The Development of Species: Evolution and Classification | OCR A-Level Biology B (Advancing Biology) (H422)
The Development of Species: Evolution and Classification
- 87 questions
- 6 subtopics
- Biology content, examined on all three papers
- Component 01, Component 02 and Component 03
The Development of Species: Evolution and Classification is examined in all three written papers — the specification states that Components 01, 02 and 03 can each assess content from any of the five modules, so nothing is confined to one paper.
It covers classification and the species concept, evidence for classification and DNA barcoding, phylogenetic trees, hominids and the evolution of language, human adaptations, natural selection and evolution, plant adaptations and how they are investigated and measuring biodiversity and genetic diversity.
Sample questions from The Development of Species: Evolution and Classification
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Classification and the species concept
Give the binomial name of modern humans and explain what each part identifies.
Show the answer
Modern humans are Homo sapiens, where Homo names the genus to which the species belongs and sapiens identifies the particular species within that genus. -
Classification and the species concept
Give one advantage of the phylogenetic species concept over the biological one.
Show the answer
It can be applied to asexual organisms and to extinct organisms, because it does not depend on observing whether individuals interbreed. -
Evidence for classification and DNA barcoding
How is DNA used to judge how closely two species are related?
Show the answer
The base sequences of the same gene are compared in the two species, and the fewer the differences between them, the more recently they shared a common ancestor. -
Evidence for classification and DNA barcoding
Give two reasons why a mitochondrial gene is chosen for barcoding animals.
Show the answer
Each cell contains many mitochondria and therefore many copies of the gene, so usable DNA can be obtained from a tiny or degraded sample, and mitochondrial DNA mutates fast enough for closely related species to differ. -
Phylogenetic trees, hominids and the evolution of language
What are hylobatids?
Show the answer
Hylobatids are the gibbons, the family of small apes that forms the sister group to the hominids. -
Phylogenetic trees, hominids and the evolution of language
Give an example of conflicting evidence in hominid classification.
Show the answer
Whether Neanderthals were a separate species or a subspecies of Homo sapiens remains disputed, because their distinctive anatomy suggests a separate species while DNA evidence shows they interbred with modern humans. -
Human adaptations, natural selection and evolution
Explain how lactose tolerance became common in some human populations.
Show the answer
In populations that herded cattle, adults able to digest milk gained extra energy, protein and calcium, so they survived and reproduced more successfully and the allele for lactase persistence increased in frequency. -
Human adaptations, natural selection and evolution
What advantages does bipedalism give?
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It frees the hands to carry food, infants and tools, raises the eyes so predators and prey can be seen over tall vegetation, and is an energetically efficient way of covering long distances.
The 6 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Classification and the species concept | Recall questions on biological classification and the hierarchy of taxonomic ranks, binomial names such as Homo sapiens, the biological and phylogenetic species concepts and their limits, why a horse and donkey remain separate species, and why classification should reflect phylogeny. | 13 |
| Evidence for classification and DNA barcoding | Recall questions on physical and molecular evidence for classification, hominid skull features and the foramen magnum, the limits of fossil evidence, comparing DNA and amino acid sequences, and DNA barcoding with CO1 in animals and rbcL and matK in plants. | 14 |
| Phylogenetic trees, hominids and the evolution of language | Recall questions on reading phylogenetic trees, nodes and branch lengths, the living hominids and hylobatids, the chimpanzee as our closest relative, Homo neanderthalensis, molecular clocks and conflicting evidence, and the mother tongues and gossip hypotheses for the origin of language. | 15 |
| Human adaptations, natural selection and evolution | Recall questions on behavioural, physiological and anatomical adaptations, tool use and cultural practices, lactose tolerance, skin pigmentation, bipedalism and the costs of a large brain, natural selection, selection pressures and the sources of genetic variation. | 15 |
| Plant adaptations and how they are investigated | Recall questions on xerophytes and how sunken stomata, leaf hairs and cactus stems reduce water loss, hydrophytes and aerenchyma, alpine, shade and sun plants, and investigating stomatal density with nail varnish impressions and leaf area against light intensity. | 14 |
| Measuring biodiversity and genetic diversity | Recall questions on genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity, species richness and evenness, calculating and interpreting Simpson's Index of Diversity, D = 1 − Σ(n/N)², why diverse habitats are more stable, and the proportion of polymorphic gene loci as a measure of genetic diversity. | 16 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR A-Level Biology B (Advancing Biology) Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,895 questions with their answers.