81 Questions
Which of the following statements about natural selection and genetic drift is correct?
Natural selection leads to changes in allele frequencies due to interactions between heritable traits and environmental pressures that impact survival, while genetic drift leads to changes in allele frequencies due to random events in the environment that impact survival.
Which of the following statements about positive and negative selection is correct?
Positive selection occurs when selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness, while negative selection occurs when selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness.
Which of the following statements about complex traits is correct?
Complex traits are often polygenic traits, controlled by multiple genes.
Which of the following statements about directional selection is correct?
Directional selection favors one extreme of a trait and shifts the trait in that direction.
Which of the following statements about stabilizing selection is correct?
Stabilizing selection acts against extremes of a trait and favors the existing distribution.
Which of the following statements about disruptive selection is correct?
Disruptive selection favors both extremes of a trait and acts against intermediate phenotypes.
What type of selection occurs when natural selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness?
Negative selection
Which type of selection acts against intermediate phenotypes of a trait?
Stabilizing selection
In what way does disruptive selection impact the extremes of a trait?
Favors both extremes
Which type of selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness?
Positive selection
What is the primary difference between natural selection and genetic drift in impacting allele frequencies?
Genetic drift is due to random events, natural selection involves interactions with environmental pressures
Which trait type is typically unaffected by selection as it does not change fitness?
Neutral traits
What type of selection can favor both extremes and act against intermediate phenotypes of a trait?
Disruptive Selection
Which type of selection occurs when selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness?
Positive Selection
What type of selection shifts a trait in favor of one extreme?
Directional Selection
Which process results in a change in allele frequency due to random events in the environment?
Genetic Drift
In which type of selection do random environmental events impact survival and cause changes in allele frequency?
Genetic Drift
Which selection occurs when selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness?
Negative Selection
When selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness, what type of selection is at play?
Negative selection
Which type of selection favors both extremes and acts against intermediate phenotypes of a trait?
Disruptive selection
In which scenario does selection typically not impact traits due to their lack of effect on fitness?
Neutral traits
What type of selection occurs when selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness?
Directional selection
When a trait is shifted in favor of one extreme by a selective process, what type of selection is this?
Directional selection
Which type of genetic impact causes changes in allele frequency due to random events in the environment?
Genetic Drift
What is a key characteristic that distinguishes polygenic traits from other types of traits?
They are determined by the combined effects of multiple genes
Which of the following scenarios represents an example of stabilizing selection?
A population of plants maintaining a consistent height due to selective pressures against extremes
In the context of natural selection and genetic drift, what is the primary distinction between their mechanisms of action?
Natural selection affects allele frequencies through environmental pressures, while genetic drift is random
If a population exhibits an increase in the frequency of an allele that confers resistance to a particular disease, what type of selection is likely occurring?
Positive selection
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between natural selection and fitness?
Natural selection acts to decrease the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness
In a scenario where a population exhibits two distinct phenotypes at the extremes of a trait distribution, with few intermediate phenotypes, what type of selection is likely occurring?
Disruptive selection
What term describes the situation where individuals act to promote the survival of genetically related family members?
Kin selection
Which type of selection is driven by intentional breeding of organisms by humans?
Artificial selection
What evolutionary process occurs when individuals decrease their own fitness to promote the survival of their relatives?
Kin selection
Which type of selection leads to the positive evolution of traits based on mate choice?
Sexual selection
What kind of selection often leads to sexual dimorphism in a species?
Sexual selection
Which type of behavior occurs when an organism engages in activities that benefit others at the cost of its own resources?
Altruistic behavior
What kind of trait selection occurs when humans intentionally direct selective pressure on a population?
'Artificial' Selection
In what process do individuals act to support the survival of genetically related family members?
'Kin' Selection
Which type of selection occurs when mate choice influences trait evolution?
'Sexual' Selection
What evolutionary process occurs when individuals decrease their own fitness to promote the survival of genetically related family members?
Kin selection
Which type of selection favors traits that help attract mates, often leading to sexual dimorphism in a species?
Sexual selection
What specialized form of natural selection is driven by intentional breeding of organisms by humans?
Artificial selection
Which behavior occurs when an organism engages in actions that benefit others at its own expense?
Altruistic behavior
In which scenario does natural selection NOT typically impact traits due to their minimal effect on fitness?
With polygenic traits involved
What type of selection occurs when mate choice influences trait evolution and drives the positive evolution of those traits?
Sexual selection
Which of the following is NOT an accurate description of kin selection?
It occurs when individuals act to promote the survival of genetically unrelated individuals
What is a key difference between natural selection and artificial selection?
Artificial selection involves humans applying strong, directed selective pressure
Which of the following statements about sexual selection is NOT true?
It is the primary mechanism responsible for the evolution of altruistic behaviors
In the context of natural selection, what does it mean for a trait to be polygenic?
The trait is influenced by multiple genes, each with a small effect
Which of the following statements about disruptive selection is accurate?
It favors both extreme phenotypes of a trait and acts against intermediate phenotypes
In the context of natural selection, what is the primary distinction between positive and negative selection?
Positive selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness, while negative selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness
Which of the following scenarios represents an example of stabilizing selection?
A population exhibits a narrowing of the range of phenotypes around an intermediate value
In the context of altruistic behavior and kin selection, which of the following statements is correct?
Kin selection is thought to be the evolutionary force driving many cooperative social behaviors
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between natural selection and genetic drift?
Natural selection and genetic drift are two distinct processes that can both impact allele frequencies
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between altruistic behavior and kin selection?
Altruistic behavior is an evolutionary strategy that promotes the survival of genetically related individuals, even at the cost of reducing one's own fitness, a process known as kin selection.
What is the primary difference between natural selection and artificial selection?
Natural selection occurs in natural environments, while artificial selection is driven by intentional breeding of organisms by humans.
In the context of sexual selection, which of the following statements is accurate?
Sexual selection often leads to the evolution of sexual dimorphism, where one sex develops unique traits that help attract mates.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between natural selection and genetic drift?
Natural selection acts on heritable traits that affect fitness, while genetic drift causes changes in allele frequencies due to random sampling events.
In the context of disruptive selection, which of the following statements is accurate?
Disruptive selection favors both extremes and acts against intermediate phenotypes of a trait.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the concept of a polygenic trait?
A polygenic trait is a trait that is controlled by multiple genes, each with a small additive effect on the overall phenotype.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the process of directional selection?
Directional selection shifts a trait in favor of one extreme, while acting against the other extreme.
In the context of stabilizing selection, which of the following statements is accurate?
Stabilizing selection is a process that promotes the survival of intermediate phenotypes of a trait, while acting against both extremes.
What is the primary distinction between positive selection and negative selection in the context of natural selection?
Positive selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness, while negative selection decreases the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness.
Which of the following is an accurate description of sexual selection?
It occurs when mate choice is based on traits, creating selective pressure and driving the positive evolution of those traits.
What is the primary distinction between natural selection and artificial selection?
Natural selection is driven by changes in ecosystems, while artificial selection is driven by intentional breeding of organisms by humans.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between altruistic behavior and kin selection?
Altruistic behavior is a consequence of kin selection, where individuals decrease their own fitness to promote the survival of genetically related family members.
What type of selection occurs when selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness?
Positive selection
In the context of natural selection, what is the primary distinction between positive selection and negative selection?
Positive selection increases the frequencies of alleles that increase fitness, while negative selection reduces the frequencies of alleles that reduce fitness.
Which type of selection favors both extremes and acts against intermediate phenotypes of a trait?
Disruptive selection
In a scenario where a population exhibits two distinct phenotypes at the extremes of a trait distribution, with few intermediate phenotypes, what type of selection is likely occurring?
Disruptive selection
Which process results in a change in allele frequency due to random events in the environment?
Genetic drift
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between natural selection and genetic drift?
Natural selection is a deterministic process that changes allele frequencies based on fitness, while genetic drift is a stochastic process that changes allele frequencies randomly.
What term describes a situation where one sex of a species has unique traits that help attract mates?
Sexual dimorphism
In what scenario do individuals act to promote the survival of genetically related family members?
Kin selection
What type of selection is driven by intentional breeding of organisms by humans?
Artificial selection
Which process involves individuals decreasing their own fitness to promote the survival of their relatives?
Kin selection
What concept refers to behaviors where an organism engages in actions that benefit others at its own expense?
Altruistic behavior
Which type of selection favors both extremes and acts against intermediate phenotypes of a trait?
Disruptive selection
What term describes a specialized form of natural selection driven by intentional breeding of organisms by humans?
'Artificial' Selection
In what scenario does mate choice influence trait evolution and drive the positive evolution of those traits?
'Sexual' Selection
Which type of behavior occurs when an organism engages in activities that harm it to benefit others?
Altruistic Behavior
Learn about the different types of natural selection, including positive and negative selection. Understand how selection pressures can impact allele frequencies and lead to evolution.
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