Evolution
Evolution and Natural Selection
Similarities and differences in inherited characteristics of organisms alive today or in the past can be used to…
Item CA032003: Different species can have similar genes for similar traits because they inherit them from a common ancestor.
Dogs, pigs, and cats have similar genes for traits that they share in common (such as four legs, a tail, etc.) One of these genes, Gene X, is pictured below.
Why do you think the DNA sequence of Gene X for dogs, pigs, and cats is the same at some of the positions (pictured in black)?
- All three species inherited the gene from a common ancestor.
- All three species had similar needs, so they had to intentionally create similar genes.
- Separate mutations in the three species made the genes similar by coincidence.
- Not enough information is given.
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. | All three species inherited the gene from a common ancestor. | 58% | 56% | 57% | 56% | 58% | 57% | 72% |
| B. | All three species had similar needs, so they had to intentionally create similar genes. | 24% | 22% | 25% | 25% | 24% | 25% | 17% |
| C. | Separate mutations in the three species made the genes similar by coincidence. | 10% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 8% | 10% | 0% |
| D. | Not enough information is given. | 8% | 11% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 8% | 11% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 0 |
6–8 n = 0 |
9–12 n = 0 |
Male n = 0 |
Female n = 0 |
English n = 0 |
Other n = 0 |
||
| A. | All three species inherited the gene from a common ancestor. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
| B. | All three species had similar needs, so they had to intentionally create similar genes. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
| C. | Separate mutations in the three species made the genes similar by coincidence. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
| D. | Not enough information is given. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 0 |
6–8 n = 0 |
9–12 n = 0 |
Male n = 0 |
Female n = 0 |
English n = 0 |
Other n = 0 |
||
| A. | All three species inherited the gene from a common ancestor. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
| B. | All three species had similar needs, so they had to intentionally create similar genes. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
| C. | Separate mutations in the three species made the genes similar by coincidence. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |
| D. | Not enough information is given. | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% | NAN% |