Question 1

Use one of Randy Nesse and George Williams' evolutionary explanations for vulnerability to disease to explain why you vomit when you get food poisoning.

Accepted Answer

Nesse and Williams argue that some defenses, such as vomiting, may be unpleasant to experience, but they are beneficial adaptations. Vomiting serves to remove possible toxins or pathogens from the stomach. So, even though it is no fun, it may serve a beneficial purpose.

Question 2

The mutation accumulation hypothesis for the evolution of senescence proposes that for late-life traits, selection cannot purge deleterious mutations. What assumptions does this hypothesis make?

Accepted Answer

A)  Population sizes are very large and mutations have small fitness effects. 
B)  Population sizes are finite and mutations have small fitness effects 
C)  Population sizes are finite and mutations have large fitness effects, 
D)  Population sizes are very large and mutations have small fitness effects.. 
A)  Population sizes are very large and mutations have small fitness effects. 
B)  Population sizes are finite and mutations have small fitness effects 
C)  Population sizes are finite and mutations have large fitness effects, 
D)  Population sizes are very large and mutations have small fitness effects.. B

Question 3

The fact that both endothermic and exothermic vertebrates induce fever, by different mechanisms, in response to infection supports which of the following hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vertebrates do not experience a coevolutionary arms race with pathogens. 
B)  All vertebrates are susceptible to infection by the same pathogens. 
C)  Fever evolved by genetic drift. 
D)  Fever is adaptive; it may somehow be advantageous in dealing with infection. 
A)  Vertebrates do not experience a coevolutionary arms race with pathogens. 
B)  All vertebrates are susceptible to infection by the same pathogens. 
C)  Fever evolved by genetic drift. 
D)  Fever is adaptive; it may somehow be advantageous in dealing with infection. D

Question 4

Imagine a population of snails that is polymorphic for sexual reproduction: some lineages are asexual, others reproduce sexually. A new pathogen invades this population and infects both sexual and asexual individuals. If this pathogen is transmitted primarily from parent to offspring, what do you expect to happen to the relative number of sexual and asexual individuals in the population? Why?

Accepted Answer

We would expect an increase in the frequ

Question 5

Viruses are difficult for the immune system to deal with for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT viruses

Accepted Answer

A)  must be located and cleared from infected host cells. 
B)  have few conserved external structures that the immune system can use to identify them. 
C)  evolve more slowly than their hosts. 
D)  are often wrapped in a membrane layer that is nearly identical to the host cell membrane. 
A)  must be located and cleared from infected host cells. 
B)  have few conserved external structures that the immune system can use to identify them. 
C)  evolve more slowly than their hosts. 
D)  are often wrapped in a membrane layer that is nearly identical to the host cell membrane.

Question 6

Given that the costs of mounting a fever are less than the benefits, the principle of asymmetric harm predicts that natural selection should result in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fevers only occur when an infection has progressed far enough that a fever will be necessary to help clear it. 
B)  A fever response is mounted more often than it is actually needed to help defend against an infection. 
C)  frequent cases where fevers would be beneficial but a fever response is not mounted 
D)  evolution of lower basal body temperatures 
A)  Fevers only occur when an infection has progressed far enough that a fever will be necessary to help clear it. 
B)  A fever response is mounted more often than it is actually needed to help defend against an infection. 
C)  frequent cases where fevers would be beneficial but a fever response is not mounted 
D)  evolution of lower basal body temperatures

Question 7

Consider an organism that experiences senescence. Draw a graph showing the expected mortality rate (per capita) versus age. Be sure to label your axes (no numerical values are needed) and explain your graph.

Accepted Answer

Graphs will vary but should resemble Fig

Question 8

This figure shows that the octopus brain wraps around its esophagus so that each bite of food must pass through the middle of its brain. This anatomy is most likely the result of

Accepted Answer

A)  phylogenetic constraint. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  clonal selection. 
D)  senescence. 
A)  phylogenetic constraint. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  clonal selection. 
D)  senescence.

Question 9

What two main factors are responsible for the asymmetry in the coevolutionary arms race between microbial pathogens and their multicellular hosts?

Accepted Answer

When compared to their multicellular hos

Question 10

Which hypothesis for the evolution of sexual reproduction posits that sex is an adaptation for escaping pathogens?

Accepted Answer

A)  good genes hypothesis 
B)  Red Queen hypothesis 
C)  mutation accumulation hypothesis 
D)  rate-of-living hypothesis 
A)  good genes hypothesis 
B)  Red Queen hypothesis 
C)  mutation accumulation hypothesis 
D)  rate-of-living hypothesis

Question 11

Many wild mushrooms make delicious food, but some are highly toxic and can result in a fatal meal. Apply the principle of asymmetric harm to mushroom identification, and recommend a strategy for mushroom identifiers.

Accepted Answer

A False positive identification of an ed

Question 12

Define pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and explain why they are crucial to a body's immune response against pathogens.

Accepted Answer

PAMPs are highly conserved features of p

Question 13

Describe the effects of a mutation that displays age-specific antagonistic pleiotropy.

Accepted Answer

Age-specific antagonistic pleiotropy occ

Question 14

Why is there no lifelong vaccine protection against influenza as there is for measles?

Accepted Answer

A)  Influenza vaccines do not generate an immune response. 
B)  Influenza can escape host immunity by evolving new variants that reinfect hosts. 
C)  Influenza is too virulent to effectively vaccinate against. 
D)  The antigenic memory against influenza has a short half-life. 
A)  Influenza vaccines do not generate an immune response. 
B)  Influenza can escape host immunity by evolving new variants that reinfect hosts. 
C)  Influenza is too virulent to effectively vaccinate against. 
D)  The antigenic memory against influenza has a short half-life.

Question 15

Explain how ectothermic animals can produce a fever response.

Accepted Answer

Ectotherms adjust their behavi

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a trade-off imposed on an organism that reflects an evolutionary compromise in function?

Accepted Answer

A)  Patients who became infected by a novel flu strain had had no previous exposure to that particular strain. 
B)  Sturdier bones would prevent fractures but would also reduce an organism's mobility. 
C)  The crossing of air and food pathways in humans increases the risk of choking. 
D)  Recent changes in human diet contribute to metabolic diseases. 
A)  Patients who became infected by a novel flu strain had had no previous exposure to that particular strain. 
B)  Sturdier bones would prevent fractures but would also reduce an organism's mobility. 
C)  The crossing of air and food pathways in humans increases the risk of choking. 
D)  Recent changes in human diet contribute to metabolic diseases.

Question 17

The human immune system detects the presence of pathogens using pattern recognition receptor molecules that bind to common components of pathogens, such as peptidoglycan polymers in cell walls and the flagellin protein of bacterial flagella, known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns, or PAMPs. These receptors are effective because

Accepted Answer

A)  they recognize evolutionarily conserved molecules that are structurally essential to the various bacteria that use them. 
B)  PAMPs evolve more quickly than other pathogen molecules. 
C)  they result in rapid evolution of the host immune system. 
D)  they detect only human immune molecules. 
A)  they recognize evolutionarily conserved molecules that are structurally essential to the various bacteria that use them. 
B)  PAMPs evolve more quickly than other pathogen molecules. 
C)  they result in rapid evolution of the host immune system. 
D)  they detect only human immune molecules.

Question 18

All of the following are steps in the process of clonal selection, EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  immune cells that react with self proteins are deleted. 
B)  pattern recognition receptor molecules bind to highly conserved components of a pathogen. 
C)  that when an immune cell binds to an antigen from a pathogen, it proliferates rapidly. 
D)  recombination generates a diverse immune repertoire. 
A)  immune cells that react with self proteins are deleted. 
B)  pattern recognition receptor molecules bind to highly conserved components of a pathogen. 
C)  that when an immune cell binds to an antigen from a pathogen, it proliferates rapidly. 
D)  recombination generates a diverse immune repertoire.

Question 19

Which of the following hypothetical viruses would likely show a "cactus-shaped" population phylogeny?

Accepted Answer

A)  a mutualistic virus that is vertically transmitted 
B)  a highly virulent virus, like Ebola, that kills its host before the buildup of any immunity 
C)  a highly virulent virus that results in lifelong immunity and therefore can only infect individuals that have never encountered any of the virus' strains 
D)  a virus that can reinfect previously infected hosts via escape mutants 
A)  a mutualistic virus that is vertically transmitted 
B)  a highly virulent virus, like Ebola, that kills its host before the buildup of any immunity 
C)  a highly virulent virus that results in lifelong immunity and therefore can only infect individuals that have never encountered any of the virus' strains 
D)  a virus that can reinfect previously infected hosts via escape mutants

Question 20

In the survivorship curve shown in the figure, imagine an early acting mutation that increases survivorship between days 0 and 30 and a late-acting mutation that increases survivorship between days 150 and 180. Natural selection will act

Accepted Answer

A)  more strongly on the early acting mutation. 
B)  more strongly on the late-acting mutation. 
C)  on both mutations the same. 
D)  on neither mutation. 
A)  more strongly on the early acting mutation. 
B)  more strongly on the late-acting mutation. 
C)  on both mutations the same. 
D)  on neither mutation.

Use one of Randy Nesse and George Williams' evolutionary explanations for vulnerability to disease to explain why you vomit when you get food poisoning.

The mutation accumulation hypothesis for the evolution of senescence proposes that for late-life traits, selection cannot purge deleterious mutations. What assumptions does this hypothesis make?

The fact that both endothermic and exothermic vertebrates induce fever, by different mechanisms, in response to infection supports which of the following hypotheses?

Viruses are difficult for the immune system to deal with for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT viruses

Given that the costs of mounting a fever are less than the benefits, the principle of asymmetric harm predicts that natural selection should result in which of the following?

Consider an organism that experiences senescence. Draw a graph showing the expected mortality rate (per capita) versus age. Be sure to label your axes (no numerical values are needed) and explain your graph.

This figure shows that the octopus brain wraps around its esophagus so that each bite of food must pass through the middle of its brain. This anatomy is most likely the result of

What two main factors are responsible for the asymmetry in the coevolutionary arms race between microbial pathogens and their multicellular hosts?

Which hypothesis for the evolution of sexual reproduction posits that sex is an adaptation for escaping pathogens?

Many wild mushrooms make delicious food, but some are highly toxic and can result in a fatal meal. Apply the principle of asymmetric harm to mushroom identification, and recommend a strategy for mushroom identifiers.

Define pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and explain why they are crucial to a body's immune response against pathogens.

Describe the effects of a mutation that displays age-specific antagonistic pleiotropy.

Why is there no lifelong vaccine protection against influenza as there is for measles?

Explain how ectothermic animals can produce a fever response.

Which of the following is an example of a trade-off imposed on an organism that reflects an evolutionary compromise in function?

All of the following are steps in the process of clonal selection, EXCEPT

Which of the following hypothetical viruses would likely show a "cactus-shaped" population phylogeny?

In the survivorship curve shown in the figure, imagine an early acting mutation that increases survivorship between days 0 and 30 and a late-acting mutation that increases survivorship between days 150 and 180. Natural selection will act

An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Early Evolutionary Ideas and Darwin S Insight

Natural Selection

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

The Evolution of Sociality

Coevolution

Human Evolution

Filters

Exam 20: Evolution and Medicine

Use one of Randy Nesse and George Williams' evolutionary explanations for vulnerability to disease to explain why you vomit when you get food poisoning.

The mutation accumulation hypothesis for the evolution of senescence proposes that for late-life traits, selection cannot purge deleterious mutations. What assumptions does this hypothesis make?

The fact that both endothermic and exothermic vertebrates induce fever, by different mechanisms, in response to infection supports which of the following hypotheses?

Viruses are difficult for the immune system to deal with for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT viruses

Given that the costs of mounting a fever are less than the benefits, the principle of asymmetric harm predicts that natural selection should result in which of the following?

Consider an organism that experiences senescence. Draw a graph showing the expected mortality rate (per capita) versus age. Be sure to label your axes (no numerical values are needed) and explain your graph.

This figure shows that the octopus brain wraps around its esophagus so that each bite of food must pass through the middle of its brain. This anatomy is most likely the result of

What two main factors are responsible for the asymmetry in the coevolutionary arms race between microbial pathogens and their multicellular hosts?

Which hypothesis for the evolution of sexual reproduction posits that sex is an adaptation for escaping pathogens?

Many wild mushrooms make delicious food, but some are highly toxic and can result in a fatal meal. Apply the principle of asymmetric harm to mushroom identification, and recommend a strategy for mushroom identifiers.

Define pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and explain why they are crucial to a body's immune response against pathogens.

Describe the effects of a mutation that displays age-specific antagonistic pleiotropy.

Why is there no lifelong vaccine protection against influenza as there is for measles?

Explain how ectothermic animals can produce a fever response.

Which of the following is an example of a trade-off imposed on an organism that reflects an evolutionary compromise in function?

All of the following are steps in the process of clonal selection, EXCEPT

Which of the following hypothetical viruses would likely show a "cactus-shaped" population phylogeny?

In the survivorship curve shown in the figure, imagine an early acting mutation that increases survivorship between days 0 and 30 and a late-acting mutation that increases survivorship between days 150 and 180. Natural selection will act

An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Early Evolutionary Ideas and Darwin S Insight

Natural Selection

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

The Evolution of Sociality

Coevolution

Human Evolution

Filters