Biology IHChapter 15 Reading Guide
Name _________________________________ Assignment # ___________
Chapter VocabularyStudy the definitions for each of the following words by preparing flash cards with the word on one side and a context sentence on the reverse side.
artificial selectionnatural selectionevolutionancestral traitderived trait
homologous structureanalogous structurevestigial structureembryobiogeography
camouflagemimicryfitnessfossil
15.1 Darwin’s Theory1. In 1832 most people believed the world was about ________________ years old and that
animals and plants were ______________________.
2. During his voyage, Darwin read a book titled _______________________________ written
by Charles Lyell.
3. This book proposed that the Earth was __________________________________________.
4. How did Lyell’s book influence Darwin’s thought? __________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Summarize Darwin’s observations made in his research on the Galápagos Islands.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
6. After his return from the Galapagos, Darwin hypothesized that a new species could appear
______________________________.
7. Darwin also read an essay by Thomas Malthus that greatly influenced his thinking. In this
essay, Malthus that suggested that ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. This led Darwin to propose his theory of ____________________ __________________ as
the mechanism whereby new species appear.
9. List the four principles of natural selection.
1) ________________________________________________________________________
2) ________________________________________________________________________
3) ________________________________________________________________________
4) ________________________________________________________________________
10. What does the term evolution mean to biologists? ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
11. Compare and contrast the terms natural selection and artificial selection.
Similarity __________________________________________________________________
Difference__________________________________________________________________
15.2 Evidence for Evolution
1. List 5 the categories of evidence for evolution.
1) ___________________________________________
2) ___________________________________________
3) ___________________________________________
4) ___________________________________________
5) ___________________________________________
2. How does the fossil record provide evidence for evolution? ___________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. The structures shown above are considered to be ________________________ structures
because ___________________________________________________________________
Chapter 15 Reading Guide 2
4. What are analogous structures? ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. How do homologous and analogous structures differ?
__________________________________________________________________________
6. The structures indicated by the arrows in the above illustrations are called
_____________________ structures because ___________________________________.
7. List three other examples of such structures:
1) ___________________________________________
2) ___________________________________________
3) ___________________________________________
8. How does comparative embryology suggest evolutionary relationships?
__________________________________________________________________________
9. Comparative biochemistry also shows common ancestry. Look at Figure 15.9 in your text.
Would the cytochrome c of a reptile of a duck be expected to have more amino acid
differences when compared with that of a human? ___________ Explain your answer
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 15 Reading Guide 3
10. How do DNA and RNA demonstrate a similar biochemical pattern? ____________________
__________________________________________________________________________
11. Define the term biogeography. __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
12. What is an adaptation? _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
13. How do organisms “adapt” to an environment. (e.g., can individuals evolve?) _____________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
14. What is meant by the term “fitness?” _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
15. How do mimicry and camouflage increase the fitness of a species? _____________________
__________________________________________________________________________
16. How might an albino of a species that is normally green and lives among leaves, be less fit?”
__________________________________________________________________________
17. From your experience and personal observations, list three adaptations each for animals
and plants that increase their fitness:
Animals
1) ______________________________________________________
2) ______________________________________________________
3) ______________________________________________________
Plants
1) _____________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________
3) _____________________________________________________
Chapter 15 Reading Guide 4
