Deck 4: Evolutionary Responses

Question 1

The change in characteristics of a population of organisms from generation to generation is termed

A) resistance to pesticides.
B) biological evolution.
C) natural selection.
D) phenotype variation.
E) vestigial structures.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

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?

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

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A change in the _______ is an environmental change that can cause evolutionary changes in organisms.

A) amount of a natural resource
B) number of pests
C) distribution of predators
D) number of competitors of a natural resource
E) All of the above

Answer 3

E

Question 4

_______ has led to the variety of life on Earth that is called _______.

A) Evolution; biodiversity
B) Evolution; natural selection
C) Biodiversity; evolution
D) Natural selection; evolution
E) Biodiversity; natural selection

Question 5

Which of the following statements about evolution is true?

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 6

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?

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 7

Which of the following statements best explains the phrase: "Move, adapt, or die."?

A) These options are most important for species or populations that are thriving but might be in danger in the future.
B) These options best describe the genetic make-up of species and populations.
C) These are not the only options organisms have when there are changes in their environment.
D) These options are critically important when the species or populations involved are rare, unique, or vulnerable to extinction.
E) These options describe the factors involved in characterizing population parameters.

Question 8

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.

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

Question 9

A homeowner is having problems with cockroaches. They have a pest control service spray a pesticide to kill the cockroaches. Some cockroaches survive. Which statement best explains what occurred?

A) The population of cockroaches developed resistance to the pesticide.
B) The individuals that survived will die within a few days.
C) The population developed resistance due to developmental changes.
D) The individuals that survived will likely produce offspring with a resistance to the pesticide.
E) The cockroaches that died had a high doses response.

Question 10

Interpret the graph below.

A) The graph shows that at a 100% dose of the pesticide the entire population will survive.
B) The graph shows that at the dose of 40%, 40% of the population dies.
C) The graph shows that at the dose of 40%, 100% of the population dies.
D) The graph shows the LD₅₀ which represents the dose at which 40% of the population survives.
E) The graph shows the LD₅₀ which represents the dose at which the population can handle the dose without any negative effects.

Question 11

The process by which traits become more or less common in a population due to consistent effects upon the survival or reproduction is termed

A) natural selection.
B) evolution.
C) genetic drift.
D) speciation.
E) random mutation.

Question 12

Some agricultural students conducted a study on the response of a common garden pest to a pesticide. They examined the genetic makeup of the pest and reported the data in the table below. Choose the best conclusion based on the data. [Note: The "X" and "O" represent individuals of the population. The pesticide was applied to Generation 1 and 2.]

A) Between G1 and G2 the individuals all became resistant to the pesticide and in G3 they all continued to survive.
B) Individuals labeled X carry the heritable trait that provides resistance to the pesticide.
C) Individuals labeled O do not carry the heritable trait that provides resistance to the pesticide.
D) The pesticide does not affect the individuals which is why they continue through generations.
E) In G1 the Xs that do not contain the heritable trait of resistance died; in G2 those with the trait reproduced, so that by G3 only individuals with the trait survived.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is false?

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 14

Which of the following statements about mutations is true?

A) Mutations occur deliberately because of errors in the replication of DNA.
B) The total collection of the alleles will contain high frequencies of alleles that came about by mutation.
C) Mutations occur quickly from generation to generation and are immediately expressed in phenotypes.
D) Mutations occur randomly and some mutations are responsible for dramatic changes in phenotype.
E) Phenotype changes that occur via mutations are always small changes.

Question 15

You are preparing a presentation on the evolution of giraffes. Which of the following statements best points out how natural selection was involved in the formation of the long necks of giraffes?

A) Long-necked giraffes did not reproduce with shorter-necked giraffes.
B) Giraffes grew long necks from stretching to reach leaves on trees.
C) Giraffes with longer necks survived because they were better suited to the environment.
D) Long-necked giraffes were able to run faster to avoid predation.
E) Short-necked giraffes had the advantage but went extinct due to a major disaster.

Question 16

Which factor affecting the rate of evolution in a population is considered the ultimate source of variation?

A) Genetic variation
B) Mutations
C) The size of a population
D) How isolated a population is
E) Phenotype expression

Question 17

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

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 18

A tool of husbandry and agriculture that directs evolution in a specific way to benefit humans is called

A) speciation.
B) natural selection.
C) selective breeding.
D) genetic drift.
E) mutations.

Question 19

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

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 20

Which of the following would not cause two groups of the same species to diverge, resulting in speciation?

A) The development of different mating behavior
B) A physical incompatibility
C) Geographic isolation
D) A gradual preference for a different location
E) All of the above could be mechanisms for speciation.

Question 21

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.

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 22

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

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 23

A measure of how closely related individuals are similar to one another, even if they have developed in different environments, is called

A) the heritability of character.
B) the measurement of vestigial characteristic.
C) the karyotype.
D) speciation.
E) natural selection.

Question 24

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?

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 25

Which of the following statements about genetics is true?

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 26

Explain the statement: "Human activities impact the environment in ways that impact the physical conditions of organisms but also lead to evolutionary changes of biological populations."

Question 27

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

Question 28

A population of beetles has mostly green beetles and some black beetles. Birds seem to eat the green beetles more often than the black. What can you predict might happen to the population of beetles over time?

Question 29

Explain and give an example of random genetic drift.

Question 30

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

Question 31

Describe selective breeding and compare its beneficial and negative impact.

Question 32

What is generation time compared to clock or calendar time in terms of evolution?

Question 33

How can the fossil record be used as evidence of evolution?

Question 34

Compare and contrast genetic and phenotypic variation.

Question 35

The rate of evolution is affected by the following factors: genetic variation, rate of mutation, how isolated a population is, and the size of a population. It is said that the size of a population determines the rate at which genetic variation is lost by chance (genetic drift). Are larger or smaller populations more affected by genetic drift? Explain your answer.