Evolutionary Biology Quiz

A phenomenon where beneficial mutations compete with each other for dominance within a genome due to the inability of asexual reproduction to combine them.

The process of combining genetic material from two parents, leading to diverse offspring in sexual reproduction.

A beneficial mutation becoming dominant in a population due to its increased fitness, often eliminating competing mutations.

The spread of beneficial mutations, inadvertently carrying along linked deleterious mutations within a genome.

The accumulation of harmful mutations in a population, often resulting in a decrease in fitness.

A strategy where organisms produce offspring with varying traits, increasing chances of survival in unpredictable environments.

The constant evolutionary arms race between hosts and parasites, where both sides continuously adapt to outcompete each other.

A type of coevolution where hosts and parasites exert strong selection pressure on each other, driving their evolution.

A hominin species that lived around 4.4 million years ago (MYA) and exhibited traits of both bipedalism and tree-climbing. It provides evidence for an early stage in the evolution of humans and shows that the transition to walking upright wasn't a sudden event.

A group of hominins that are more closely related to modern humans than Ardipithecus ramidus. They lived between 2.5 and 4 MYA and are characterized by their more human-like features compared to earlier hominins. We often rely on fossil skulls, teeth, and jaws to understand this period.

A remarkable fossil discovery of footprints left by Australopithecus afarensis around 3.6 MYA. The footprints show clear evidence of bipedal walking, allowing paleontologists to study how our ancestors moved millions of years ago.

Hominin species known for their robust skulls and large teeth, suggesting they were adapted to eating tough, fibrous foods. They were not ancestors of modern humans and went extinct around 1 million years ago.

The concept that human evolution is not a linear progression, but a complex process of branching and diversification. Many hominin lineages have gone extinct, and we are just one branch that survived.

Early humans, characterized by massive jaws and teeth, likely adapted for chewing tough foods.

A controversial human species discovered in South Africa, notable for its mix of primitive and modern features.

The phenomenon where species on islands become smaller due to limited resources.

A diverse group of early humans that lived alongside other hominins. They likely had features in common with both humans and other apes.

A group of hominins with large teeth, known for their diverse adaptations and long evolutionary history.

The theory that humans were not the only surviving hominin species until relatively recently, about 40,000 years ago.

The evolutionary process where human species adapted and changed for better survival.

The proposed origin of all hominin species, including our own, in Africa.

The first wave of hominins to leave Africa, about 2 million years ago. These early hominins were adapted for walking long distances, utilizing tools, and had larger cranial capacity.

The ability to walk upright on two legs. This is a key defining characteristic of the hominin lineage.

An early hominin species that lived approximately 3.9-2.9 million years ago. Its skull was closer to apes than humans, but they showed evidence of walking upright.

The size of the skull, related to brain size.

A close relative of modern humans that lived in Eurasia between 400,000 and 40,000 years ago. They had a wider build than modern humans.

The dispersal of modern humans from Africa, beginning around 100,000 years ago. There were likely multiple waves of migration.

The study of the recent history of the human species using genetic information from our own genomes. This helps us understand human migration patterns.

The accumulation of harmful mutations in a population over time. It arises from the fact that mutations are mostly harmful, and without recombination, there's no way to remove them.

A process that can only move in one direction, specifically an increase in deleterious mutations in a population. This happens because without recombination, there's no way to remove these mutations.

Refers to the scenario where a population has a high accumulation of deleterious mutations, making survival difficult. They have so many mutations that they are on the verge of extinction.

The idea that recombination allows for faster evolution by bringing together beneficial mutations in the same genome. This leads to faster adaptation compared to asexual reproduction.

A sexually reproducing lineage can reverse the detrimental effects of Muller's Ratchet. It allows creating offspring with fewer deleterious mutations than their parents, helping to maintain genetic fitness.

The process where a mutation spreads throughout a population. It becomes the predominant or the only allele in that population.

A chromosomal inversion is a segment of a chromosome that is flipped in orientation. It's like a book where a chapter is flipped, changing the order of genes on the chromosome.

A supergene is a group of tightly linked genes that are inherited together, preventing recombination and shuffling of those genes. It's like a locked box, preventing traits from being mixed up.

Inversions can prevent recombination, which refers to the shuffling and mixing of genes during reproduction. It's like keeping a deck of cards in the same order, preventing shuffling.

Sexual reproduction involves finding a mate, which can consume time and energy and increase vulnerability to predation. It's like going on a date, but it can be tiring and dangerous.

When a female mates with a smaller male, the risk of predation increases compared to mating with a larger male. This highlights how mate choice can impact survival.

Sexual reproduction increases the risk of transmitting diseases and parasites between individuals. It's like sharing a meal, where you might also share germs.

Mutations are random changes in an organism's DNA that occur during replication. It's like a typo in a book, introducing a new error with each copy.

The process of genetic recombination can break up combinations of beneficial genes, thus reducing offspring fitness if those genes are crucial. It's like shuffling a winning deck of cards, risking losing the winning hand.