STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE #9
1. Define the following terms:
a The immutability of species
b. Microevolution
c. Macroevolution
d. Strata
e. Fossils
f. Paleontology
g. Structural homology
2. Where did Darwin do most of the work which led to his hypothesis of evolution?
3. Did Darwin ever recant his scientific beliefs?
4. What was the main idea that Thomas Malthus’s work gave to Darwin?
5. What was the main idea that Sir Charles Lyell’s work gave to Darwin?
6. What age-old concept was Darwin able to dispel with his research?
7. Suppose a herd of horses were living in an area where food near the ground was scarce but there
was plenty of food in the trees. If, after several generations, the horses gave rise to giraffes that could
easily reach the food in the trees, would this be an example of microevolution or macroevolution?
8. Consider a fish population that is trying to survive under conditions of extremely cold water. If,
over several generations, the fish develop thicker fat layers under their skin for better insulation, is this
an example of microevolution or macroevolution?
9. From a genetic point of view, what is the main difference between microevolution and
macroevolution?
10. In this module, we studied four main sets of data: the geological column, the fossil record,
structural homology, and molecular biology. For each set of data, indicate whether it is evidence for or
against macroevolution or if it is inconclusive. Briefly explain why.
11. Name two creatures that macroevolutionists claim are intermediate links and why they are not
really intermediate links.
12. What is the Cambrian Explosion? Why is it a problem for macroevolution?
13. What are the four ways a bacterium can become resistant to an antibiotic?
14. If a bacterium has a mutation that makes it resistant to an antibiotic, does information get added to
its genetic code?
298 Exploring Creation With Biology
15. Consider the following amino acid sequences that make up a small portion of a protein:
a. Gly-Ile-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Gly-Gly-Glu(NH2)-Glu-Glu(NH2)-Lys-Lys-Lys
b. Gly-Leu-Phe-Gly-Arg-Lys-Ser-Gly-Glu(NH2)-Gly-Glu(NH2)-Ala-Arg-Lys
c. Leu-Ile-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Ser-Gly-Glu(NH2)-Ala-Glu(NH2)-Arg-Arg-Arg
Which protein would you expect to be the most similar to a protein with the following subset of amino
acids?
Gly-Ile-Phe-Gly-Arg-His-Ser-Gly-Glu(NH2)-Ala-Glu(NH2)-Arg-Arg-Lys
16. Based on macroevolutionary assumptions, which organism’s cytochrome C should most resemble
that of a yeast: a kangaroo or a bacterium?
17. What main problem with Darwin’s hypothesis did neo-Darwinism hope to solve?
18. What problem with Darwin’s hypothesis did punctuated equilibrium attempt to solve?
19. How would an adherent to punctuated equilibrium explain the lack of intermediate links in the
fossil record?
20. What problems mentioned in this module still exist for those who believe in punctuated
equilibrium?
EDIT: Lol my homeschool biology.