to modern humans. ## Footnote These features indicate advanced adaptations for bipedalism.

Question 35

Fill in the blank: The structure of Turkana Boy's legs and feet suggest he was better adapted to _______.

Answer 35

walking upright. ## Footnote This adaptation is critical in the study of human evolutionary progress.

Question 36

What are the two main groups of species that show the evolutionary timeline leading to modern humans?

Answer 36

Australopithecus species and Homo species ## Footnote Australopithecus species are more ape-like, while Homo species are human-like.

Question 37

What is the significance of the Turkana boy in the context of human evolution?

Answer 37

Turkana boy is a representative fossil that helps illustrate the timeline of human evolution ## Footnote It is a notable Homo species fossil.

Question 38

What is the time range for Homo habilis?

Answer 38

2.5-1.5 million years ago ## Footnote Homo habilis is known for making simple stone tools.

Question 39

What tool-making ability is associated with Homo erectus?

Answer 39

Sculpted rocks into shapes to produce more complex tools ## Footnote This included hand-axes used for hunting and digging.

Question 40

What types of tools were commonly used by Homo neanderthalensis?

Answer 40

More complex tools, including flint tools, pointed tools, and wooden spears ## Footnote Neanderthals were known for their advanced tool-making skills.

Question 41

When did Homo sapiens first appear?

Answer 41

200,000 years ago-present ## Footnote Homo sapiens are the modern human species.

Question 42

What is one method used to determine the age of stone tools or fossils?

Answer 42

Looking at the structural features of the tool or fossil ## Footnote Simpler tools are usually older than more complex ones.

Question 43

What does stratigraphy study to help date fossils?

Answer 43

The study of rock layers ## Footnote Older rock layers are typically found below younger layers.

Question 44

What dating method can be used on carbon-containing materials found with stone tools?

Answer 44

Carbon-14 dating ## Footnote This method helps determine the age of organic materials associated with tools.

Question 45

True or False: Dating fossils is always very accurate.

Answer 45

False ## Footnote Factors such as the movement of rock layers can affect dating accuracy.

Question 46

Fill in the blank: Homo habilis made simple stone tools called _______.

Answer 46

pebble tools ## Footnote These tools were made by hitting rocks together.

Question 47

What significant development in tool-making occurred around 50,000 years ago?

Answer 47

The appearance of pointed tools including arrowheads, fish hooks, and needles ## Footnote This indicates a significant advancement in tool complexity.

Question 48

What type of tools did Homo erectus produce?

Answer 48

Simple hand-axes ## Footnote These were used for various tasks such as hunting and scraping.

Question 49

What does the evolution of stone tools suggest about Homo species?

Answer 49

Their brains must have been getting larger ## Footnote The complexity of tools correlates with brain development.