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Name:

Evidence for Evolution

How are DNA and comparative anatomy used to show relatedness?

Why?
“You look just like your mother!” “He has his father’s eyes.” These comments that refer to the similarities
between parents and their children are heard often in conversation. These similar traits are due to the
genetic material that children inherit from their parents. As humans we are sometimes fortunate enough
to have three or four generations sitting in a room at one time, and we can see the similarities from gen-
eration to generation. But how much do you look like your ancestors from 100 generations ago, 1000
generations ago or more? How much of your DNA did you inherit from those ancestors? What traits do
you share with them?

1. Model 1 is a family tree. Circle the original parents of the family.

2. How would you describe the organisms in the second row of Model 1 that are connected to the parents by a
line?
They share the same DNA
3. Identify the three members of the family that “married in” by placing a star next to their figures in Model 1.
Gen 2 person 1, gen 2 person 3 gen 2 person 5
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4. How are the organisms in the third line related to the organisms in the first line?

By marriage
5. Consider the third generation of organisms in Model 1.
a. How many of the organisms in the third generation exhibit one or more traits identical to one of the
grandparents?
All have at least one trait
b. How did these traits get passed on through the generations from parent to offspring?
Inherited from each parent
6. Consider the third generation of organisms in Model 1.
a. How many of the organisms in the third generation exhibit one or more traits that are not shown in
one of the grandparents?
All have at least one trait
b. Describe two methods by which these traits may have been introduced into the family tree.
Married in or hereditary
7. In Model 1, which line of offspring shares the most traits with the parent organisms in the first line, the
children or the grandchildren? Support your answer with evidence from Model 1.
The children took more attributes. This is because they look more like them
8. In Model 1, which line of offspring shares the most DNA with the parent organisms in the first line, the
children or the grandchildren?
The children share most DNA with the parents
9. Where did the original parent organisms in the first line in Model 1 get their traits?

From their parents

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10. Label the bones in each animal forelimb in Model 2.

11. List the variety of ways in which the organisms in the table use their forelimbs.

To run, walk, eat, scratch, to swim

12. Model 2 shows several homologous structures. These are limbs or body parts that are similar in structure due
to shared ancestry, but that may be or may not be similar in function.
a. List two or more similarities in the bone structure of the four animals shown.

The finger bones and the wrists

b. List three or more differences in the bone structure of the four animals shown.

Some of the finger bones are long and the whale bones are webbed on the outside and the
amount of finger bones.

13. Describe the location of the “blue print” that determines the structure of each of these forelimbs as the
organism develops from embryo to infant.
The DNA in the organisms cells contains the blueprint for how each organism develops
14. What do the similarities among the forelimb bone arrangement of these diverse animals imply about their
ancestry?
That the info used to create the forelimb is similar and the organisms may share a common ancestor
15. Which two animals in Model 2 would you predict have the most DNA sequences in common? Explain.

The dog and the whale have the same number of bones in each category

Read This!

Extensive research has been done to find similarities and differences in the DNA sequences of different
animals. This work is very difficult and time consuming, but it can help biologists determine the evolution-
ary ancestry of a species. For example, when investigating the human genome, biologists found that
about 99.5% of the DNA sequences among humans are the same. Considering the wide variety of traits in
the human population, we are a lot more similar than we are different. Humans share approximately 96%
of their DNA sequences with chimpanzees, 85% with mice, and 75% with chickens.

16. Study the table below.

a. To which organism, B, C or D, is organism A most closely related? Support your answer.

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The A and B is closely related because of the high precentages

b. Which pair of organisms in the table is least closely related? Support your answer.

The A and D organisms with 50 precent similarity

c. Which pair of organisms most likely shares a recent common ancestor? Support your answer.

A and B
17. Suppose another organism, organism X, is discovered. Suggest how scientists would use DNA comparison to
classify organism X?
Would look for the most recent common ancestor

18. Refer to Model 2. Study the bone arrangement in the bird and whale. Propose an explanation for the
similarity of elongated bone arrangement in the lower parts of the forelimb (metacarpals and phalanges),
given the differences in the animals?
Both the bird and the whale use their forelimbs to push through medium air or water.
19. Thinking about how traits are inherited and considering the similarities in bone structure among the various
animals in this activity, what might you expect to find if you compared the development of embryos
among the organisms used in this activity?
Similar patterns of developments, similar structures, and similar sequence of development
20. Thinking about how traits are inherited, how would you explain the close similarities between the make-up of
the oxygen-carrying molecule hemoglobin in organisms as diverse as birds, horses, gorillas, and humans?
Similar genetic info, similar ancestors, and hemogoblin