Evolution
Evolution and Natural Selection
Similarities and differences in inherited characteristics of organisms alive today or in the past can be used to…
Item CA025002: Many of the same genes code for homologous traits (forelimbs) across different species.
If forelimbs were present in the common ancestor of birds, crocodiles, whales, pigs, and humans, what would be true about the genes that code for forelimbs in these different animals? (Forelimbs include arms, wings, and fins.)
- Many of the same genes would code for forelimbs in all of these animals
- Completely different sets of genes would code for forelimbs in each of these animals
- Information about the common ancestors of different species provides no information about similarities and differences in their genes.
- Many of the same genes would code for arms in crocodiles, pigs, and humans, but these genes would be completely different than the genes that code for wings in birds or fins in whales.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 572 |
6–8 n = 18 |
9–12 n = 502 |
Male n = 245 |
Female n = 283 |
English n = 511 |
Other n = 18 |
||
| A. | Many of the same genes would code for forelimbs in all of these animals | 34% | 33% | 34% | 38% | 31% | 33% | 50% |
| B. | Completely different sets of genes would code for forelimbs in each of these animals | 17% | 28% | 17% | 18% | 18% | 18% | 6% |
| C. | Information about the common ancestors of different species provides no information about similarities and differences in their genes. | 15% | 0% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 15% | 6% |
| D. | Many of the same genes would code for arms in crocodiles, pigs, and humans, but these genes would be completely different than the genes that code for wings in birds or fins in whales. | 34% | 39% | 34% | 30% | 37% | 34% | 39% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 274 |
6–8 n = 14 |
9–12 n = 230 |
Male n = 119 |
Female n = 130 |
English n = 237 |
Other n = 9 |
||
| A. | Many of the same genes would code for forelimbs in all of these animals | 52% | 43% | 53% | 50% | 55% | 52% | 44% |
| B. | Completely different sets of genes would code for forelimbs in each of these animals | 11% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
| C. | Information about the common ancestors of different species provides no information about similarities and differences in their genes. | 14% | 29% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 13% | 22% |
| D. | Many of the same genes would code for arms in crocodiles, pigs, and humans, but these genes would be completely different than the genes that code for wings in birds or fins in whales. | 23% | 14% | 23% | 23% | 22% | 23% | 22% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 278 |
6–8 n = 4 |
9–12 n = 248 |
Male n = 130 |
Female n = 131 |
English n = 251 |
Other n = 5 |
||
| A. | Many of the same genes would code for forelimbs in all of these animals | 52% | 75% | 52% | 53% | 53% | 53% | 20% |
| B. | Completely different sets of genes would code for forelimbs in each of these animals | 12% | 0% | 13% | 9% | 13% | 12% | 0% |
| C. | Information about the common ancestors of different species provides no information about similarities and differences in their genes. | 9% | 25% | 8% | 15% | 5% | 9% | 20% |
| D. | Many of the same genes would code for arms in crocodiles, pigs, and humans, but these genes would be completely different than the genes that code for wings in birds or fins in whales. | 27% | 0% | 27% | 23% | 28% | 26% | 60% |