Question 1

How can we explain the exquisite complexity of some complex traits,such as the vertebrate eye?

Accepted Answer

A) Each intermediate step toward the evolution of complex traits was itself adaptive. 
B) Intermediate stages of complex traits were functional and selected for in the past but were selected for a function other than that observed today. 
C) A and B 
D) None of the above 
A) Each intermediate step toward the evolution of complex traits was itself adaptive. 
B) Intermediate stages of complex traits were functional and selected for in the past but were selected for a function other than that observed today. 
C) A and B 
D) None of the above C

Question 2

When evolutionary biologists study the process of natural selection,they focus on

Accepted Answer

A) what drives mutations. 
B) how a trait of interest changes over time. 
C) how a trait of interest remains constant over time. 
D) A and B 
E) B and C 
A) what drives mutations. 
B) how a trait of interest changes over time. 
C) how a trait of interest remains constant over time. 
D) A and B 
E) B and C E

Question 3

What is meant by the statement "Natural selection lacks foresight"?

Accepted Answer

The statement "Natural selection lacks foresight" refers to the inherent characteristic of the evolutionary process driven by natural selection, which is a key mechanism proposed by Charles Darwin in the theory of evolution. Natural selection operates through the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype, which is often influenced by their genetic makeup.

Here's what the statement means in more detail:

1. **Reactive, Not Proactive**: Natural selection does not plan for the future. It does not have goals or an endgame. It is a natural process that reacts to environmental pressures as they occur, rather than anticipating what will happen next.

2. **No Predictive Ability**: Unlike human designers who can envision potential future scenarios and plan accordingly, natural selection cannot predict changes in the environment or prepare organisms in advance for what is to come.

3. **Immediate Advantages**: Traits that are favored by natural selection are those that offer an immediate reproductive advantage or increase the chances of survival in the current environment. Whether these traits will be beneficial in the long term is not a consideration of the process.

4. **No Guarantee of Future Success**: Just because a trait is advantageous now does not mean it will be in the future. Environmental conditions can change, and what was once a beneficial trait can become a liability, leading to what is known as an evolutionary mismatch.

5. **Accumulation of Small Changes**: Evolution through natural selection is a gradual process that accumulates small, random variations that may confer some advantage. It does not "look ahead" to create complex adaptations in a single step.

6. **No Intention or Direction**: The process of natural selection is not guided by any intention or direction. It is a consequence of the interaction between organisms and their environment, where some organisms happen to have characteristics that give them a better chance of surviving and reproducing.

In summary, the statement "Natural selection lacks foresight" emphasizes that evolution is not a conscious entity with the ability to foresee or plan for the future. Instead, it is a blind process that operates in the present, selecting for traits that are currently beneficial for survival and reproduction, without any consideration for what may come.

Question 4

The 2000-2004 drought in California

Accepted Answer

A) shortened the growing season of the mustard plant. 
B) led to earlier flowering in the mustard plant. 
C) created selective forces that changed the characteristics of the mustard plant. 
D) A and C 
E) All of the above 
A) shortened the growing season of the mustard plant. 
B) led to earlier flowering in the mustard plant. 
C) created selective forces that changed the characteristics of the mustard plant. 
D) A and C 
E) All of the above

Question 5

Lenski and Travisano compared what happened to the size of cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli.According to the graphs above,which of the following statements is (are)true?

Accepted Answer

A) There is competition for limited resources in nature. 
B) Average cell volume decreased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
C) Average cell volume increased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
D) A and B 
E) A and C 
A) There is competition for limited resources in nature. 
B) Average cell volume decreased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
C) Average cell volume increased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
D) A and B 
E) A and C

Question 6

The guppy behavior studies presented in your text,including the experiments on transfering guppies between high predation and low predation sites,illustrate the

Accepted Answer

A) rapidity with which natural selection can operate. 
B) significant differences in behavior that have evolved between populations over 10,000 years. 
C) significant differences in behavior that have evolved within populations due to predation stress. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above 
A) rapidity with which natural selection can operate. 
B) significant differences in behavior that have evolved between populations over 10,000 years. 
C) significant differences in behavior that have evolved within populations due to predation stress. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above

Question 7

Natural selection is a process by which

Accepted Answer

A) the characteristics of individuals change over time. 
B) the characteristics of populations change over time. 
C) Both of the above 
D) None of the above 
A) the characteristics of individuals change over time. 
B) the characteristics of populations change over time. 
C) Both of the above 
D) None of the above

Question 8

The experiment shown above demonstrates

Accepted Answer

A) the inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
B) a selective disadvantage to mice with coats that match the color of their environment. 
C) a selective advantage to mice with coats that match the color of their environment. 
D) A and B 
E) A and C 
A) the inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
B) a selective disadvantage to mice with coats that match the color of their environment. 
C) a selective advantage to mice with coats that match the color of their environment. 
D) A and B 
E) A and C

Question 9

Lenski and Travisano compared what happened to the fitness of cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli.According to the graphs above,which of the following statements is (are)true?

Accepted Answer

A) After only 500 generations, natural selection had already increased fitness in the evolving strains. 
B) Average fitness decreased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
C) Average fitness increased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
D) A and B 
E) A and C 
A) After only 500 generations, natural selection had already increased fitness in the evolving strains. 
B) Average fitness decreased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
C) Average fitness increased substantially over the first 2000 to 3000 generations. 
D) A and B 
E) A and C

Question 10

The figure above illustrates the findings of an observation study examining the selection pressure of predation on group size and behavior in guppies.Interpret the graphs,and explain the results.

Accepted Answer

The answer of   The figure above illustrates the...

Question 11

Researchers studying variations in oldfield mouse coat color found that the light coat color of many beach populations was due to a

Accepted Answer

A) mutation in the Mc1R protein, which reduces the ability of a-MSH to bind. 
B) mutation in the regulatory region of the Agouti gene, which increases ASP expression. 
C) reduction in eumelanin production. 
D) All of the above 
A) mutation in the Mc1R protein, which reduces the ability of a-MSH to bind. 
B) mutation in the regulatory region of the Agouti gene, which increases ASP expression. 
C) reduction in eumelanin production. 
D) All of the above

Question 12

Why aren't organisms perfectly adapted to their environments?

Accepted Answer

A) There are physical constraints that cannot be overcome. 
B) An organism's surroundings do not present a stationary target to which natural selection can optimize its phenotype. 
C) The process of natural selection lacks foresight. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above; some organisms are perfectly adapted to their environments. 
A) There are physical constraints that cannot be overcome. 
B) An organism's surroundings do not present a stationary target to which natural selection can optimize its phenotype. 
C) The process of natural selection lacks foresight. 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above; some organisms are perfectly adapted to their environments.

Question 13

Natural selection sorts on

Accepted Answer

A) phenotypic, not genotypic, differences in a population. 
B) genotypic, not phenotypic, differences in a population. 
C) both genotypic and phenotypic differences in a population. 
D) None of the above 
A) phenotypic, not genotypic, differences in a population. 
B) genotypic, not phenotypic, differences in a population. 
C) both genotypic and phenotypic differences in a population. 
D) None of the above

Question 14

A species' life history strategy refers to

Accepted Answer

A) the traits of an individual organism over its lifetime. 
B) a schedule and manner of investment in survivorship over the lifetime of an individual. 
C) a schedule and manner of investment in reproduction over the lifetime of an individual. 
D) A and B 
E) B and C 
A) the traits of an individual organism over its lifetime. 
B) a schedule and manner of investment in survivorship over the lifetime of an individual. 
C) a schedule and manner of investment in reproduction over the lifetime of an individual. 
D) A and B 
E) B and C

Question 15

According to the figure above,which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Hybrids flowered later in the season than those from predrought populations. 
B) Hybrids flowered earlier in the season than those from postdrought populations. 
C) Hybrids flowered at intermediate times. 
D) None of the above 
A) Hybrids flowered later in the season than those from predrought populations. 
B) Hybrids flowered earlier in the season than those from postdrought populations. 
C) Hybrids flowered at intermediate times. 
D) None of the above

Question 16

In the situation above,what could you do in addition to hypothesizing that particular reproductive strategies would occur? If they did occur,how would you determine that those reproductive behaviors are the result of adaptation to specific predation pressures?

Accepted Answer

In addition to hypothesizing about speci

Question 17

Genes affect traits

Accepted Answer

A) in only one environment 
B) by producing a norm of reaction. 
C) by coding for them. 
D) All of the above 
A) in only one environment 
B) by producing a norm of reaction. 
C) by coding for them. 
D) All of the above

Question 18

Darwin proposed that the sutures in the skulls of young mammals were wonderfully adapted to aid in the passage through the birth canal,but he also argued that they could not have been originally adapted for that purpose.Studying the figure above,explain what evidence allowed Darwin to make that argument?

Accepted Answer

The answer of   Darwin proposed that the sutures...

Question 19

According to the figure above,which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The percentage of fish found in larger groups increases as predation pressure increases. 
B) The percentage of fish found in larger groups increases as predation pressure decreases. 
C) The percentage of fish found in larger groups is not affected by changes in predation pressure. 
D) None of the above 
A) The percentage of fish found in larger groups increases as predation pressure increases. 
B) The percentage of fish found in larger groups increases as predation pressure decreases. 
C) The percentage of fish found in larger groups is not affected by changes in predation pressure. 
D) None of the above

Question 20

The results of the Lenski and Travisano experiment on cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli illustrate the fact that

Accepted Answer

A) evolution by natural selection is sometimes significantly affected by chance events, such as random mutations, and the order in which they happen. 
B) evolution by natural selection is often a predictable, repeatable process. 
C) A and B 
D) None of the above 
A) evolution by natural selection is sometimes significantly affected by chance events, such as random mutations, and the order in which they happen. 
B) evolution by natural selection is often a predictable, repeatable process. 
C) A and B 
D) None of the above

How can we explain the exquisite complexity of some complex traits,such as the vertebrate eye?

When evolutionary biologists study the process of natural selection,they focus on

What is meant by the statement "Natural selection lacks foresight"?

The 2000-2004 drought in California

Lenski and Travisano compared what happened to the size of cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli.According to the graphs above,which of the following statements is (are)true?

The guppy behavior studies presented in your text,including the experiments on transfering guppies between high predation and low predation sites,illustrate the

Natural selection is a process by which

The experiment shown above demonstrates

Lenski and Travisano compared what happened to the fitness of cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli.According to the graphs above,which of the following statements is (are)true?

The figure above illustrates the findings of an observation study examining the selection pressure of predation on group size and behavior in guppies.Interpret the graphs,and explain the results.

Researchers studying variations in oldfield mouse coat color found that the light coat color of many beach populations was due to a

Why aren't organisms perfectly adapted to their environments?

Natural selection sorts on

A species' life history strategy refers to

According to the figure above,which of the following statements is true?

In the situation above,what could you do in addition to hypothesizing that particular reproductive strategies would occur? If they did occur,how would you determine that those reproductive behaviors are the result of adaptation to specific predation pressures?

Genes affect traits

According to the figure above,which of the following statements is true?

The results of the Lenski and Travisano experiment on cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli illustrate the fact that

An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Early Evolutionary Ideas and Darwins Insight

Phylogeny and Evolutionary History

Inferring Phylogeny

Transmission Genetics and the Sources of Genetic Variation

The Genetics of Populations

Evolution in Finite Populations

Evolution at Multiple Loci

Genome Evolution

The Origin and Evolution of Early Life

Major Transitions

Evolution and Development

Species and Speciation

Extinction and Evolutionary Trends

The Evolution of Sex

Sexual Selection

The Evolution of Sociality

Coevolution

Evolution and Medicine

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Exam 3: Natural Selection

How can we explain the exquisite complexity of some complex traits,such as the vertebrate eye?

When evolutionary biologists study the process of natural selection,they focus on

What is meant by the statement "Natural selection lacks foresight"?

The 2000-2004 drought in California

Lenski and Travisano compared what happened to the size of cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli.According to the graphs above,which of the following statements is (are)true?

The guppy behavior studies presented in your text,including the experiments on transfering guppies between high predation and low predation sites,illustrate the

Natural selection is a process by which

The experiment shown above demonstrates

Lenski and Travisano compared what happened to the fitness of cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli.According to the graphs above,which of the following statements is (are)true?

The figure above illustrates the findings of an observation study examining the selection pressure of predation on group size and behavior in guppies.Interpret the graphs,and explain the results.

Researchers studying variations in oldfield mouse coat color found that the light coat color of many beach populations was due to a

Why aren't organisms perfectly adapted to their environments?

Natural selection sorts on

A species' life history strategy refers to

According to the figure above,which of the following statements is true?

In the situation above,what could you do in addition to hypothesizing that particular reproductive strategies would occur? If they did occur,how would you determine that those reproductive behaviors are the result of adaptation to specific predation pressures?

Genes affect traits

According to the figure above,which of the following statements is true?

The results of the Lenski and Travisano experiment on cells in 12 replicate lines of E.coli illustrate the fact that

An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Early Evolutionary Ideas and Darwins Insight

Phylogeny and Evolutionary History

Inferring Phylogeny

Transmission Genetics and the Sources of Genetic Variation

The Genetics of Populations

Evolution in Finite Populations

Evolution at Multiple Loci

Genome Evolution

The Origin and Evolution of Early Life

Major Transitions

Evolution and Development

Species and Speciation

Extinction and Evolutionary Trends

The Evolution of Sex

Sexual Selection

The Evolution of Sociality

Coevolution

Evolution and Medicine

Filters