Traditionally, Zoologists Have Placed Birds in Their Own Class, Aves

question 40

Multiple Choice

Traditionally, zoologists have placed birds in their own class, Aves. More recently, molecular evidence has shown that birds are more closely related to reptiles than their anatomy reveals. Genetically, birds are more closely related to crocodiles than crocodiles are to turtles. Thus, bird anatomy has become highly modified as they have adapted to flight, without their genes having undergone nearly as much change.
-Traditional zoologists have long agreed that birds evolved from dinosaurs. What keeps such zoologists from agreeing that birds, like dinosaurs, should be considered reptiles?

• A) There is not yet enough evidence to be sure.
• B) Stubbornness, insofar as they are unwilling to change their thinking when new data warrants it.
• C) They deny the validity of genetic molecular data.
• D) They differ in what they consider to be important traits for assigning organisms to the class Reptilia.

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Definitions:

Opponent-Process Theory

A psychological and neurological model that explains how humans perceive colors as opposite pairs and why strong emotions are often followed by opposite emotions.

Bottom-Up Processing

Bottom-up processing refers to the processing of sensory information as it is coming in; in other words, if I flash a random picture in front of you, you process the picture from the details to the whole.

Sensory Adaptation

The process by which a person becomes less sensitive to stimuli from their environment after prolonged exposure.

Bottom-Up Processing

An approach to information processing that starts with the sensory input and builds up to the final perception in a step-by-step process.