Evolution and Natural Selection Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a defining characteristic of adaptation in organisms?

A feature that decreases reproductive success

A feature that has no impact on fitness

A feature that is always genetically inherited

A feature that increases the fitness of organisms (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for natural selection to occur?

Trait is an acquired characteristic (correct)

Trait is heritable

Differential reproductive success

Variation in trait

How is fitness primarily defined in an evolutionary context?

The total number of mutations in a genome

Reproductive success measured by the number of offspring (correct)

The survival rate of an individual

The lifespan of an organism

What type of mutation involves a single base change in DNA?

Point mutation Signup and view all the answers

Which source of genetic variation directly involves changes in amino acids?

Mutations Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'mutation is random' imply in the context of evolution?

Mutations arise without regard to their effects on fitness Signup and view all the answers

In the example of ground finches on Daphne Major, what trait did the finches exhibit during the drought?

Larger and thicker beaks for accessing food Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of transposible elements in genetic variation?

They can relocate and insert genes into different genome areas Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason for barriers in the process of speciation?

They help maintain distinct populations. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is commonly used to identify a separate species?

Distinct mating behaviors Signup and view all the answers

How do pre-zygotic barriers differ from post-zygotic barriers?

Pre-zygotic barriers prevent mating and fertilization, while post-zygotic barriers affect hybrid viability. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes sympatric speciation?

It involves speciation in the same geographic area through differentiation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of genetic incompatibilities arising from long-term genetic separation of populations?

They reduce the likelihood of successful mating between populations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major cost of sexual reproduction compared to asexual reproduction?

Greater investment of energy and time Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies might males employ in competition for mates?

Resource guarding Signup and view all the answers

What does the runaway selection hypothesis suggest about female attraction to male traits?

Preference for traits can lead to exaggerated characteristics over generations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of uniformitarianism in the context of Earth’s processes?

Earth's processes have remained constant over time. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the concept of natural selection as presented by Darwin?

Organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key observation Darwin made aboard the Beagle that informed his theory of evolution?

Some species thrive on islands due to isolation. Signup and view all the answers

Which figure is associated with the incorrect idea of inheritance of acquired traits?

Lamarck Signup and view all the answers

How does a molecular clock function in understanding evolutionary relationships?

It estimates the time since two species diverged based on genetic mutations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'sister taxa'?

Two organisms that share a recent common ancestor. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the beliefs held by ancient Greeks regarding life forms?

Life emerged from the sea and was considered primitive. Signup and view all the answers

What contribution did Carolus Linnaeus make to the field of evolutionary biology?

He established the modern system of taxonomy. Signup and view all the answers

What does the effective population size depend on according to the model discussed?

The random sampling of genes and contributions from some males Signup and view all the answers

How does heterozygosity relate to effective population size?

Heterozygosity provides insight into the effective population size Signup and view all the answers

In the context of selection, what characterizes directional selection?

It shifts the average phenotype in one direction Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between quantitative traits and discrete traits?

Discrete traits cannot be measured continuously Signup and view all the answers

How does gene flow impact allele frequencies in a population?

It generally stabilizes allele frequencies across populations Signup and view all the answers

What does a high FST value indicate about two populations?

High genetic differentiation between the populations Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of phenotypic plasticity in common garden studies?

It helps identify the effect of environmental conditions on traits Signup and view all the answers

What problem can arise from genetic correlations in quantitative traits?

They can lead to trade-offs between different traits Signup and view all the answers

What does incomplete lineage sorting contribute to in terms of species relationships?

It complicates the understanding of phylogenetic trees. Signup and view all the answers

How does a molecular clock assist in evolutionary studies?

It estimates the timing of evolutionary events based on mutation rates. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of heterochrony?

Alterations in the timing of developmental events. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes paraphyly?

A group excludes some descendants of a common ancestor. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a consequence of the Cambrian explosion?

A rapid increase in the diversity of life forms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of Hox gene clusters in developmental evolution?

They dictate the specific body plans and segmentations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following descriptions applies to the term 'reaction norm'?

It describes how genetic traits are expressed in varying environments. Signup and view all the answers

What major transition is associated with the Mesozoic era?

The transition of global continents to modern positions. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hamilton's Rule help determine in relation to cooperation?

The conditions under which cooperation may evolve Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of kin selection?

It favors the reproductive success of an individual's relatives Signup and view all the answers

In the context of predator-prey interactions, what describes the evolutionary 'arms race'?

The simultaneous evolution of adaptations in predators and prey Signup and view all the answers

Which of these describes a consequence of increasing genome size?

Potential for more transposable elements leading to both adaptation and disease Signup and view all the answers

What are the four main types of one-on-one interactions within a species?

Mutualistic, selfish, altruistic, and spiteful Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for reciprocal altruism to be a successful strategy?

A high level of genetic relatedness between individuals Signup and view all the answers

What is a pseudogene?

A non-functional gene that resembles a functional gene Signup and view all the answers

Which category of coevolution reflects a situation where both species evolve adaptations in response to each other?

Diffuse coevolution Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Natural Selection

Evolution is both a pattern and a process
Pattern: Documented change of organisms on Earth over billions of years
Process: Change in allele frequencies between generations
Ancient Greeks: Life emerged from the sea, life was unchanging
Plato & Aristotle: Form matches function, life is unchanging
Natural Theology (William Paley): Divine creator, perfect design, matches God
Carolus Linnaeus: Modern Taxonomy, classified related species into genera
Uniformitarianism (James Hutton & Charles Lyell): Earth is very old, processes that shape the world now also shaped it in the past
Inheritance of acquired traits (Lamarck): Incorrect; species progress up a complexity chain, changes to traits during lifetime are passed onto offspring.
Darwin & Wallace: Observations on the Beagle informed their theory of evolution, laid out in Origin of Species.
Organisms can diversify in isolation (on islands)

The Tree of Life

Common Ancestry of Species: Organisms share fundamental characteristics because they and their genes have descended from a common ancestor in the distant past.

Homologous vs Convergent Traits

Homologous: Traits are inherited from a common ancestor.
Convergent: Traits appear independently in unrelated species due to similar selective pressures, rather than common ancestry.

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Adaptation: Feature that increases the fitness of organisms. Natural selection is the only consistent mechanism of evolution that leads to adaptation.
Requirements for natural selection: Variation in trait, trait is heritable (genetic basis), and different versions of the trait have different reproductive success.
Fitness: Reproductive success; how many offspring are left to the next generation.
Identifying evidence for evolution: Examples using the ground finches on Daphne Major.

Mutation and Variation

Different alleles = different genotype and phenotype
Point mutation: single base change.
Mutations in protein-coding sequences alter amino acid sequences
The genetic code translates nucleotides into proteins.
Structural mutation: affects more than one base pair.

Transposable Elements

Genes that move around in a genome.

Genetics & Evolution

Calculate allele and gene frequencies of a population
Frequency of alleles: (Number of A₁ alleles/total alleles)
p+q=1, 2pq + q² =1
p²= homozygous dominant genotype frequency; 2pq= heterozygous genotype frequency; q²= homozygous recessive genotype frequency

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (H-W Equilibrium)

Allele and genotype frequencies remain constant between generations when no evolution is occurring
Assess if population evolution is occurring by comparing observed and expected allele or gene frequencies using observed frequencies and the H-W Equilibrium equation.
Null hypothesis (Hardy-Weinberg Principle)

Fitness & Selection

Calculate fitness (absolute or relative)
Compare and contrast types of selection: purifying, positive, and balancing.
Mutation-selection balance explains disease prevalence in relation to mutation rate.
Discuss genetic correlations, hitchhiking, and pleiotropy.

Genetic Drift and Gene Flow

Genetic Drift: Random change in allele frequency
Founder Effect: An extreme form of genetic drift (bottleneck effect).
Coalescence theory: Populates will eventually consolidate into one gene type..
Consider the fate of a new mutation related to drift.
Smaller effective populations have greater effects of drift.
Simulated drift with/without natural selection.

Sex and Speciation

Species concepts: Defining species criteria
Speciation: Formation of new species through mechanisms like allopatric and sympatric speciation.
Reproductive isolating mechanisms: Barriers preventing interbreeding between populations.
Compare and contrast allopatric and sympatric speciation.
Strategies used by males to reproduce, and how females choose mates.

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Description

Test your understanding of key concepts in evolution and natural selection. This quiz covers topics such as adaptation, genetic variation, and speciation, helping you grasp the mechanisms that drive evolutionary change. Perfect for biology students studying evolution.