Untitled Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What best describes the purpose of experimental studies in evolution?

To control variables and manipulate systems to observe changes. (correct)
To derive conclusions through theoretical analysis only.
To gather data without any manipulation of systems.
To observe patterns without any experimental input.

How does natural selection primarily contribute to evolution?

By ensuring that all species remain the same over time.
By selecting individuals with adaptations that enhance survival and reproduction. (correct)
By introducing random mutations in all organisms.
By promoting large scale instantaneous changes in species.

Which of the following statements accurately reflects an aspect of population genetics?

It studies genetic variation within populations and how it changes over time. (correct)
It disregards the role of natural selection in the evolutionary process.
It focuses exclusively on macroevolutionary changes across species.
It only examines physical traits without considering genetic data.

What is the main focus of macroevolutionary studies?

Patterns of evolution observed among multiple species over time. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of selection promotes traits that increase an organism's fitness, particularly in contrasting environments?

Disruptive selection. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What primarily defines an adaptive trait?

A hereditary trait that improves an organism's fitness. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Natural selection can lead to which of the following outcomes?

The emergence of new species over time. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of evolutionary mechanisms, what is a primary concept of comparative studies?

To analyze large amounts of data from many species to identify patterns. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism would likely be responsible for a sudden change in trait distribution within a population?

Genetic drift from random events. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the study of adaptations significant in the field of evolutionary biology?

It helps explain how organisms have evolved to fit their environments. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a direct application of evolutionary theory in medicine?

Predicting the outcome of astronomical events. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In what way does evolutionary history inform our understanding of current biodiversity?

It helps trace the lineage and relatedness of current organisms. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary challenges faced by evolutionary biologists studying climate change?

Understanding how human-induced changes affect species survival. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated number of mutations per human zygote?

96 (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of mutation is likely to have a phenotypic effect?

Non-silent mutation (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains the distribution of mutation effects on fitness?

Most mutations are deleterious and decrease fitness. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of independent assortment in genetic diversity?

It generates genetic diversity through mixing alleles from two parents. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What process during meiosis increases genetic diversity by exchanging DNA segments between chromatids?

Recombination (B) Signup and view all the answers

In Mendel's experiments with pea plants, what did he demonstrate about discrete traits?

Traits are governed by discrete particles (genes). (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic defines continuous traits?

Represent a spectrum of values affected by multiple alleles. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'particulate inheritance' refer to in genetics?

Genes are inherited as separate units that may not always express in offspring. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which mutation is associated with a partial fitness advantage despite causing a disease?

G6PD deficiency (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the mutation rates in humans compared to other organisms?

Humans exhibit higher mutation rates than flies despite larger genomes. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism allows for the generation of substantial genetic diversity during meiosis?

Recombination (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about mutations is false?

All mutations are harmful to an organism's fitness. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts was not associated with hereditary theories before Mendel?

Particulate inheritance (D) Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does selfing provide in the short term for certain plants?

It allows reproduction when other partners are unavailable. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does long-term selfing negatively impact genetic diversity in plants?

It reduces genetic diversity through inbreeding depression. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of directional selection observed in Galapagos finches?

Favouring birds with larger beaks during food shortages. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes stabilizing selection in a population?

It favors individuals near the mean trait value. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main effect of negative (purifying) selection on a population?

Removal of deleterious alleles. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Experimental evolution studies primarily help us to understand which of the following?

Adaptation of organisms to specific environments. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between genes and phenotypes in population genetics?

Genetic diversity directly influences phenotypic traits. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role does balancing selection play in a population's genetic makeup?

It maintains genetic diversity through heterozygote advantage. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of disruptive selection?

Formation of two distinct phenotypic groups. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the peppered moth, why did the dark form increase in frequency during the industrial revolution?

Dark moths survived better on soot-covered trees. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key finding from the experimental evolution of E. coli in laboratory conditions?

All populations exhibited similar adaptations after a defined number of generations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does G6PD deficiency in humans illustrate natural selection?

It benefits only in environments with malaria. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What determines the fitness of organisms in a population according to natural selection principles?

The adaptability of organisms to environmental changes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon best exemplifies the concept of fitness in evolutionary biology?

The total number of offspring produced by an individual. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is directly related to the process of artificial selection?

Human intervention in selecting traits for domestication. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Theory of Evolution

All living things evolved from a single ancestor over billions of years.

Descent with modification

Branching genealogy where each descendant is slightly different from its ancestor.