The Evolutionary Mechanisms Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Who were the two individuals who independently conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace

What are the four observable facts about living organisms that establish evolution by natural selection?

(1) More offspring are often produced than can possibly survive, (2) Traits vary among individuals with respect to their morphology, physiology, and behaviour, (3) Different traits confer different rates of survival and reproduction (differential fitness), (4) Traits can be passed from generation to generation (heritability of fitness)

What is the basis for heredity in modern evolutionary theory?

DNA molecules that pass information from generation to generation

What are the processes that change DNA in a population?

<p>The processes that change DNA in a population include natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the last universal common ancestor (LUCA)?

<p>The last universal common ancestor (LUCA) is the common ancestor shared by all life on Earth, including humanity, which lived approximately 3.5–3.8 billion years ago.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How have existing patterns of biodiversity been shaped?

<p>Existing patterns of biodiversity have been shaped by repeated formations of new species (speciation), changes within species (anagenesis), and loss of species (extinction) throughout the evolutionary history of life on Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenotype and genotype of an organism?

<p>The phenotype is the complete set of observable traits that make up the structure and behavior of an organism, while the genotype is the complete set of genes within an organism's genome (genetic material).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the modern evolutionary synthesis definition of evolution?

<p>The modern evolutionary synthesis defines evolution as the change over time in genetic variation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are mutations and why are they important for genetic variation?

<p>Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of a cell's genome and are the ultimate source of genetic variation in all organisms. They can alter the product of a gene, prevent the gene from functioning, or have no effect. Mutations can also introduce extra copies of a gene into a genome, which can provide the raw material for new genes to evolve.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are new genes generated from ancestral genes?

<p>New genes can be generated from ancestral genes when a duplicate copy mutates and acquires a new function. This process is easier once a gene has been duplicated because it increases the redundancy of the system. Small parts of several genes can also be duplicated and recombined to form new combinations with new functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does sex and recombination contribute to genetic variation and evolution?

<p>Sexual organisms produce offspring with random mixtures of their parents' chromosomes through independent assortment and homologous recombination. This results in new combinations of alleles and increases genetic variation. Sex can also increase the rate of evolution, but it comes with a cost in sexually dimorphic species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process of evolution is responsible for the loss of species throughout the evolutionary history of life on Earth?

<p>Extinction (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the complete set of genes within an organism's genome?

<p>Genotype (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the specific location of a DNA sequence within a chromosome?

<p>Locus (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the different forms of a DNA sequence at a locus?

<p>Allele (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a source of genetic variation in organisms?

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

What is the ultimate source of genetic variation in all organisms?

<p>Mutation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which new genes can be generated from ancestral genes?

<p>Exon shuffling (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of sex in increasing genetic variation and evolution?

<p>Sex increases the rate of recombination (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which two individuals independently conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection?

<p>Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the four observable facts about living organisms that establish evolution by natural selection?

<ol> <li>More offspring are often produced than can possibly survive; 2) Traits vary among individuals with respect to their morphology, physiology, and behaviour; 3) Different traits confer different rates of survival and reproduction (differential fitness); 4) Traits can be passed from generation to generation (heritability of fitness) (A)</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis for heredity in modern evolutionary theory?

<p>DNA molecules (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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