1.

The five mechanisms of evolution that we know of are:

a. Mutation
b. Genetic drift
c. Natural selection
d. Sexual selection
e. Gene flow
The same species of plant on two separate islands could evolve to have different colours of
flowers as a result of genetic drift and sexual selection. If the islands were home to two different
kinds of pollinators, then slight changes in colour due to the effect of genetic drift could cause
certain populations of the plant to gain a huge sexual advantage to the increased interest
granted by pollinators. Thus the sexual selection would accentuate the genetic drift until the
new phenotype becomes the dominant form on the island.
2. C. Consumption
3.
a. Red-Backed Turtle: Terrapene Klepto (They were caught red-handed… or flippered I
suppose)
b. Blue-Backed Turtle: Terrapene Kazoo
c. Purple algae : Tirutoea Kirea
d. Yellow algae: Tirutoea Kozi
e. Mammalian species: Terriblus Korrat
4. I would set up two identical set-ups, 1 on each island. They would be composed of 4 plots, the
first containing Tirutoea Kirea, the second with Tirutoea Kozi, the third having both and the
fourth having neither for a control. This setup could also be multiplied, resources permitting, to
increase the samples being measured and thus the accuracy. Each of these plots would be
monitored, most likely with a camera, for a period ranging from a few days to a week. It is also
important to set up the plots as to prevent the intrusion of the mammal species as it’s possible
that how it hunts as an impact. If it used one or both of the algae as bait for example. What is
being measured is how many turtles go to each plot, in the case of island 1 both species of turtle
should be counted separately. The percentage of turtles that go to each plot will provide
evidence pointing to if Terrapene Klepto cannot eat Tirutoea Kozi or if they just prefer the Kirea
species. It will do the same with the preference of the Terrapene Kazoo.
5.
a. The population of the turtle species could explode, especially if the mammal is the only
predator of the turtles. This population explosion could lead to overconsumption of the
algae which could reduce the dominant algae of each island to the point where another
type of algae could become the dominant species in that niche. The population growth
of turtle could also lead to one of two becoming the dominant species and potentially
crowding the other out of the ecological niche.
6. B, 30 micron.
7.
a. Cell shape, which is usually able to differentiate cells from inorganic material.
b. The appearance of spores. These spores are enough to tell that a fleck is a
microorganism and can help in placing them in a phylogenetic tree.
8. The cell membrane is imperative for proper metabolic function because it separates the inside
and the outside of the cell. This is important because without it everything the cell is attempting
to do would rapidly diffuse to reach equilibrium. The membrane creates a barrier allowing the
cell to perform metabolic functions without losing the fruits of its labour.
9.
a. Analyze the cell walls for peptidoglycan, the presence will be enough to demonstrate
that the microorganism is a bacteria.
b. With analysis of the first amino acid produced during protein synthesis. Bacteria
produce formylmethionine while archaea and eukarya produce methionine.
10. Those bacteria unable to properly metabolize xylitol will over time accumulate toxic levels of
xylitol phosphate. If a random mutation causes some of the bacteria to be able to metabolize
xylitol so as to not accumulate those fatal levels, natural selection will cause these newly
resistant bacteria to become the dominant strain.
11. E. All bacteria and archaea.
12. D, it produces oxygen.
13.
a. Examining the DNA of the chloroplasts, if the DNA does not resemble that of bacteria, it
would be good evidence that the cell evolved the chloroplast individually. More
specifically looking for linear genomes, as opposed to circular.
b. Searching for notable difference in structure, such as the membrane, to that of similar
bacteria could be further proof of independent evolution.
14.
a. If it is haploid and a bryophyte, it would have to be a gametophyte. It could also be a
haploid spore from a seedless vascular plant sporophyte or a seed plants gametophye.
b. If it was diploid it would have to be sporophyte if it was a bryophyte. It could not be a
seedless vascular plant and it could be a seed plant gametophyte.
15. I would look for specialized structures designed to carry water and nutrients throughout the
organism. The presence of such structures would be evidence that the organisms is a seedless
vascular plant, while the absence would be proof that the organism is a bryophyte.
16.
a. The pollinators lay their eggs in rotting flesh, the plants likely mimic these scents to
attract the pollinators into thinking it is a potential breeding ground.
b. The pollinators likely find bright red appealing. Real life examples include hummingbirds
and butterflies
c. The pollinators likely find that the elongated leaves make it easier for them to collect
pollen. Perhaps they are not confident flyers and the leaves allow them to rest as they
collect pollen.
17. C. They are covered in pollen.
18. E. All of the above.
19. A. True.
20. Fungi were essential because especially in the earlier stages of evolution, when they were no
nutrients present in the soil because there was no ecosystem to speak of yet on land. Through
colonizing the land plants, they can convert resources into a form that the plant can consume.
21. Fungi are mostly water by volume. As the mycelium strands that they are composed of requires
a lot of water to maintain their rigidity. It is unlikely that the fungi are dead, instead it is much
more likely they are instead just dried out. Which would account for the shriveling.
22. Panspermia could have been caused by an asteroid crashing into the earth. This is more likely
than the others, because there could have been some theoretical planet which acted as a
crucible where the right situations arose to create the first single-celled organisms. This
hypothetical planets could have suffered some collision on the planetary scale which would
break it to pieces and shoot the organisms throughout the universe.
23.
a. Genetics:
i. The theory that RNA acts both as a replicator and an enzyme to begin said
replication is an elegant and self-contained solution.
ii. A flaw is that it does not really cover how this construct got enough energy to go
through the replication process.
b. Metabolic:
i. The metabolic theory demonstrates quite effectively how a system was put in
place that allows the organism to have the resources required to replicate.
ii. It doesn’t quite explain how the organism had the information or drive to
replicate and how it would begin such a function.
24. D. a, b and c.
25. E. More than 1 billion years.
26. E. a and b
27. D. a, b and c.