Question 1

If a scientist wanted to learn more about the genetic variation and possible similarities of two organisms, which of the following factors would be best to study?

Accepted Answer

A)  The geographical areas that the organisms live in 
B)  The phenotypes of the organisms 
C)  The karyotypes of the organisms 
D)  The way in which the organisms seek prey 
E)  The mating behaviors the organisms exhibit 
A)  The geographical areas that the organisms live in 
B)  The phenotypes of the organisms 
C)  The karyotypes of the organisms 
D)  The way in which the organisms seek prey 
E)  The mating behaviors the organisms exhibit

Question 2

Why might a population of squirrels evolve faster than a population of gazelles?

Accepted Answer

A)  The squirrels are more affected by environmental changes. 
B)  The squirrels have multiple generations per year. 
C)  They won't; the squirrels and the gazelles will evolve at the same rate. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  None of the above 
A)  The squirrels are more affected by environmental changes. 
B)  The squirrels have multiple generations per year. 
C)  They won't; the squirrels and the gazelles will evolve at the same rate. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  None of the above

Question 3

Suppose a doctor prescribes a 10-day course of antibiotics for a child with an ear infection. The child is better in three days so the parent stops giving the child the medicine. A month later the child complains of ear pain again. The doctor prescribes the same medication but it does not work. The doctor then prescribes a stronger medicine. What process does this best illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Phenotype variation of the bacteria causing the ear infection 
B)  Biological evolution of the antibiotic 
C)  Speciation of the population of bacteria causing the ear infection 
D)  Biological evolution of the bacteria causing the ear infection 
E)  Genetic drift of the antibiotic 
A)  Phenotype variation of the bacteria causing the ear infection 
B)  Biological evolution of the antibiotic 
C)  Speciation of the population of bacteria causing the ear infection 
D)  Biological evolution of the bacteria causing the ear infection 
E)  Genetic drift of the antibiotic

Question 4

Which of the following is the best example of a phenotype that may help an organism survive?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chromosomes that determine if an organisms is male or female 
B)  Hair color of a human 
C)  Identical alleles 
D)  Genetic makeup that determines diseases an individual may carry 
E)  Beak shape and size 
A)  The chromosomes that determine if an organisms is male or female 
B)  Hair color of a human 
C)  Identical alleles 
D)  Genetic makeup that determines diseases an individual may carry 
E)  Beak shape and size

Question 5

Give an example of how population parameters can change within a generation as the individuals can change within their lifetimes.

Accepted Answer

When antibiotics are used to kill bacter

Question 6

Defend the statement: "New species can arise when geographically isolated."

Accepted Answer

New species can arise when populations a

Question 7

Describe selective breeding and compare its beneficial and negative impact.

Accepted Answer

Selective breeding is used in agricultur

Question 8

_______ is/are required for any evolutionary response, while the _______ determine(s) the rate at which genetic variation is lost by chance.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mutations; phenotypes 
B)  Genetic variation; isolation of a population 
C)  Genetic drift; rate of mutation 
D)  Isolation of a population; size of a population 
E)  Genetic variation; size of a population 
A)  Mutations; phenotypes 
B)  Genetic variation; isolation of a population 
C)  Genetic drift; rate of mutation 
D)  Isolation of a population; size of a population 
E)  Genetic variation; size of a population

Question 9

Explain and give an example of random genetic drift.

Accepted Answer

Random genetic drift is driven by chance

Question 10

A scientist has studied the bone structure of a gopher snake. She drew this diagram (refer to the figure below) and has asked for you to determine the cause of the pelvis and femur bones.

Accepted Answer

A)  These are evolutionary changes that the snake is going through so it can walk on land in the next few generations. 
B)  These are phenotypes just like the eyes or tail of the snake. 
C)  The scientist must have made a mistake and drew an image of the wrong organism as snakes cannot have legs. 
D)  These are vestigial structures left over from a common ancestor who had legs. 
E)  These are traits due to selective breeding. 
A)  These are evolutionary changes that the snake is going through so it can walk on land in the next few generations. 
B)  These are phenotypes just like the eyes or tail of the snake. 
C)  The scientist must have made a mistake and drew an image of the wrong organism as snakes cannot have legs. 
D)  These are vestigial structures left over from a common ancestor who had legs. 
E)  These are traits due to selective breeding.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about evolution is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evolutionary changes take thousands of years and therefore will have no effect on humans for many years to come. 
B)  Humans are evolving at rapid rates and the genotypes are expressed in ways like height and hair color. 
C)  Human activities do not have negative effects on evolution, as evolution is a natural process that occurs with or without humans. 
D)  Evolutionary changes can take place within a few years or less and affect agriculture and human health. 
E)  Evolution has not been accepted by the scientific community due to lack of evidence. 
A)  Evolutionary changes take thousands of years and therefore will have no effect on humans for many years to come. 
B)  Humans are evolving at rapid rates and the genotypes are expressed in ways like height and hair color. 
C)  Human activities do not have negative effects on evolution, as evolution is a natural process that occurs with or without humans. 
D)  Evolutionary changes can take place within a few years or less and affect agriculture and human health. 
E)  Evolution has not been accepted by the scientific community due to lack of evidence.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  A population must contain variation in heritable characters. 
B)  In a population composed of identical individuals there is no potential for change. 
C)  Variation is the fuel for any change. 
D)  Evolution is driven by reproduction and variation, for evolution is genetic variation. 
E)  New forms of genes (new alleles) arise by phenotypic mutation. 
A)  A population must contain variation in heritable characters. 
B)  In a population composed of identical individuals there is no potential for change. 
C)  Variation is the fuel for any change. 
D)  Evolution is driven by reproduction and variation, for evolution is genetic variation. 
E)  New forms of genes (new alleles) arise by phenotypic mutation.

Question 13

Suppose a farmer plants some crops but a pest attacks the crops and the farmer suffers economically. The pest has been a problem in recent years and farmers in the area have been applying a pesticide to control this particular pest. The next planting season he uses a stronger pesticide. There is a river near the farms and the river has tested positive for the presence of this pesticide. It is also known to kill beneficial soil organisms. Farmers are required to monitor the water and provide financial help to clean the river. The stronger pesticide is very costly. Scientists have warned that overuse of the pesticide will lead to the need of an even stronger pesticide. Which of the following should be the main evolutionary concern in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  How large the crop yield will be 
B)  The environmental and financial costs associated with the use of the pesticide 
C)  If the crop pest will become resistant to the pesticide and continue to damage the crop 
D)  How many jobs will be created due to use of this pesticide 
E)  If the pesticide will kill the pest; economics outweigh concerns about the water or human health 
A)  How large the crop yield will be 
B)  The environmental and financial costs associated with the use of the pesticide 
C)  If the crop pest will become resistant to the pesticide and continue to damage the crop 
D)  How many jobs will be created due to use of this pesticide 
E)  If the pesticide will kill the pest; economics outweigh concerns about the water or human health

Question 14

Which of the following statements about genetics is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most plants are diploid but humans are not. 
B)  A chromosome is a sequence of DNA that occupies a certain location on a gene. 
C)  Homologous chromosomes do not share the same gene. 
D)  Diploid individuals can have identical alleles or two different alleles of a given gene. 
E)  Genes are passed on by parents to offspring via phenotypes. 
A)  Most plants are diploid but humans are not. 
B)  A chromosome is a sequence of DNA that occupies a certain location on a gene. 
C)  Homologous chromosomes do not share the same gene. 
D)  Diploid individuals can have identical alleles or two different alleles of a given gene. 
E)  Genes are passed on by parents to offspring via phenotypes.

Question 15

A biological _______ is a group of individuals of the same species occupying the same habitat that interact with one another and are a reproductive and historical unit.

Accepted Answer

A)  population 
B)  property 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  characteristic 
E)  descriptor 
A)  population 
B)  property 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  characteristic 
E)  descriptor

If a scientist wanted to learn more about the genetic variation and possible similarities of two organisms, which of the following factors would be best to study?

Why might a population of squirrels evolve faster than a population of gazelles?

Which of the following is the best example of a phenotype that may help an organism survive?

Give an example of how population parameters can change within a generation as the individuals can change within their lifetimes.

Defend the statement: "New species can arise when geographically isolated."

Describe selective breeding and compare its beneficial and negative impact.

_ is/are required for any evolutionary response, while the _ determine(s) the rate at which genetic variation is lost by chance.

Explain and give an example of random genetic drift.

A scientist has studied the bone structure of a gopher snake. She drew this diagram (refer to the figure below) and has asked for you to determine the cause of the pelvis and femur bones.

Which of the following statements about evolution is true?

Which of the following statements is false?

Which of the following statements about genetics is true?

A biological _______ is a group of individuals of the same species occupying the same habitat that interact with one another and are a reproductive and historical unit.

The Scientific Method

Risk and Uncertainty

Biodiversity

Human Population Dynamics

Endangered Species

Interactions Among Species

Natural Resource Use and Planning

Energy Resources

Water Resources

Waste Management

Atmosphere and Climate

Air Pollution

Policy, Ethics, and Decision-Making

Filters

Exam 4: Evolutionary Responses

If a scientist wanted to learn more about the genetic variation and possible similarities of two organisms, which of the following factors would be best to study?

Why might a population of squirrels evolve faster than a population of gazelles?

Which of the following is the best example of a phenotype that may help an organism survive?

Give an example of how population parameters can change within a generation as the individuals can change within their lifetimes.

Defend the statement: "New species can arise when geographically isolated."

Describe selective breeding and compare its beneficial and negative impact.

_______ is/are required for any evolutionary response, while the _______ determine(s) the rate at which genetic variation is lost by chance.

Explain and give an example of random genetic drift.

A scientist has studied the bone structure of a gopher snake. She drew this diagram (refer to the figure below) and has asked for you to determine the cause of the pelvis and femur bones.

Which of the following statements about evolution is true?

Which of the following statements is false?

Which of the following statements about genetics is true?

A biological _______ is a group of individuals of the same species occupying the same habitat that interact with one another and are a reproductive and historical unit.

The Scientific Method

Risk and Uncertainty

Biodiversity

Human Population Dynamics

Endangered Species

Interactions Among Species

Natural Resource Use and Planning

Energy Resources

Water Resources

Waste Management

Atmosphere and Climate

Air Pollution

Policy, Ethics, and Decision-Making

Filters

_ is/are required for any evolutionary response, while the _ determine(s) the rate at which genetic variation is lost by chance.