Evolutionary Biology Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What does the theory of evolution provide for biologists?

  • A method for categorizing species
  • A timeline of Earth’s history
  • A framework for understanding geology
  • A unifying theory for biology (correct)

    • All living organisms have evolved from a common ancestor.

    True

    What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

    The process by which organisms become better suited to their environment.

    The _____ structures are features that are similar due to shared ancestry.

    <p>homologous</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of evolution with its description:

    <p>Convergent evolution = Different species evolve similar traits Divergent evolution = Related species become more dissimilar Vestigial structures = Remnants of structures that had a function in ancestors Natural selection = Mechanism by which species change over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best represents a misconception about evolution?

    <p>All traits of organisms are adaptations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Convergent evolution results in species that increasingly resemble one another.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one example of a vestigial structure in modern organisms.

    <p>Human appendix</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for when two species evolve in diverse directions from a common ancestor?

    <p>Divergent evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Convergent evolution occurs when different species evolve similar traits independently.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one example of a vestigial structure in organisms.

    <p>Hind leg bones in whales</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Fossils provide solid evidence that organisms from the past are not the same as those __________.

    <p>today</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a result of natural selection acting on a population?

    <p>Diversity in form and function</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All similarities between species are due to homologous structures.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the presence of homologous structures suggest about different species?

    <p>They share a common ancestor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ of an organism’s development provides evidence of relatedness among different species.

    <p>embryology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these examples illustrates convergent evolution?

    <p>Bats and birds having wings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural selection can produce significant changes in a species' genotype within a single generation.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are analogous structures?

    <p>Structures that serve similar functions but evolved independently.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following plant species with their features:

    <p>Dense blazing star = Adapts to specific pollinators Purple coneflower = Shares basic morphology with different adaptations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do vestigial structures indicate about an organism?

    <p>The organism has lost the function of those structures from ancestors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the theory of evolution primarily explain?

    <p>How populations change over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the theory of evolution, organisms can evolve intentionally to adapt to their environment.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What molecule is mentioned as a mechanism of inheritance that plays a role in evolution?

    <p>DNA</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The presence of life on Earth means that the events that led to life cannot __________.

    <p>repeat themselves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

    <p>Natural selection = Process where certain traits increase survival and reproduction Genetic variation = Differences in DNA among individuals within a population Antibiotic resistance = Ability of bacteria to survive despite antibiotic treatment Evolution = Change in the genetic composition of populations over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is essential for natural selection to act upon in a population?

    <p>Genetic variation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The resistance gene in bacteria arises as a direct result of applying antibiotics.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factors determine which characteristics evolve in a species?

    <p>Variation present and environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Evolution is not __________ directed and does not aim for improvement over time.

    <p>goal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What misconception might arise regarding statements about evolution?

    <p>Individuals evolve quickly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term did Darwin use to describe the process of change in populations over generations?

    <p>Descent with modification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural selection is the only mechanism known for adaptive evolution.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who presented papers on natural selection at the Linnean Society in 1858?

    <p>Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ________ finch populations are a significant example of natural selection studied by the Grants.

    <p>Galápagos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the small-billed birds to survive during the El Niño event?

    <p>Abundance of small soft seeds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Genetic mutations can have effects with varying impacts on an organism's fitness.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main mechanisms that contribute to genetic diversity in populations?

    <p>Mutation and sexual reproduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A heritable trait that enhances an organism's survival and reproduction is called an ________.

    <p>adaptation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a possible outcome of a mutation on phenotype?

    <p>Neutral, beneficial, or harmful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the organisms to their adaptations:

    <p>Platypus = Webbed feet for swimming Snow leopard = Thick fur for cold environments Cheetah = Fast speed for hunting Cactus = Water-storing ability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Large leaves were advantageous for plants in moist climates because they helped in energy absorption.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect did the improved conditions in 1987 have on the average bill size of finches?

    <p>The trend toward smaller average bill size ceased.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Genetic variation can occur through ________ and ________.

    <p>mutation, sexual reproduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of biologist typically conducts research outdoors in natural habitats?

    <p>Field biologist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does natural selection contribute to adaptation over time?

    <p>It favors individuals with traits that enhance survival and reproduction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During early development, which structures are exhibited by all vertebrate embryos?

    <p>Gill slits and tails</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Marsupials are found worldwide due to their diversification in Australia.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the theory of evolution describe?

    <p>A body of thoroughly tested and verified explanations for a set of observations about the natural world.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanism of evolutionary change did Darwin and Wallace propose?

    <p>Natural selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The geographic distribution of organisms is best explained by __________ in conjunction with tectonic plate movement.

    <p>evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Georges-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon reintroduced the idea that species are static and unchanging.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was a Scottish geologist that proposed gradual geological change?

    <p>James Hutton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following organisms with their respective unique locations:

    <p>Marsupials = Australia Galápagos finches = Galápagos Islands Proteaceae = Southern Africa Unique flora = Northern continents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about evolution?

    <p>Individuals evolve over their lifetime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Darwin observed that giant tortoises with longer necks were better able to reach food during _______.

    <p>drought</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The theory of evolution has remained unchallenged since its proposal by Darwin.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the contributors to evolutionary thought with their key ideas:

    <p>Charles Darwin = Natural selection Jean-Baptiste Lamarck = Inheritance of acquired characteristics James Hutton = Gradual geological change Alfred Russel Wallace = Independent formulation of natural selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to DNA sequences over time as organisms evolve?

    <p>DNA sequences diverge and reflect evolutionary changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Darwin observe about the finches on the Galápagos Islands?

    <p>Their beak shapes correlated with their food sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural selection leads to the increased reproduction of all individuals in a population equally.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The regions that evolved after the breakup of Pangaea are typically found in __________ areas of the planet.

    <p>unique</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do gene duplication events allow organisms to do?

    <p>Create new functions for proteins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the survival and reproduction of individuals with favorable traits?

    <p>Natural selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Evolution explains the origin of life itself.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Darwin, most characteristics of organisms are ________ from parent to offspring.

    <p>inherited</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the principle of natural selection with its explanation:

    <p>Inheritance = Characteristics are passed from parent to offspring Overproduction = More offspring are produced than can survive Variation = Differences among offspring give competitive advantages Competition = Limited resources lead to struggle for survival</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do some structures disappear in adult forms of terrestrial groups?

    <p>Because they are not needed for survival due to changes in environment or lifestyle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals change due to _________ and __________, not due to evolution.

    <p>development, environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements most closely represents the concept of 'survival of the fittest'?

    <p>Individuals with traits suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All species adaptively change over time according to environmental pressures.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following evolutionary mechanisms with their descriptions:

    <p>Natural Selection = Differential survival based on traits Mutation = Change in DNA sequence Genetic Drift = Random changes in allele frequencies Gene Flow = Transfer of genetic material between populations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thomas Malthus' essay contribute to Darwin's understanding of natural selection?

    <p>The concept of competition for limited resources among organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lamarck’s theory involved the ________ of acquired characteristics as a means of evolutionary change.

    <p>inheritance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the figure with the observation made:

    <p>Giant tortoises = Long-necked for reaching food Galápagos finches = Varied beak shapes for different food sources South American finches = Similar but distinct from Galápagos species Evolutionary change = Result of natural selection over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Evolution and the Origin of Species

    • Organisms evolved from different species; evolution is an ongoing process.
    • Evolution is the unifying theory of biology, providing a framework for questions about the living world. Dobzhansky stated that "nothing makes sense in biology except in the light of evolution."
    • Natural selection, a mechanism of evolutionary change, was independently conceived by Darwin and Wallace.
    • Natural selection ("survival of the fittest") describes the more prolific reproduction of individuals with favorable traits that enhance survival and reproduction in changing environments.
    • Darwin's observations of species variation across Galápagos Island finches, giant tortoises, and other organisms, influenced his theory of natural selection.
    • Natural selection is driven by three principles:
    • Inheritance of characteristics from parent to offspring.
    • More offspring are produced than can survive, leading to competition for resources.
    • Variations in offspring characteristics, which are inherited.
    • Darwin and Wallace presented papers on natural selection in 1858. Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" followed.
    • The Grants' studies of Galápagos finches provide evidence of natural selection.
    • Adaptations are heritable traits that improve survival and reproduction in a given environment.
    • Convergent evolution is the independent development of similar traits in distantly related species due to similar environmental pressures. (e.g., wings in bats and insects)
    • Divergent evolution is the development of diverse traits in related species from a common ancestor. (e.g., reproductive organs in flowering plants)

    Evidence of Evolution

    • Fossils: Provide evidence of past and present organisms. Show progression. Fossil record reveals evolutionary history.
    • Example: Fossil record documents human and horse evolution.
    • Anatomy and Embryology
    • Homologous structures: Similar bone structures in different species from a common ancestor. Evidence of descent from a common ancestor. (e.g., human, dog, bird, whale appendages) and similar development stages (embryos of different species)
    • Vestigial structures: Structures with no apparent function, potentially remnants of ancestral structures. (e.g., wings of flightless birds and hind leg bones in whales)
    • Analogous structures: Similar functions, but different structures and developmental origins suggesting analogous functions in different species (e.g., wings of insects and birds)
    • Biogeography: Geographic distribution of organisms reflects evolution and plate movement. (e.g., unique flora and fauna of continents that were previously part of Pangaea)
    • Molecular Biology: DNA's universality and relatedness reflect a common ancestor. DNA sequences show evolutionary relationships. (e.g., gene duplication events leading to new protein functions)

    Misconceptions of Evolution

    • Evolution is a scientifically tested and verified explanation of facts about living organisms, not a guess or hypothesis.
    • Individuals do not evolve. Changes within individuals over lifetimes are development, not evolution. Evolution impacts average population characteristics over generations.
    • Evolution does not explain life's origin. It explains adaptation and diversification of life forms.
    • Evolution is not purposeful or goal-directed. Adaptations arise due to existing variation and environmental pressures.

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    Description

    Test your understanding of key concepts in evolutionary biology, including adaptation, natural selection, and the significance of homologous and vestigial structures. This quiz covers essential points regarding the theory of evolution and its implications for biology.

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