General Biology Reviewer

MODULE 1

 Genetic engineering involves the use of molecular techniques to modify the traits of a target
organism.
 Genetic engineering includes classical breeding which is considered as the traditional way of
genetic engineering which practices the mating of organisms with desirable qualities and
Recombinant DNA technology (rDNA), a modern technique of genetic engineering.
 Recombinant DNA technology is the joining together of DNA molecules from two different
species.
 Cutting or cleavage of DNA by restriction enzymes (REs).
 Selection of an appropriate vector or vehicle which would propagate the recombinant DNA.
 Ligation (join together) of the gene of interest (eg. from animal) with the vector (cut bacterial
plasmid).
 Transfer of the recombinant plasmid into a host cell (that would carry out replication to make
huge copies of the recombined plasmid).
 Selection process to screen which cells actually contain the gene of interest.
 Sequencing of the gene to find out the primary structure of the protein.
 Biolistic. In this technique, a “gene gun” is used to fire DNA-coated pellets on plant tissues.
 Plasmid insertion by Heat Shock Treatment. Heat Shock Treatment is a process used to transfer
plasmid DNA into bacteria.
 Electroporation. This technique follows a similar methodology as Heat Shock Treatment, but the
expansion of the membrane pores is done through an electric “shock”.

1. Based on the rDNA technology diagram, what does it mean by the labelled number 1?

A. Isolation of gene of interest

B. Transformation

C. Identification of donor gene

D. Selection of donor gene

2. It is a double-stranded, selfreplicating, circular DNA molecule present in bacteria which is widely used
as a gene cloning vector. The structure is labelled 2 in the diagram.

A. Cosmid B. Plasmid C. Phagemid D. Genome

3. These enzymes are called molecular scissors which are essential in making internal cuts in a DNA
molecule or vector at specific sites. (Labelled 3 and 4)

A. Restriction enzymes B. Restriction proteins C. Polymerase D. All of these

4. In the figure labelled 6, the DNA strand is the _______.

A. Gene of interest B. Recombinant DNA C. Chimeric DNA D. None of these

5. The vector (plasmid) with foreign gene inserted is called (labelled 8) __________.

A. Gene of interest B. Recombinant DNA C. Chimeric DNA D. None of these

6. In figure 10a and 10b are processes that led to the formation of protein product encoded by the gene
of interest. 10a and 10b are called ____________.

A. Replication and transcription

B. Transcription and translation

C. Transcription and transformation

D. Replication and transformation

1. It is a double-stranded, self-replicating, circular DNA molecule present in bacteria which is widely used
as a gene cloning vector.

A. Cosmid B. Plasmid C. Phagemid D. Genome

2. These enzymes are called molecular scissors which is essential in making internal cuts in a DNA
molecule or vector at specific sites.

A. Restriction enzymes B. Restriction proteins C. Polymerase D. All of these

3. What do we call the new molecule after the process of ligation wherein the vector plasmid joined
with the gene of interest?

A. Gene of interest B. Recombinant DNA C. Chimeric DNA D. All of these 10

4. During transfer of the recombinant plasmid into a host cell which is commonly a bacterium, the
recombinant bacterium will undergo cloning. Which of the following is involve in gene cloning?

A. Replication B. Transcription C. Translation D. Duplication

5. Bacterial cells as host organisms may express the gene to make protein products such as insulin and
growth hormones. Which of the following processes are involved?

A. Replication and transcription

B. Transcription and translation

C. Transcription and transformation

D. Replication and transformation

6. In plant genetic engineering, which of the following acts as vector?

A. Agrobacterium tumefaciens B. Gene of interest C. Recipient plant cell D. Ti-plasmid

7. Which of the following describes recombinant DNA technology?

A. Mating of organisms with desirable qualities

B. Insertion of genes into cells that makes the cells into “factories” to make products

C. Enhancing or disrupting the traits of a target organism either mating or molecular technique

D. All of the above

8. Which of the following illustrates classical breeding?

A. A farmer choose a breed of cow of greater milk production

B. The use of bacteria in order to produce human insulin

C. The insertion of cloned genes to plant cells

D. All of the above

9. Which of the following is/are example of genetic engineering?

A. A farmer choose a breed of cow for of greater milk production

B. The use of bacteria in order to produce human insulin

C. The insertion of cloned genes to plant cells

D. Cross pollination of squash flowers

10. Which of the following is an example of genetically modified plant?

A. Seedless grapes B. Guapple (larged-sized guava) C. Rice with beta-carotene D. All of these

11. Being pest resistance is one of the traits that are being introduced to plants like corn and eggplant
with the insertion of Bt-toxin gene to plant cell. What method is use when a gene is inserted to plants?

A. Biolistic B. Electroporation C. Plasmid insertion by heat shock treatment D. All of these

12. Why recombinant DNA is very useful in improving our health condition?

A. Human insulin can be reproduced by bacteria

B. Vaccine can be reproduced by fungi or bacteria

C. Human growth hormones can be obtained from E.coli

D. All of the above

13. A biotechnologist wants to enhance the size of duhat fruit because research shows that it can lower
blood sugar but is very expensive in the market. What could be the possible source organism which
contains the gene that is responsible for the development of large fruits?

A. Lanka B. Chico C. Strawberry D. Mango

14. Mario wants a hybrid or mestizo breed of pigs to raise that’s why he chooses to mate his native pig
(pure breed black) to a white pig (pure breed white). What type of genetic engineering is shown in the
situation?
A. Classical breeding B. Artificial selection C. Recombinant DNA D. All of these

15. Why genetic engineering is beneficial to the society?

A. It improves crop varieties to meet the demand of increasing human population

B. production of human proteins using bacteria is a great leap in the field of medicine

C. Transgenic plants and transgenic animals play a great role in our economic

D. All of the above

MODULE 3

 Species - Ernst Mayer’s definition: “Species are groups of interbreeding natural populations that
are reproductively isolated from other such groups.”
 Reproductive Isolating Mechanism - The mechanisms of reproductive isolation are a collection
of evolutionary mechanisms, behaviors and physiological processes critical for speciation. They
prevent members of different species from producing offspring, or ensure that any offspring are
sterile. These barriers maintain the integrity of a species by reducing gene flow between related
species
 Pre-zygotic isolation mechanisms - prevent fertilization and zygote formation and happens
before fertilization occurs between gametes.
 Geographic or ecological or habitat isolation - occurs when two species that could interbreed
do not because the species live in different areas. The two species live in different habitats and
will not encounter one another: each is isolated from the other species.
 Temporal or seasonal isolation - different groups may not be reproductively mature.
 Behavioral isolation - patterns of courtship is different.
 Mechanical isolation - differences in reproductive organs prevent successful interbreeding.
Mechanical isolation occurs when mating is physically impossible.
 Gametic isolation - incompatibilities between egg and sperm prevent fertilization. Often this
occurs because the female immune system recognizes sperm as foreign and attacks it.
 Post-zygotic isolation mechanisms - allow fertilization but nonviable or weak or sterile hybrids
are formed. In these cases, the zygote formed is called a hybrid. However, even after a hybrid
zygote forms, reproduction may still not be successful.
 Hybrid inviability - fertilized egg fails to develop past the early embryonic stages.
 Hybrid sterility -their hybrids are sterile because gonads develop abnormally or there is
abnormal segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. A horse and a donkey may produce a
hybrid offspring, a mule. Mules are sterile.
 Hybrid breakdown - F1 hybrids are normal, vigorous and viable, but F2 contains many weak or
sterile individuals.
 Speciation - is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species.
It is the process by which new species develop from existing species.
 Allopatric Speciation (allo – other, patric – place; ‘other place’) - occurs when some members of
a population become geographically separated fr om the other members thereby preventing
gene flow.
  Sympatric Speciation (sym – same, patric – place; ‘same place’) - occurs when members of a
population that initially occupy the same habitat within the same range diverge into two or
more different species. It involves abrupt genetic changes that quickly lead to the reproductive
isolation of a group of individuals. Example is change in chromosome number (polyploidization).
 Parapatric Speciation (para – beside, patric – place; ‘beside each other’) - occurs when the
groups that evolved to be separate species are geographic neighbors. Gene flow occurs but with
great distances is reduced. There is also abrupt change in the environment over a geographic
border and strong disruptive selection must also happen.

MODULE 4

 Carolus Linnaeus - Swedish naturalist and explorer that was the first to frame principles for
defining natural genera and species of organisms and to create a uniform system for naming
them, known as binomial nomenclature.
 Linnaean System of Classification - The most influential early classification system was
developed by Carolus Linnaeus. In fact, all modern classification systems have their roots in
Linnaeus’ system. Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist who lived during the 1700s. He is known as
the “father of taxonomy.” Linnaeus tried to describe and classify the entire known natural
world. In 1735, he published his classification system in a work called Systema Naturae (“System
of Nature”).
 The taxa are below:
1. Kingdom - This is the highest taxon in Linnaean taxonomy, representing major divisions
of organisms. Kingdoms of organisms include the plant and animal kingdoms.
2. Phylum (plural, phyla) - This taxon is a division of a kingdom. Phyla in the animal
kingdom include chordates (animals with an internal skeleton) and arthropods (animals
with an external skeleton).
3. Class - This taxon is a division of a phylum. Classes in the chordate phylum include
mammals and birds.
4. Order - This taxon is a division of a class. Orders in the mammal class include rodents
and primates.
5. Family - This taxon is a division of an order. Families in the primate order include
hominids (apes and humans) and hylobatids (gibbons).
6. Genus - This taxon is a division of a family. Genera in the hominid family include Homo
(humans) and Pan (chimpanzees).
7. Species - This taxon is below the genus and the lowest taxon in Linnaeus’ system.
Species in the Pan genus include Pan troglodytes(common chimpanzees) and Pan
paniscus (pygmy chimpanzees).
 Thomas Malthus - An English cleric, scholar and influential economist in the fields of political
economy and demography. He observed that an increase in a nation's food production
improved the wellbeing of the populace , but the improvement was temporary because it led to
population growth, which in turn restored the original per capita production level. In other
words, humans had a propensity to utilize abundance for population growth rather than for
maintaining a high standard of living, a view that has become known as the "Malthusian trap" or
the "Malthusian spectre". Populations tended to grow until the lower class suffered hardship,
want and greater susceptibility to famine and disease, a view that is sometimes referred to as a
 Malthusian catastrophe. Malthus wrote in opposition to the popular view in 18thcentury Europe
that saw society as improving and in principle as perfectible.
 Georges Cuvier - Father of Paleontology. Theory of Catastrophism = boundaries represent
floods, droughts, etc. that destroyed many species living at that time. According to him, fossils
are remains of extinct life forms.
 James Hutton - Theory of Gradualism. Profound changes can result from cumulative effect of
slow but continuous processes. Proposed that the Earth was shaped by geological forces
occurring over very long periods of time, and is MILLIONS not THOUSANDS of years old.\
 Charles Lyell - Principles of Geology argued that the formation of Earth's crust took place
through countless small changes occurring over vast periods of time, all according to known
natural laws. His "uniformitarian" proposal was that the forces molding the planet today have
operated continuously throughout its history. He also wrongly assumed that these causes must
have acted only with the same intensities now observed, which would rule out asteroid impacts
and the like.
 Jean Baptiste Lamarck - One of first scientists to recognize that living things changed over time
and that all species were descended from other species. Lamarckism - He proposed that the
characteristics that an animal acquired during its lifetime in response to life’s struggles or felt
needs could be passed on to its offspring. 1809- Published his ideas about “Inheritance of
Acquired Characteristics”.
 Charles Darwin - Evolution of Darwin’s Theory : His voyage and his observations led him to write
‘The Origin of Species. In 1831, 22-year old Charles Darwin left England as naturalist aboard the
HMS Beagle for 5 year voyage around the world. His mission is to chart the South American
coastline. He noticed plants and animals were different from those he knew in Europe. He wrote
thousands of pages of observations and collected vast number of Specimens. He spent a month
observing life on the Galapagos Islands and realized that each island has different rainfall and
vegetation and its own unique assortment of plant and animal species. He collected 14 species
of finches and hypothesized that the Galapagos had be colonized by organisms from the
mainland that had then diversified on the various. In 1859 , his book On the Origin of Species by
Means of Natural Selection was published. It presented evidence and proposed a mechanism for
evolution that he called NATURAL SELECTION. It took Darwin years to form his theory of
evolution by natural selection. His reasoning went like this:

1.Like Lamarck, Darwin assumed that species can change over time. The fossils he found helped
convince him of that.

2. From Lyell, Darwin saw that Earth and its life were very old. Thus, there had been enough
time for evolution to produce the great diversity of life Darwin had observed.

3. From Malthus, Darwin knew that populations could grow faster than their resources. This
“overproduction of offspring” led to a “struggle for existence,” in Darwin’s words.

4. From artificial selection, Darwin knew that some offspring have variations that occur by
chance, and that can be inherited. In nature, offspring with certain variations might be more likely to
survive the “struggle for existence” and reproduce. If so, they would pass their favorable variations to
their offspring.
 5. Darwin coined the term fitness to refer to an organism’s relative ability to survive and
produce fertile offspring. Nature selects the variations that are most useful. Therefore, he called this
type of selection natural selection.

6. Darwin knew artificial selection could change domestic species over time. He inferred that
natural selection could also change species over time. In fact, he thought that if a species changed
enough, it might evolve into a new species.

1. Which of the following statements about biological species is(are) correct?

I. Biological species is a group of individuals whose members interbreed with one another.

II. Biological species are the model used for grouping extinct forms of life.

III. Members of biological species produce viable, fertile offsprings.

A. I only B. II only C. I and III D. II and III

2. The following isolating mechanisms prevent fertilization and formation of zygote Except__________.

A. Temporal isolation B. Hybrid breakdown C. Gametic isolation D. Ecological isolation

3. Which of the following is the cccurrence of abrupt genetic change cause reproductive isolation
between groups of individuals?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Divergent speciation C. Convergent speciation D. Sympatric speciation

4. Which of the following speciation occurs when populations are separated by a geographic barrier?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Convergent speciation C. Divergent speciation D.Sympatric speciation

5. Which of the following is the abrupt change in the environment over a geographic border and strong
disruptive selection affects gene flow between neighboring populations?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Convergent speciation C. Divergent speciation D.Sympatric speciation

6. Which of the following statements about natural selection is CORRECT?

A. Adaptations beneficial in one habitat should generally be beneficial in all other habitats as well.

B. Adaptations beneficial at one time should generally be beneficial during all other times as well.

C. Different species that occupy the same habitat will adapt to that habitat by undergoing the same
genetic changes.

D. Well-adapted individuals leave more offspring, and thus contribute more to the next generation's
gene pool, than do poorly adapted individuals.

7. Which of the following factors BEST explains why the human population has grown so rapidly over the
last 1000 years?

A. Humans have decreased their reliance on natural resources

B. Humans have increased the amount of resources available on Earth.

C. Humans have increased the carrying capacity of the biosphere for the population.

D. Humans have developed physical characteristics that increase their competitive advantage.

8. Which of the following types of speciation occurs in the presence of physical and geographical
barriers?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Convergent speciation C. Divergent speciation D. Sympatric speciation

9. Which of the following branches of biology deals with naming and classifying organisms?

A. Binomial Nomenclature B. Evolution C. Genetics D. Taxonomy

10. Catastrophism, meaning the regular occurrence of geological or meteorological disturbances

(catastrophes), was Cuvier's attempt to explain the existence of

A. Evolution B. The fossil record C. Uniformitarianism D. The origin of new species

1. Which of the following must exist in a population before natural selection can act upon that
population?

A. Genetic variation among individuals B. Variation among individuals caused by environmental factors
C. Sexual reproduction D. Three of the responses are correct.

2. Which of the following does not contribute to the study of evolution?

A. Population genetics B. Inheritance of acquired characteristics C. Fossil record D. Comparative

embryology

3. Catastrophism, meaning the regular occurrence of geological or meteorological disturbances

(catastrophes), was Cuvier's attempt to explain what existence?

A. Evolution. B. The fossil record. C. Uniformitarianism D. The origin of new species.

4. Which of the following represents an idea that Darwin learned from the writings of Thomas Malthus?
A. Technological innovation in agricultural practices will permit exponential growth of the human
population into the foreseeable future.

B. Populations tend to increase at a faster rate than their food supply normally allows.

C. Earth changed over the years through a series of catastrophic upheavals.

D. The environment is responsible for natural selection.

5. In the mid-1900s, the Soviet geneticist Lysenko believed that his winter wheat plants, exposed to
ever-colder temperatures, would eventually give rise to ever more cold-tolerant winter wheat. Lysenko's
attempts in this regard were most in agreement on which of the following scientist?

A. Cuvier B. Hutton C. Lamarck D. Darwin

6. Which of the following ideas is not included in Darwin’s theory?

A. All organisms that have ever existed arose through evolutionary modifications of ancestral species.

B. Natural selection drives some evolutionary change.

C. Natural selection preserves favorable traits.

D. Natural selection eliminates adaptive traits.

7. Which of the following statements is not compatible with Darwin’s theory?

A. All organisms have arisen by descent with modification.

B. Evolution has altered and diversified ancestral species.

C. Evolution occurs in individuals rather than in groups.

D. Natural selection eliminates unsuccessful variations.

8. Which of the following statements about biological species is(are) correct?

I. Biological species is a group of individuals whose members interbreed with one another.

II. Biological species are the model used for grouping extinct forms of life.

III. Members of biological species produce viable, fertile offsprings.

A. I only B. II only C. I and III D. II and III

9. Which of the following is not an isolating mechanisms that prevent fertilization and formation of
zygote?

A. Temporal isolation B. Hybrid breakdown C. Gametic isolation D. Ecological isolation

10. Which of the following is the occurrence of abrupt genetic change cause reproductive isolation
between groups of individuals?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Convergent speciation C. Divergent speciation D. Sympatric speciation

11. Which of the following speciation occurs when populations are separated by a geographic barrier?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Convergent speciation C. Divergent speciation D.Sympatric speciation

12. Which of the following is the abrupt change in the environment over a geographic border and strong
disruptive selection affects gene flow between neighboring populations?

A. Allopatric speciation B. Convergent speciation C. Divergent speciation D. Sympatric speciation

13. Which of the following statements about natural selection is CORRECT?

A. Adaptations beneficial in one habitat should generally be beneficial in all other habitats as well.

B. Adaptations beneficial at one time should generally be beneficial during all other times as well.
C. Different species that occupy the same habitat will adapt to that habitat by undergoing the same
genetic changes.

D. Well-adapted individuals leave more offspring, and thus contribute more to the next generation's
gene pool, than do poorly adapted individuals.

14. Which of the following factors BEST explains why the human population has grown so rapidly over
the last 1000 years?

A. Humans have decreased their reliance on natural resources

B. Humans have increased the amount of resources available on Earth.

C. Humans have increased the carrying capacity of the biosphere for the population.

D. Humans have developed physical characteristics that increase their competitive advantage.

15. Which of the following branches of biology deals with naming and classifying organisms?

A. Binomial Nomenclature B. Evolution C. Genetics D. Taxonomy

 Fossils are preserved remnants of once living organisms trapped in rocks, tar pits, frozen in ice
or embedded in amber.
 An embryo is an organism in its initial phases of development. However, the similarities in the
early stages of embryo development are further evidence that living organisms have evolved
from earlier living things and that they do share a common ancestry.
 Anatomical Evidence - in comparing the anatomy and the development of organisms, it shows a
unity of plan among those that are closely related.
 Vestigial structures seem like to give more evidence for evolutionary change. Vestigial
structures are anatomical features that are usually reduced and have no function in many
organisms.
 Biochemical - Living organisms shared numerous related biochemical molecules, such as DNA,
ATP, amino acids, and enzymes.

1. DNA/Nucleic acids - Genes are located in the chromosomes, which are made of DNA or
deoxyribonucleic acid.

2. Proteins are molecules that are used to build up and repair body parts.

 Biogeography is the study of the geographic distributions of organisms. Darwin’s trip around
South America allowed him to observe the diversity of organisms in different areas and the
resemblance of such species of birds and tortoises in an island to nearby mainland.

1. DNA of the life-forms on Earth are almost universal and seem to be templated from one original
source, this line of inferring can be based from what evidence of evolution?

A. Fossil record B. Comparative Anatomy C. Molecular Biology D. Embryology

2. Exactly different organisms such fish and humans may have resemblances during the early stage of
their development and will lose some key likenesses as they grow in later stage of development, which
among the following is the line of evidence and field of study that underlie the said concept for
evolution?

A. Fossil record B. Comparative Anatomy C Molecular Biology D. Embryology

3. Preserved bodies of cave dwelling man from cold and icy places suggested that humans look different
in the past, what evidence of evolution is used?

A. Fossil record B. Comparative Anatomy C. Molecular Biology D. Embryology

4. Identify what evidence of evolution is used: vertebrate animals such as humans, chickens and fish
have gill slits and tails during their embryonic stage.

A. Fossil record B. Comparative Anatomy C. Molecular Biology D. Embryology

5. Boa constrictors, a kind of snake has a remnant of what appears to be rudimentary hind legs, what
type of body structure are these?

A. Analogous structures B. Homologous structures C. Embryonic structures D. Vestigial structure

6. These body structures indicate that organisms descended from a close common ancestor.

A. Analogous structures B. Homologous structures C. Embryonic structures D. Vestigial structures

7. Fox and polar bears which are distant relatives both developed white colored fur to adapt to the
snowy environment where they habituate. These body structures are identified as:

A. Analogous structures B. Homologous structures C. Embryonic structures D. Vestigial structures

8. This is the study of body structures of organisms to compare and infer evolutionary links.

A. Fossil record B. Comparative Anatomy C. Embryology D. Biogeography

9. Which among the following best explains the fossil records as an evidence of evolution?

A. Recorded events from the past indicates that the Earth was once filled with water.

B. Fossils suggest that the Earth is not the same as it is today, for instance there were once a huge
massive interconnected land termed as Pangaea.

C. Fossils recorded the history of life on Earth and indicates that ancient life forms were different from
modern day species.

D. Recorded activities of animals from prehistoric times suggest that people came from monkeys.

10. How will you differentiate analogous structures from homologous structures as evidence of
evolution?

A. Analogous structures indicate common ancestry while homologous structures suggest evolution
because of same environmental factors.
B. Analogous structures are structures which indicates that organisms might developed structures
with same function as needs arise while homologous structures showed pattern of common descent
from different body structures of closely related specie.

C. Both analogous and homologous structures are body structures used by researchers to study the
evolutionary development of organisms while vestigial organisms showed different result.

D. B and C

11. What evidence of evolution is portrayed by the unique species on islands which are usually isolated
from another mainland?

A. Fossil record B. Comparative Anatomy C. Embryology D. Biogeography

12. Mapping of DNA allows scientist to compare the genes of organisms from the past and organisms
present today, the evidence of evolution used is:

A. Fossil record B. Molecular Biology C. Analogous structures D. Comparative Anatomy

13. Which is NOT true about fossils?

A. They suggest that life has a history.

B. They are proofs of life in the past.

C. The older the fossil, the less it looks like modern day species.

D. They seem precisely like modern-day species, regardless of their age

14. How will you use biogeography as an evidence to infer evolutionary relationship?

A. Organisms living closer at each other and sharing the same niche are also closely related to each
other.

B. The unique characteristics of the organisms living on a secluded area is indicative of their ancestry
and speciation.

C. Biogeography revealed that organisms with similar developmental pattern even if found at different
places might once live together before they were separated due to natural events or forces.

D. All of the above

15. The following are the pieces of evidence of evolution that may be used to infer the evolutionary
relationship between organisms, EXCEPT _________________.

A. Comparative Anatomy B. Fossil record C. Molecular Bonds D. Embryology

MODULE 5 & 6

 Anatomy and embryology - Anatomical features shared between organisms (including ones that
are visible only during embryonic development) can indicate a shared evolutionary ancestry.
There are more closely related species groups with more recent common ancestors, and each
group would appear to share the characteristics that were present in their last common
 ancestor. If a particular physical feature, such as a complex bone structure or a body plan, is
shared by two or more animals, they may all have inherited this feature from a common
ancestor. It is said that physical characteristics shared due to evolutionary history (a common
ancestor) are homologous.
 Not all physical traits that appear identical are indicators of shared ancestors. Instead, some
physical similarities are analogous: in different species, they developed independently because
the organisms lived in similar environments or encountered similar selective pressures.
 Molecular biology - Structural homologies, similarities may reflect shared evolutionary ancestry
between biological molecules.
 DNA evidence for evolutionary relationships - All living organisms share the same genetic
material (DNA), identical genetic codes, and the same basic gene expression mechanism at the
most basic level (transcription and translation).
 Taxonomy vs. Systematics - Systematics is the study of the diversification of life forms over
time, both past and present, and their relationships between other species. On the other hand,
taxonomy is the science of organizing and categorizing living organisms into classes called taxa.
 Both a systematist and a taxonomist provide scientific names; give detailed descriptions of
organisms; collects and keeps volumes of specimens; offer classifications for the organisms by
constructing identification keys and data on their occurrence and distribution.
 Taxonomic classification (also referred to as the Linnaean system after the Swedish botanist
Carl Linnaeus, Zoologist, and doctor) uses a hierarchical model.
 After domains, the following categories of increasing specificity are kingdoms: phylum, class,
order, family, genus, and species
 Phylogeny is the study of relationships and their evolutionary development among different
groups of organisms.
 This phylogenetic tree shows how hypothetical species 1, 2, and 3 are related to one another.
 The branching indicates evolutionary relationships . The point where a split occurs, a branch
point, represents where a single lineage evolved into a distinct new one.
 We call a lineage that evolved early from the root that remains unbranched a basal taxon.
 We call two lineages stemming from the same branch point sister taxa.
 A branch with more than two lineages is a polytomy and serves to illustrate where scientists
have not definitively determined all of the relationships.
  Cladistics is derived from the term clade. A clade is a collection of organisms that include an
ancestor species and all of their descendants.

1. Which of the following refers to the science of naming and grouping organisms.

A. genetics B. linnaeanology C. speciation D. taxonomy

2. Which of the following is used to group organisms based on modern systematics?

A. ecological niche B. evolutionary relationships C. physical appearance D. size

3. Which of the following is true about unrooted phylogenetic trees?

A. Has a single lineage at the base.

B. They show the ancestry relationship.

C. They show relationships among organisms.

D. They show relationship but not lineage between species.

5. Which of the following pairs is least related?

A. insects and birds B. human and chimpanzee C. dogs and cats D. monarch and butterfly

1. Which of the following refers to the two-name classification system used to organize living things?

A. Biodiversity B. binomial nomenclature C. phylogeny D. systematics

2. What are the main levels of taxa in order?

A. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus

B. kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

C. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, family, species

D. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

3. Which of the following scientific name is correctly written?

A. Musca domestica B. Musca domestica C. Musca Domestica D. Musca domestica

4. What is defined as the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the
relationships among living things through time?

A. Phonetics B. systematics C. systemics D. taxonomy

5. How important is DNA barcoding in systematics? DNA barcoding helps determine _____________

A. morphological similarities B. evolutionary relationships C. physiological differences D. physical traits

6. Which of the following is NOT part of a taxonomist role?

A. Assigning a scientific name.

B. Classifying ornamental plants.

C. Identifying an unknown flowering plant.

D. Explaining the relatedness of plants in different locations.

7. To which category will two organisms with different correlated morphological characters belong to?

A. one biological species B. two biological species C. one taxonomic species D. two taxonomic species

8. What do you call the type of classification that reflects the evolutionary inter relationships of
organisms?

A. Phylogenetic classification B. Artificial classification

C. Natural classification D. Numerical classification

9. What is the characteristic of a rooted phylogenetic tree? Phylogenetic tree is one ________________.

A. that extends back to the origin of life on earth.

B. at whose base is located the common ancestor of all taxa depicted on that tree. B. that illustrates
the rampant gene swapping that occurred early in life’s history.

C. that indicates our uncertainty about the evolutionary relationships of the taxa depicted in the tree.

D. That hides the evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

10. Which of the following anatomical tree part is most analogous to two species with a common
ancestor?

A. the trunk B. a node where two twigs diverge

C. a twig that branches with time D. a single twig that gets longer with time

11.Which of the following is a characteristic of the best classification system? A classification system that
__________.

A. reflects evolutionary history.

B. conforms to traditional, Linnaean taxonomic practices.

C. unites organisms that possess similar morphologies.

D. corroborates the classification scheme in use at the time of Charles Darwin.

12. Which level of classification within a lineage has the largest number of shared derived characters?

A. Kingdom B. Class C. Domain D. Family