Exam 22: Descent With Modification: a Darwinian View of Life

Given a population that contains genetic variation, what is the correct sequence of the following events, under the influence of natural selection? 1) Well-adapted individuals leave more offspring than do poorly adapted individuals. 2) A change occurs in the environment. 3) Genetic frequencies within the population change. 4) Poorly adapted individuals have decreased survivorship.

It has been observed that organisms on islands are different from, but closely related to, similar forms found on the nearest continent. This is taken as evidence that

In the mid-1900s, the Soviet geneticist Lysenko believed that his winter wheat plants, exposed to ever-colder temperatures, would eventually give rise to ever more cold-tolerant winter wheat. Lysenko's attempts in this regard were most in agreement with the ideas of

The graph in Figure 22.3 depicts four possible patterns for the abundance of 3TC-resistant HIV within an infected human over time. -If 3TC resistance is costly for HIV, then which plot (I-IV)best represents the response of a strain of 3TC-resistant HIV over time, if 3TC administration begins at the time indicated by the arrow?

Logically, which of these should cast the most doubt on the relationships depicted by an evolutionary tree?

In Darwin's thinking, the more closely related two different organisms are, the

Which statement about natural selection is most correct?

Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which natural selection is based?

As a young biologist, Charles Darwin had expected the living plants of temperate South America would resemble those of temperate Europe, but he was surprised to find that they more closely resembled the plants of tropical South America. The biological explanation for this observation is most properly associated with the field of

The following questions refer to the evolutionary tree in Figure 22.2. The tree's horizontal axis is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labeled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species. -Which pair would probably have agreed with the process that is depicted by this tree?

The following questions refer to the evolutionary tree in Figure 22.2. The tree's horizontal axis is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labeled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species. -According to this tree, what percent of the species seem to be extant (i.e., not extinct)?

The following questions refer to the evolutionary tree in Figure 22.2. The tree's horizontal axis is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labeled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species. -Which statement best describes the evolution of pesticide resistance in a population of insects?

Natural selection is based on all of the following except

Monkeys of South and Central America have prehensile tails, meaning that their tails can be used to grasp objects. The tails of African and Asian monkeys are not prehensile. Which discipline is most likely to provide an evolutionary explanation for how this difference in tails came about?

Which of Darwin's ideas had the strongest connection to Darwin having read Malthus's essay on human population growth?

Which of the following represents an idea that Darwin learned from the writings of Thomas Malthus?

Which of the following observations helped Darwin shape his concept of descent with modification?

Which of the following statements most detracts from the claim that the human appendix is a completely vestigial organ?

Which of the events described below agrees with the idea of catastrophism?

Which group is composed entirely of individuals who maintained that species are fixed (i.e., unchanging)?