molecular biology – independent practice
for each question below, explain whether the evidence is based on homologous structures, analogous structures, molecular biology, or from the fossil record. then, using complete sentences, explain why it is evidence of evolution, or that life changes over time.
example:
1. humans, chimpanzees, whales, and bats all have the same bones in their arms, fins, or wings.
a. what type of evidence is this? homologous structures
b. why is this evidence of evolution?
this is evidence of evolution because if all these animals have the same bones, they probably all evolved from one creature that had those bones a very long time ago. some of its children evolved (or changed) into humans, and other evolved into whales or bats or chimpanzees.
2. scientists find fossilized bones of a huge animal that doesn’t exist today.
a. what type of evidence is this?
b. why is this evidence of evolution?

3. the human gene for your muscle protein is different from monkey muscle protein in 4 places and different from a chicken’s gene in 25 places.
a. what type of evidence is this?
b. why is this evidence of evolution?

4. honey possums lick nectar from flowers using a long tongue made of soft muscle. butterflies lick nectar from flowers using a long tongue made of hard protein.
a. what type of evidence is this?
b. why is this evidence of evolution?

Question

molecular biology – independent practice
for each question below, explain whether the evidence is based on homologous structures, analogous structures, molecular biology, or from the fossil record. then, using complete sentences, explain why it is evidence of evolution, or that life changes over time.
example:
1. humans, chimpanzees, whales, and bats all have the same bones in their arms, fins, or wings.
   a. what type of evidence is this? homologous structures
   b. why is this evidence of evolution?
   this is evidence of evolution because if all these animals have the same bones, they probably all evolved from one creature that had those bones a very long time ago. some of its children evolved (or changed) into humans, and other evolved into whales or bats or chimpanzees.
2. scientists find fossilized bones of a huge animal that doesn’t exist today.
   a. what type of evidence is this?
   b. why is this evidence of evolution?

3. the human gene for your muscle protein is different from monkey muscle protein in 4 places and different from a chicken’s gene in 25 places.
   a. what type of evidence is this?
   b. why is this evidence of evolution?

4. honey possums lick nectar from flowers using a long tongue made of soft muscle. butterflies lick nectar from flowers using a long tongue made of hard protein.
   a. what type of evidence is this?
   b. why is this evidence of evolution?

Accepted Answer

### Question 2
#### Part a
# Brief Explanations:
The evidence here is from the fossil record because scientists found fossilized bones of an animal that no longer exists today. Fossil records involve the remains of organisms from the past, and this discovery of a non - existent animal's fossils fits this category.
# Answer:
Fossil record

#### Part b
# Brief Explanations:
This is evidence of evolution because the existence of a fossilized animal that doesn't exist now shows that life forms have changed over time. The animal that left these fossils had characteristics different from current species, indicating that species have evolved and some have gone extinct while new ones have appeared.
# Answer:
This is evidence of evolution because the fossilized bones of a non - existent animal show that life forms have changed over time (species have evolved and some have gone extinct).

### Question 3
#### Part a
# Brief Explanations:
The evidence here is from molecular biology. The comparison of the human, monkey, and chicken genes for muscle protein (looking at the differences in their genetic sequences) is a molecular - level analysis, which falls under molecular biology as a type of evolutionary evidence.
# Answer:
Molecular biology

#### Part b
# Brief Explanations:
This is evidence of evolution because the degree of difference in the muscle protein genes (4 places between human and monkey, 25 places between human and chicken) reflects the evolutionary relationships. Organisms that are more closely related (like humans and monkeys) have more similar genes, while more distantly related organisms (like humans and chickens) have more differences. This shows that species have evolved from common ancestors, with genetic changes accumulating over time.
# Answer:
This is evidence of evolution because the genetic differences (in muscle protein genes) reflect evolutionary relationships (closer relatives have more similar genes, showing descent from common ancestors with genetic changes over time).

### Question 4
#### Part a
# Brief Explanations:
The evidence here is from analogous structures. The honey possum and the butterfly have long tongues for licking nectar, but the tongues are made of different materials (soft muscle vs. hard protein) and likely evolved independently to perform the same function (licking nectar) in similar environments. This is the definition of analogous structures.
# Answer:
Analogous structures

#### Part b
# Brief Explanations:
This is evidence of evolution because analogous structures show that different species can evolve similar adaptations (long tongues for nectar - licking) in response to similar environmental pressures (the need to obtain nectar from flowers). This indicates that evolution can lead to similar functional structures in different lineages when they face similar ecological challenges.
# Answer:
This is evidence of evolution because analogous structures show that different species evolved similar adaptations (long tongues for nectar - licking) in response to similar environmental pressures (nectar - obtaining from flowers).

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Question 2

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Part b