Evolution: Myths and Misconceptions

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

changes of organisms overtime

Question 2

TRUE OR FALSE
Humans evolved from monkeys/apes

Answer 2

false; humans, monkeys, and apes only have a common recent ancestor

if humans evolved from monkeys/apes there would be no more monkeys/apes

Question 3

TRUE OR FALSE
If two light-skinned people moved to Hawaii and got very tan their children would be more tan than they (the parents) were originally.

Answer 3

false; the light-skinned people becoming tan does not have an affect on the genes that they can pass down

Question 4

TRUE OR FALSE
Variation (differences) among individuals within a species is important for evolution.

Answer 4

true; without variation, all reproductions will be the same (unless there are genetic mutations)

Question 5

TRUE OR FALSE
Natural selection involves organisms trying to adapt.

Answer 5

false; organisms don’t voluntarily try to change their features to adapt - it happens naturally

Question 6

TRUE OR FALSE
A species evolves because individuals need to.

Answer 6

true

Question 7

TRUE OR FALSE
Two of the most important factors that determine the direction of evolution are survival and reproduction.

Answer 7

true

Question 8

TRUE OR FALSE
The environment determines which new traits will appear in a population.

Answer 8

false; genetic mutations determine new traits

Question 9

TRUE OR FALSE
All individuals in a population of ducks living on a pond have webbed feet. The pond completely dries up. Over time, the descendants of the ducks will evolve so that they do not have webbed feet.

Answer 9

false; this cannot happen unless ducks have a genetic mutation where ducks don’t have webbed feet

Question 10

TRUE OR FALSE
“Survival of the fittest” basically means that “only the strongest survive.”

Answer 10

false; strongest does not equal physically strong

Question 11

TRUE OR FALSE
Evolution does not always mean it is an improvement

Answer 11

true; organisms are simply changing not improving.

ex) the Afrikaner population of South Africa has an unusually high frequency of the gene responsible for Huntington’s disease because the gene version drifted to high frequency as the population grew from a small starting population.

Question 13

TRUE OR FALSE
If webbed feet are being selected for, all individuals in the next generation will have more webbing on their feet than individuals in their parents’ generation.

Answer 13

false; not ALL individuals

Question 14

TRUE OR FALSE
Evolution can happen very quickly, within a year

Answer 14

true; bacteria, viruses, infections, small-celled organisms