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BIOLOGY, M3 EQ-Bank 2 MC

Consider the following:

    1. The presence of pharyngeal arches in human and fish embryos
    2. The distribution of marsupials primarily in Australia and South America
    3. The similarity in limb bone structure between bats and birds
    4. The near-identical amino acid sequence of cytochrome c in humans and chimpanzees

Which combination correctly identifies examples of comparative embryology and biogeography?

  1. 1 and 2
  2. 1 and 3
  3. 2 and 3
  4. 2 and 4
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\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • Option 1 – comparative embryology, which studies similarities in embryonic development across species.
  • Option 2 – biogeography, which examines the geographical distribution of species in relation to evolutionary history and geological events.
  • Option 3 – comparative anatomy, which analyses similarities in the physical structures of different species to infer evolutionary relationships.
  • Option 4 – biochemical evidence, which looks at similarities in genetic material or proteins across species to determine how closely related they are.

\(\Rightarrow A\)

BIOLOGY, M3 EQ-Bank 4

Comparative embryology provides compelling evidence for Darwin and Wallace's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.

Describe two examples of embryological similarities across different species and explain how these examples support the theory of evolution.   (4 marks)

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Answers could include two of the following:

Gill slits

  • Gill-like structures appear in both fish and human embryos during early development.
  • In humans, these structures eventually develop into various head and neck tissues, while in fish they form gills.
  • This shared developmental pattern supports the Darwin/Wallace theory by indicating a common ancestral origin between humans and fish, despite their vastly different adult forms and habitats. 

Tail bones

  • A tail appears in human embryos, complete with several vertebrae. This resembles the tails of other mammals and is typically reabsorbed before birth.
  • Its presence in human embryos, despite humans being tailless as adults, indicates our evolutionary relationship with other mammals and supports the Darwin/Wallace theory. 

Pharyngeal arches

  • Pharyngeal arch structures appear in fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals during early development, despite their diverse adult forms.
  • In fish, they develop into gill arches, while in mammals they contribute to structures like the jaw and inner ear bones.
  • This similarity suggests a common evolutionary origin for all vertebrates, supporting Darwin and Wallace’s concept of descent with modification.
Show Worked Solution

Answers could include two of the following:

Gill slits

  • Gill-like structures appear in both fish and human embryos during early development.
  • In humans, these structures eventually develop into various head and neck tissues, while in fish they form gills.
  • This shared developmental pattern supports the Darwin/Wallace theory by indicating a common ancestral origin between humans and fish, despite their vastly different adult forms and habitats. 

Tail bones

  • A tail appears in human embryos, complete with several vertebrae. This resembles the tails of other mammals and is typically reabsorbed before birth.
  • Its presence in human embryos, despite humans being tailless as adults, indicates our evolutionary relationship with other mammals and supports the Darwin/Wallace theory. 

Pharyngeal arches

  • Pharyngeal arch structures appear in fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals during early development, despite their diverse adult forms.
  • In fish, they develop into gill arches, while in mammals they contribute to structures like the jaw and inner ear bones.
  • This similarity suggests a common evolutionary origin for all vertebrates, supporting Darwin and Wallace’s concept of descent with modification.