Branching Line of Life

In the picture

1. 1Single-celled organism at the line’s origin
2. 2Fish beside coral: a body suited to moving through water
3. 3Monkey’s hand on a branch: a grip suited to climbing
4. 4Lizard’s foot on desert rock: toes suited to gripping hot stone
5. 5Penguin’s wing in polar wind: a limb suited to cold water and ice

Examples

• Different dog breeds, all descended from an ancient wolf-like ancestor.
• Antibiotic resistance: bacteria that survive treatment pass on resistance.

Quiz: Branching Line of Life (Age 16)

1. 1

   What does the card say about species alive today?

   • They share common ancestors.
   • They appeared suddenly in their current forms.
   • They each have separate origins.
2. 2

   According to the card, how do adaptations arise?

   • Only after a single generation of rapid change.
   • Gradually, as populations change over generations.
   • Suddenly, when an individual needs a new trait.
3. 3

   What does the card teach about living things on Earth?

   • They are connected by shared ancestors and gradually changed to survive in different habitats.
   • They are unrelated and live only in the habitats where they first appeared.
   • They all changed in exactly the same way to survive in one habitat.

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.