Endterm Problem Set in Science 2: Biological Science Guidelines: 1. Answers must be HANDWRITTEN on yellow pad paper.

2. Each answer must be in paragraph form containing THREE to FIVE sentences.

3. Use reputable sources of SCIENTIFIC information for your answers. You may browse books in the College Library or access scholarly Internet sites devoted to science.

4. Paraphrase, paraphrase, and paraphrase!

5. Include a list of references at the end of your problem set. All sources of information must be CITED using the APA (American Psychological Association) format.

6. Exercise INTELLECTUAL HONESTY in accomplishing this problem set. Papers showing evidence of cheating will be given a score of ZERO.

7. Submit your problem set on or before 22 March 2013.

8. DO NOT LEAVE your problem set in my pigeon hole located at the Deans Office. DO NOT ASK other people to submit it for you. Submit it to me IN PERSON. Problems: 1. Are all features of living organisms adaptations? How could you determine if a trait in an organism is a product of evolution by natural selection? (5 points)

2. A species of aster normally blooms between mid-August and late September. The asters range is located in a climate that usually produces freezing

temperatures in late October. The asters pollinators (bees, ants, and other insects) are active between late April and early October. Mutations can occur in the gene that controls flowering time for some individuals of this aster, causing them to flower earlier or longer than normal. The table shows possible flowering times.

Aster Type Normal Early mutation Expanded mutation

Flowering Time August 15 September 30 July 1 August 15 July 15 September 30

Describe how this population of asters might split into 2 species. (5 points) 3. Imagine you have found an organism that has never been described by science. The organism, made up of several hundred cells, feeds by anchoring itself to a submerged rock and straining single-celled algae out of pond water. What kingdom would this organism probably belong to, and why do you think so? (5 points)

4. If a child asks you the following question 20 or 30 years from now, what will be your answer,, and why? When it became clear that humans were causing a mass extinction, what did you do about it? (5 points)