science final study Flashcards
(20 cards)
list the order of these life forms from earliest to most recent.
- Organisms with specialized cells
- Simple-celled organisms
- Multicellular organisms with basic cells
- Simple-celled organisms
- Multicellular organisms with basic cells
- Organisms with specialized cells
What can scientists learn by studying the fossil record and rock layers? (Short Answer)
The history of life on Earth, including the evolution and extinction of species.
Which type of rock layer is typically the oldest: top or bottom? Why?
The oldest rock layer is typically at the bottom because new layers of rock form on top of older ones over time
What is an unconformity in rock layers, and what might cause it?
is a gap in a rock layer usually caused by erosion
In the “Earth’s History as a Clock” model, when do humans appear?
A. Beginning of Earth’s history
B. Middle
C. Very end
D. Throughout
C. very end
Put the steps of fossilization in order: (write the steps by number)
– An animal dies
– The bones are replaced by minerals
– The soft parts rot
– Sediment covers the bones
– Pressure turns sediment into rock
– Erosion reveals the fossil
- An animal dies.
- The soft parts rot.
- Sediment covers the bones.
- Pressure turns sediment into rock.
- The bones are replaced by minerals.
- Erosion reveals the fossil.
What is natural selection? (Short Answer)
process that gains traits that help animals and plants survive their environment and are more likely to live longer and have more babies, and carry on to the next generation
Why is variation in traits important for a population’s survival?
it helps a population adapt to changes in the environment and makes it more likely to survive threats like diseases or climate change.
What four steps are part of the natural selection process? Describe each step.
- Overproduction: Many organisms produce more offspring than can survive.
- Variation: Within a population, there are differences in traits.
- Competition: Organisms compete for limited resources like food and shelter.
- Selection: Traits that help organisms survive and reproduce become more common.
Explain how a beneficial mutation (like camouflage) can become more common over time. (Long Response)
A beneficial mutation, like camouflage, becomes more common over time through natural selection. Animals with the camouflage trait can hide better from predators, so they survive longer and have more babies. These babies inherit the camouflage trait. Over many generations, more and more animals in the population will have this helpful trait.
If a population of beetles lives on green plants, and some are green and some are yellow, which color will likely become more common? Why?
In a population of beetles living on green plants, the green beetles are likely to become more common. This is because green beetles can blend in with the green plants, making it harder for predators to see them. As a result, green beetles are more likely to survive and have babies, passing on their green color.
What caused changes in the beak size of Darwin’s finches?
Changes in the beak size of Darwin’s finches were caused by natural selection in response to changes in food sources and the environment.
Define mutation and explain how it can be each of the options below. Give an animal example of each.
A. Beneficial:
B. Harmful:
C. Neutral:
A. Beneficial: A mutation that helps an organism survive or reproduce better. Example: Giraffes with longer necks.
B. Harmful: A mutation that negatively affects an organism’s health or survival. Example: White tigers with vision problems.
C. Neutral: A mutation that has no significant effect on an organism. Example: Fruit flies with different eye colors.
A caterpillar evolves to look like a snake. How does this help it survive?
When a caterpillar evolves to look like a snake, it helps it survive by scaring away predators. Predators are less likely to attack if they think it’s a dangerous snake.
What does it mean if embryos of different animals (like humans, cats, and chickens) look similar early in development?
If embryos of different animals look similar early in development, it means they share a common ancestor and have inherited basic developmental instructions that guide the formation of fundamental body structures.
Look at the diagram of bones in a human, bat, seal, bird, and dog. What does this similarity in bone structure suggest about these animals?
The similarity in bone structure suggests that these animals share a common ancestor and have homologous structures, indicating evolutionary relationships.
What is the difference between natural selection and artificial selection?
Natural selection happens naturally, while artificial selection is controlled by humans.
Why do farmers use artificial selection to grow better crops?
Farmers use artificial selection to grow better crops because it allows them to choose plants with desirable traits, such as larger fruits, better taste, or resistance to diseases.
Imagine a volcanic eruption destroys part of an island. A species of bird lives only on that island. What might happen to that bird population over time? Use natural selection vocabulary in your answer.
If a volcanic eruption destroys part of an island, the bird population might experience variation, overproduction, competition, and selection through natural selection. Over time, the birds will adapt to the new environment.
Two groups of organisms in different continents have similar fossils from the same time period. What might that suggest about the Earth’s history or the continents at that time?
Similar fossils found on different continents suggest that these continents were once connected, supporting the theory of continental drift.
