1. The giant anteater lives in South America, the pangolin lives in Australia, and the spiny anteater lives in Australia. The three animals are not at all closely related, but resemble each other closely. They have long, sticky tongues that they use to eat ants, no teeth, large salivary glands, and long, bald snouts. Which principle that Darwin observed do these animals illustrate?

2. Which theory best explains Darwinian evolution – Neptunism, mosaic catastrophism, or uniformitariansim? Give a reason for your answer.

3. An early and major objection to Darwin’s concept of natural selection as the mechanism behind evolution was that is refutes the pleasant idea that we humans are more advanced and special than other species. How does Darwinian evolution do this?

4. You have a pet cocker spaniel and believe that if snip off the end of his tail, and then breed him, his puppies will be born with snipped-off tails. Is this idea consistent with Darwinian evolution? Why or why not?

5. Many articles about the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria claim that overuse of antibiotics creates resistant strains. How is this statement incorrect?

Additional Questions and Terms

1. In the former Soviet Union, a toxic strain of the bacterial infection diphtheria has reemerged. Diphtheria causes a white coating on the throat, fever, cough, and damage to the skin, heart, kidneys, and nerves. The World Health Organization cites several reasons for the resurgence of this infection: Failure of parts of the population to be vaccinated, crowded living conditions, and forced migrations of people. How might these factors have influenced the reappearance of this illness?

2. The strain of hantavirus that causes a lethal hemorrhagic fever is present all the time (endemic) in Korea, but outbreaks of disease in humans occur only when soldiers from other nations occupy the area. Why might this be so?