Evolution
Evolution is one of the foundations of modern science and is closely
linked with genetics and heredity. Evolution is the process through which
the inherited properties of organisms change over time and different
species separate from each other. In your study of evolution, you should
be able to read and understand texts, charts, graphs, and diagrams
about:
Natural Selection Natural selection is a process which causes
animals or plants with useful genetic traits to
reproduce more, spreading that genetic trait.
Animals or plants with harmful genetic traits
(ones that make it harder to find food or make it
easier to become prey) are less likely to
reproduce, causing that trait to appear less and
less.
Mutation When DNA reproduces, sometimes the new
DNA is not exactly like the original DNA. Some
of the base pairs in the DNA can be randomly
changed. These changes are called mutations.
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BiologicalClassific Biological classification is a way that scientists
ation group living things based on how similar they
are to each other.
For example, here are the biological
classifications for a house cat:
Kingdom: Animalia (all animals)
Phylum: Chordata (animals with spines, or
vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (mammals)
Order: Carnivora (carnivores)
Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like carnivores)
Family: Felidae (cats)
Genus: Felis (a group of cats including a jungle
cat, wildcat, and sand cat, among others)
Species: Felis catus (a house cat
Adaptation An adaptation is a behavior or a trait that helps
a living organism survive in its environment.
Fossils Fossils are the remains of animals or plants
preserved in the soil and rocks of the Earth.
Fossils give scientists information on animals
and plants that are extinct, such as dinosaurs.
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Evolution Practice Question:
The squares, circles, and triangles represent fossils of three
different species found in layers of earth. Which of the following
statements is the best conclusion?
1) Life became continuously more diverse over time in this area.
2) Layer B was deposited at the same time as Layer A.
3) The species represented by circles existed over a longer time in this
area than the other two species.
4) The species represented by triangles is extinct.
5) Layer A represents the most recent period of time.
This question shows you a diagram of layers of soil with three types of
fossils deposited in it. To answer this question, you need to be familiar
with the idea that deeper layers of soil or rocks were deposited first, and
that the way fossils are distributed in the soil shows a distribution over
time.
Answer 1 isn’t the best answer. It says that life became more diverse
continuously over time, but the only layer that shows more types of life
forms than the previous layer is Layer C. There’s no change from Layer
A to Layer B, and from Layer C to Layer D, there are fewer species.
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Answer 2 isn’t the best answer. Layer B is above Layer A, so Layer B
was likely deposited after Layer A.
Answer 3 is a better answer. The circles are present in all four layers, so
it’s logical to conclude that the species represented by circles has been
around longer, during all four time periods.
Answer 4 isn’t the best answer. There’s no evidence to show whether
the species represented by triangles is extinct or not. The only
information in the diagram is that the species existed when Layer C and
Layer D were deposited.
Answer 5 also isn’t a good choice. Layer A is the deepest layer. It was
likely deposited the longest ago, not the most recently.
The best choice is answer 3.
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