BIOLOGY 180 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
GRADED A+
Why does convergent evolution occur? --CORRECT ANSWER--
When natural selection favors similar traits in similar environments.
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch represent? --CORRECT
ANSWER--a population through time
On most phylogenetic trees, what does the length of a branch
represent? --CORRECT ANSWER--nothing
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent? --CORRECT
ANSWER--a splitting event (one population becomes two or more
evolutionarily independent populations)
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a tip represent? --CORRECT
ANSWER--any taxon (named group)
Page 1 of 15
, What criterion does the biological species concept use to identify
species? --CORRECT ANSWER--reproductive isolation
What is a monophyletic group? --CORRECT ANSWER--a common
ancestor and all of its descendants
What is an outgroup? --CORRECT ANSWER--a taxon that is closely
related to a monophyletic group, but not part of it
Homology and homoplasy produce similar traits. What is the key
difference? --CORRECT ANSWER--whether or not the similar traits
were inherited from a common ancestor
What is a synapomorphy? --CORRECT ANSWER--a trait that is
derived from an ancestor and identifies a monophyletic group
As a principle in logic, what does parsimony mean? --CORRECT
ANSWER--the simplest explanation is preferred (more complicated
explanations are less likely)
Page 2 of 15
VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
GRADED A+
Why does convergent evolution occur? --CORRECT ANSWER--
When natural selection favors similar traits in similar environments.
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch represent? --CORRECT
ANSWER--a population through time
On most phylogenetic trees, what does the length of a branch
represent? --CORRECT ANSWER--nothing
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent? --CORRECT
ANSWER--a splitting event (one population becomes two or more
evolutionarily independent populations)
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a tip represent? --CORRECT
ANSWER--any taxon (named group)
Page 1 of 15
, What criterion does the biological species concept use to identify
species? --CORRECT ANSWER--reproductive isolation
What is a monophyletic group? --CORRECT ANSWER--a common
ancestor and all of its descendants
What is an outgroup? --CORRECT ANSWER--a taxon that is closely
related to a monophyletic group, but not part of it
Homology and homoplasy produce similar traits. What is the key
difference? --CORRECT ANSWER--whether or not the similar traits
were inherited from a common ancestor
What is a synapomorphy? --CORRECT ANSWER--a trait that is
derived from an ancestor and identifies a monophyletic group
As a principle in logic, what does parsimony mean? --CORRECT
ANSWER--the simplest explanation is preferred (more complicated
explanations are less likely)
Page 2 of 15
