Textbook Question
Critique the following statement: The absence of a trait cannot be used as a synapomorphy in phylogenetic analysis; only shared derived traits that are present in the clade can be used.
Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 25, Problem 1
Choose the best definition of a fossil.
a. A rock that contains information about an organism
b. A bone, tooth, shell, or other hard part of an organism that has been preserved
c. Any trace of an organism that lived in the past
d. Any part of a dead organism
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of a fossil: Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past. They provide valuable information about the history of life on Earth.
Consider the types of fossils: Fossils can be actual remains like bones, teeth, or shells, or they can be traces such as footprints, burrows, or imprints.
Evaluate the options: Option a suggests a rock containing information, which is not specific to fossils. Option b focuses on hard parts, which are common but not exclusive to fossils. Option c encompasses any trace, which is a broader and more inclusive definition. Option d refers to any part of a dead organism, which is too general.
Identify the most comprehensive definition: A fossil is not limited to hard parts or any part of a dead organism; it includes traces and remains that provide evidence of past life.
Select the best definition: Based on the understanding that fossils include both remains and traces, option c, 'any trace of an organism that lived in the past,' is the most accurate and comprehensive definition.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Fossil Definition
A fossil is any preserved evidence of an organism that lived in the past. This can include not only the hard parts like bones and shells but also traces such as footprints, burrows, or even chemical markers. The key aspect is that fossils provide information about past life forms and their environments.
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Preservation of Organisms
Preservation refers to the process by which remains or traces of organisms are protected from decay and remain intact over geological time. This can occur through various means, such as mineralization, where organic material is replaced by minerals, or through natural encasement in substances like amber or ice.
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Trace Fossils
Trace fossils, also known as ichnofossils, are geological records of biological activity. They include footprints, burrows, and other indirect signs of an organism's presence, rather than the organism itself. These traces provide valuable insights into the behavior and movement of ancient life forms.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following best characterizes an adaptive radiation?
a. Descendant species occupy a large geographic area.
b. A single lineage diversifies rapidly, and descendant species occupy many habitats and ecological roles.
c. Natural selection is particularly intense, because disruptive selection occurs.
d. Species recover after a mass extinction.
Textbook Question
Which of the following is an example of homoplasy?
a. Hair in humans and fur in mice
b. Astragalus ankle bones in hippos and deer
c. Hox genes in humans and flies
d. Streamlined bodies in dolphins and ichthyosaurs