Evolutionary Biology Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the principle mechanism that drives most evolution?

Mutation

Gene flow

Natural selection (correct)

Genetic drift

What is the main job of organisms?

To achieve immortality

To survive and reproduce (correct)

To adapt to the environment

To create a diverse gene pool

Who put evidence for the idea of evolution all in one place?

Charles Darwin (correct)

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Gregor Mendel

Alfred Russel Wallace

What is biological/organic evolution?

The change in the properties of living organisms over generations Signup and view all the answers

What level does evolution go beyond?

The change of any individual organism Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanism causing change in evolution?

Natural selection Signup and view all the answers

What are the two concepts of evolution mentioned in the text?

Change and the mechanism causing change Signup and view all the answers

What does natural selection act on?

Individuals Signup and view all the answers

What drives most evolution?

Natural selection Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of organisms according to the text?

To ensure survival and reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What is the level at which natural selection acts?

Individuals Signup and view all the answers

What are the 4 points of biological or organic evolution mentioned in the text?

Variation, inheritance, environmental effects, natural selection Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of natural selection?

Affecting individuals and leading to change over time in populations and species Signup and view all the answers

How are advantageous phenotypes related to natural selection?

They increase an organism's likelihood of survival and reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What leads to the generation of new alleles in a population?

Mutations or gene duplications Signup and view all the answers

What does the theory of evolution provide in relation to the creation of plants and animals by a god?

A plausible alternative Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are key components of microevolutionary change?

Genetic drift, sexual selection, and the movement of genes into or out of a population Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of natural selection?

Directional, disruptive, and stabilizing selection Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between macro-evolution and micro-evolution?

Time scale and the scale of change Signup and view all the answers

What poses problems related to the species concept?

Reproductive capability, asexual organisms, fossil organisms, geographic locations, and clines Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between sympatric and allopatric speciation?

The geographic distribution of the populations Signup and view all the answers

When does convergent evolution occur?

When two species independently evolve similar adaptations to the same environment Signup and view all the answers

What is co-evolution?

Where the evolution of one species is strongly influenced by evolutionary changes in another species Signup and view all the answers

What is gradualism in the context of evolutionary change?

The idea that evolutionary change happens over long periods of time Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of co-evolution and provide an example from the text.

Co-evolution is when the evolution of one species is strongly influenced by evolutionary changes in another species. An example from the text is in predator-prey interactions where the evolution of one species is influenced by the evolutionary changes in the other species, such as the arms race between predators and prey. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the difference between sympatric and allopatric speciation as mentioned in the text.

Sympatric speciation occurs when a subset of a population becomes reproductively isolated within the same geographic area, while allopatric speciation occurs when a subset of a population becomes reproductively isolated due to a physical barrier, leading to geographic separation. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of convergent evolution and provide an example from the text.

Convergent evolution occurs when two species independently evolve similar adaptations to the same environment, leading to analogous characteristics. An example from the text is when different species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures, such as the streamlined bodies of dolphins and sharks for efficient swimming in water. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the differences between directional, disruptive, and stabilizing selection as types of natural selection as mentioned in the text.

Directional selection favors individuals at one extreme of the phenotypic range, disruptive selection favors individuals at both extremes of the phenotypic range, and stabilizing selection favors intermediate variants and acts against extreme phenotypes. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the concept of macro-evolution as mentioned in the text and explain its relationship with micro-evolution.

Macro-evolution concerns the evolution of new species and occurs over larger periods of time. The mechanisms of macro-evolution are the same as micro-evolution, but macro-evolution occurs over larger scales and leads to the formation of new species. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Understanding Evolutionary Biology

Natural selection affects individuals, not populations, and leads to change over time in populations and species.
Natural selection is like gravity, existing without a purpose, and advantageous phenotypes increase an organism's likelihood of survival and reproduction.
Advantages genotypes and phenotypes change when the environment changes, and new alleles are generated from mutations or gene duplications.
The theory of evolution does not disprove the creation of plants and animals by a god but provides a plausible alternative.
Genetic drift, sexual selection, and the movement of genes into or out of a population are key components of microevolutionary change.
Directional, disruptive, and stabilizing selection are the types of natural selection, each leading to different outcomes in allele frequencies.
Macro-evolution concerns the evolution of new species and occurs over larger periods of time, with the mechanisms being the same as micro-evolution.
A species is a population capable of interbreeding, but the species concept poses problems related to reproductive capability, asexual organisms, fossil organisms, geographic locations, and clines.
Sympatric speciation and allopatric speciation are two forms of species evolution, with the former affecting reproduction by isolating a subset of a population.
Convergent evolution occurs when two species independently evolve similar adaptations to the same environment, leading to analogous characteristics.
Co-evolution is where the evolution of one species is strongly influenced by evolutionary changes in another species, such as in predator-prey interactions.
Gradualism is the idea that evolutionary change happens over long periods of time, while punctuated equilibrium suggests that evolution occurs in rapid bursts separated by long periods of little change.