Name: ________________________________
Date: ______________Period: ____________
Evolution & Natural Selection Study Guide
Vocabulary
In your own words, write a definition for each of the following terms in the space provided.
1. adaptation:___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. species:_____________________________________________________________________
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3. evolution:____________________________________________________________________
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4. fossil:_______________________________________________________________________
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5. fossil record: _________________________________________________________________
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6. vestigial structure:_____________________________________________________________
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7. homologous structure: _________________________________________________________
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8. variation:____________________________________________________________________
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9. natural selection:______________________________________________________________
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10. mutation:____________________________________________________________________
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11. speciation:___________________________________________________________________
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12. reproductive success: __________________________________________________________
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13. generation: __________________________________________________________________
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14. embryo: ____________________________________________________________________
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15. population: __________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
1
Study Guide
2006-2007
Fill in the blank:
16. Natural selection occurs because there is ________________ in a species and some individuals have
traits which are more advantageous than others.
17. When the environment changes a population must adapt or else the population will _______________.
18. Structures and behaviors for finding food, protection, and for moving from place to place are an
organism's __________________ to its environment.
19. The process which explains how evolution happens is called _______________________.
20. When a population becomes isolated and is no longer able to breed with the original population,
__________________ has occurred.
21. The opposable thumb allows humans to grasp objects firmly. Because this feature helped humans to
survive over time, it is called a(n) __________________________.
22. The diversity of living things is the result of _________________ _________________.
23. Some structure in organisms no longer have a use, these are called __________________.
24. The primary evidence for common ancestry of all living things is _______________.
25. When a species dies out entirely, it is considered ______________________.
26. Adaptations will not be passed down through generations without _____________ and
______________ _________________ as key components of natural selection.
Short Answer – Answer using complete sentences
27. Describe the differences between a community, a population and an ecosystem:
28. What are the key components of natural selection?
29. Describe why climate change, introduction of a new predator and catastrophic events are
environmental factors that could limit the survival of an organism.
30. How are natural selection and biodiversity related?
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
2
Study Guide
2006-2007
31. Why can rapidly reproducing organisms such insects develop pesticide resistance?
32. Why don’t individual organisms evolve?
33. Why is camouflage an adaptive strategy for some animals?
34. Explain why DNA, comparative anatomy and fossils are the three primary lines of evidence
for the theory of evolution.
35. Plants have adapted to survive in many different environments. Explain how desert plants
have adapted to survive scarce water supply and extreme heat.
Use the following graphs to answer question 35.
36. Referencing each of the graphs about birth weight, explain why birth weight affects survival rate.
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
3
Study Guide
2006-2007
Use the following illustration to answer question 36.
37. Reptiles are most closely related to birds and mammals based on the structure of the heart.
Explain why using the illustration above.
Use this illustration to answer questions 37 and 38:
http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca/
38. The forearms a human, cat, horse and whale are pictured above. Why are they considered evidence of
evolution?
39. What function does each structure perform?
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
4
Study Guide
2006-2007