Exam 1: The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

Given what you learned about how influenza changes over time, how could you explain the emergence of drug resistance in bacterial pathogens? For example, certain strains of tuberculosis are resistant to many of the major classes of antibiotics traditionally used to fight this pathogen.

Which of the following is not an example of an organism's phenotype?

What type of virus is the influenza virus?

Drawing on your knowledge of evolution, why is treatment and/or vaccination against viruses particularly difficult?

The fluke of a whale and the fluke of a shark

Evolution is often described as a completely random process. Is this true? Why or why not?

Which of the following is not a homology?

Which of the following may result in evolutionary change in a population?

What types of mutations are possible in viruses?

Darwin defined evolution as

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding the evolution of drug resistance in a virus?

Which of the following would explain why viruses such as influenza evolve so rapidly?

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain included genes from influenza that normally infects pigs, birds, and humans. How is this possible? Why are mixed strains particularly likely to cause high mortality?

One important feature that links extinct organisms such as Pakicetus and Indohyus to cetaceans is

Describe two examples from extant cetacean anatomy or development that reflect their ancestral past.

Describe evidence three pieces of evidence found in extant cetaceans that supports the idea that their ancestors had hindlimbs.

New mutations