SCIENCE HS STAAR REVIEW FOR BIOLOGY

REPORTING CATEGORY #3- BIOLOGICAL

EVOLUTION & CLASSIFICATION

SE 7- EVOLUTIONARY THEORY IS A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION FOR THE UNITY & DIVERSITY OF

LIFE

EVIDENCE OF COMMON ANCESTRY- ANATOMY

Homologous

Analogous

EVIDENCE OF COMMON ANCESTRY- BIOGEOGRAPHY

EVIDENCE OF COMMON ANCESTRY- FOSSILS & ANATOMY

FOSSIL RECORD REVEALS

EVIDENCE OF COMMON ANCESTRY- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Cytochrome c (length of branch proportional to # of differences in primary

sequence)

Animation Link

EVIDENCE OF COMMON ANCESTRY- DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY Animation link

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:Birds & reptiles are similar in that they are vertebrates & lay eggs. They differ in that reptiles have teeth & birds have beaks. Some birds do possess teeth. However, these teeth are present only in the embryonic stage. Which conclusion is best supported by the presence of teeth in bird embryos?

A. birds & reptiles share a common ancestor

B. modern reptiles are the ancestors of modern birds

C. birds & reptiles eat similar types of foods

D. ancestors of reptiles had beaks similar to those of birds

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #2:

The table shows a comparison of some amino acids found in Cytochrome c. The two organisms in the table that are most closely related are:

A. Q & T.B. R & S.C. Q & R.D. Q & S.

NATURAL SELECTION- CHANGE IN POPULATIONSAnimation link

NATURAL SELECTION- CHANGE IN POPULATIONS

Elaphe obsoleta (rat snake) can mate

between adjacent populations

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:A population of organisms migrates to a new habitat. If the habitat’s conditions stay the same, after several generations natural selection will most likely change the population in which way?

A. by creating several related speciesB. by increasing the population’s

genetic diversityC. by attracting appropriate prey

species to the habitatD. by allowing the organisms best

suited to the habitat to survive

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #2:Although all rat snakes are members of the same species, different rat snake populations have different scale patterns. Which of the following provides the best evidence that these pattern differences are caused by adaptations to local conditions?

A. Environmental conditions can affect a snake’s pattern after its birth.

B. Snakes with different patterns can mate & produce viable offspring.

C. Even though the patterns are different, all rat snakes are black & white in color.

D. The dominant pattern depends on the geographic location of that population.

NATURAL SELECTION- DIFFERENTIAL REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS

Inherited variationFinite resources

Multiple offspringInherited variation

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:A species of rabbit is introduced into a new area. After ten years, the population of rabbits has increased & the rabbits are a major pest. What does this indicate about the environment the rabbit was introduced into?

A. the environment had little food for the rabbits

B. the environment had little shelter for the rabbits

C. the environment had little water for the rabbits

D. the environment had few predators for the rabbits

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #2:The squirrel gets most of its food from eating nuts. The squirrel has adapted sharp teeth to help it chew through the nuts. Which statement best explains how this trait developed in squirrels?

A. Squirrels with the trait were more likely to survive long enough to pass it on.

B. Squirrels taught their offspring how to eat nuts.

C. Squirrels with the trait attracted partners & reproduced.

D. Squirrels with the trait were better able to protect themselves from prey.

NATURAL SELECTION- OTHER EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISMS

Genetic drift

Gene flow (migration)

MutationRecombination

Animation link

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:Two species of sunflowers grow on either side of a mountain. For a while, the two sunflower populations evolve separately. With the climatic changes an animal population crosses from one side of the mountain chain to the other, bringing some sunflower pollen with it. This movement is called: A. gene flow.

B. genetic drift.C. mutation.D. artificial selection.

CELL COMPLEXITY

Endosymbiotic theoryAnimation link

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:What theory explains the origin of chloroplasts & mitochondria in eukaryotic cells?

A. the theory of natural selectionB. the cell theoryC. the endosymbiotic theoryD. the theory of evolution

Question #2:What evidence does not support the evolution of chloroplasts & mitochondria from prokaryotic cells?

A. the double-membranes of the organellesB. the fossil record C. similar methods of reproductionD. the presence of circular DNA in both

organelles

SE 8- TAXONOMY IS A BRANCHING CLASSIFICATION

BASED ON THE SHARED CHARACTERISTICS OF

ORGANISMS & CAN CHANGE AS NEW DISCOVERIES ARE

MADE

TAXONOMY

Three Domains (Eukarya also used)

Six Kingdoms

TAXONOMY- NAMING ORGANISMS

Binomial nomenclatureEpisurphus balteatus

DKPCOFGS

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:Species is to last name as:

A. scientific name is to common name.B. phylum is to kingdom.C. class is to order.D. genus is to first name.

Question #2:What is the best explanation for why scientists developed the system, shown above, to categorize living organisms?

A. It allows the great diversity of living things to be classified & organized.

B. Scientists needed a system to help them determine which organisms were the most important.

C. It allows scientists to arrange the fossil record in chronological order, as well as by size of organism.

D. Scientists needed a system to help them organize the order in which organisms were to be collected & studied.

CLASSIFYING USING A DICHOTOMOUS KEY

Candy! Illinois fish

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:What is a dichotomous key?

A. A tool that allows a scientist to categorize organisms that only have two legs.

B. A tool used to identify species by giving a series of choices that lead to the name.

C. A chart that helps classify organisms using DNA samples & electrophoresis.

D. A chart with pictures of organisms that help to categorize them by height & width.

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #2:A student observes the following organisms in the classroom: a bean plant, a goldfish, a water plant, a spider plant, a fly, & humans. Which of the following would be the most useful step toward developing a hierarchical system for classifying these organisms?

A. looking up all of the available methods of scientific classification currently in use

B. making a list of traits that the organisms share & traits that differentiate them

C. looking at cells from each organism under a microscope

D. making a sketch of each different organism

COMPARING THE 6 CURRENT KINGDOMS

Animation link

SAMPLE QUESTION:Question #1:Living organisms are classified into kingdoms based on their structure & shared characteristics. In what kingdom would a scientist classify an organism that is made up of eukaryotic cells, is multicellular, & is a consumer?

A. AnimaliaB. ArchaeaC. PlantaeD. Protista

Question #2:A member of which kingdom may be unicellular & either autotrophic or heterotrophic?

A. AnimaliaB. FungiC. ProtistaD. Plantae