Bio Flashcards
What is the definition of evolution?
Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
True or False: Natural selection is one of the mechanisms of evolution.
True
Fill in the blank: The process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to reproduce is called __________.
natural selection
What are the four main mechanisms of evolution?
Natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
What is genetic drift?
Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population.
Multiple Choice: Which type of selection favors individuals at one extreme of a trait distribution?
A) Stabilizing selection
B) Directional selection
C) Disruptive selection
B) Directional selection
What is stabilizing selection?
Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection that favors average individuals in a population.
True or False: Disruptive selection can lead to speciation.
True
What is gene flow?
Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can affect allele frequencies.
Fill in the blank: A __________ is a variant form of a gene.
allele
What does allele frequency refer to?
Allele frequency refers to how often an allele appears in a population compared to other alleles for the same gene.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following does NOT affect allele frequency?
A) Natural selection
B) Genetic drift
C) Environmental factors
D) Mutation
C) Environmental factors
What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.
True or False: Mutation introduces new alleles into a population.
True
Fill in the blank: The __________ effect is a form of genetic drift that occurs when a small group breaks away from a larger population.
founder
What is the bottleneck effect?
The bottleneck effect is a form of genetic drift that occurs when a population’s size is significantly reduced for at least one generation.
Multiple Choice: Which type of selection can lead to the maintenance of two or more phenotypes in a population?
A) Stabilizing selection
B) Directional selection
C) Disruptive selection
C) Disruptive selection
What role does sexual selection play in evolution?
Sexual selection is a form of natural selection where individuals with certain inherited traits are more likely than others to obtain mates.
True or False: Evolution always results in improvement or perfection.
False
What is the significance of mutation in evolution?
Mutation is significant because it is the original source of genetic variation, which is essential for evolution.
Fill in the blank: The __________ model of evolution suggests that evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability.
punctuated equilibrium
What is adaptive radiation?
Adaptive radiation is the process by which organisms diversify rapidly into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is an example of gene flow?
A) A population of birds migrating to a new area
B) A random mutation occurring in a gene
C) A change in allele frequency due to random chance
A) A population of birds migrating to a new area
What is the primary factor that drives natural selection?
The primary factor that drives natural selection is the variation in traits that affect an individual’s fitness.
