Question

13 multiple choice 1 point
two organisms mate and have offspring. how could you test to see if the parents were the same species?
test to see if the offspring resembles one of the parents or the other more
test to see if the offspring have characteristics intermediate to both parents
none of these tests would show whether the organisms were the same species.
test to see if the offspring are fertile
14 multiple choice 1 point
which of the following is not part of the definition of a scientific theory?
all of these are part of the definition of a scientific theory
acceptance by all of the scientists in the scientific community
repeatedly confirmed through experiment or observation and modified as new data are gathered
coherent group of propositions which explain a natural phenomenon
15 multiple choice 1 point
which of the following statements regarding macroevolution is true, to the best of our current knowledge?
the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is an example of macroevolution in nature.
macroevolution is an extrapolation of microevolution.
macroevolution is observable in the laboratory.
the fossil record, particularly the cambrian explosion, yields copious evidence in favor of macroevolution.
16 multiple choice 1 point
which of the following does not contribute to speciation?
genetic drift
natural selection
biogeographical isolation
endosymbiosis

Explanation:

• Question 13: According to the biological species concept, two organisms are of the same species if their offspring are fertile. Physical resemblance (intermediate or more like one parent) does not determine species.
• Question 14: A scientific theory is a coherent group of propositions, repeatedly confirmed through experiment/observation and modified with new data. It doesn't require acceptance by all scientists.
• Question 15: Macroevolution is an extrapolation of microevolution (small - scale changes over time leading to large - scale changes). Antibiotic - resistant bacteria are microevolution. Macroevolution is hard to observe in a lab quickly, and the Cambrian Explosion's fossil record interpretation is complex.
• Question 16: Endosymbiosis is a theory about the origin of eukaryotic organelles (like mitochondria from symbiotic prokaryotes). Genetic drift (random allele frequency change), natural selection (survival of the fittest), and biogeographical isolation (separation of populations) contribute to speciation.

Answer:

1. Test to see if the offspring are fertile
2. Acceptance by all of the scientists in the scientific community
3. Macroevolution is an extrapolation of microevolution
4. Endosymbiosis