Evolution Unit Quiz

Question 1

Neutral mutation

Answer 1

Mutations with neither a positive or negative effect on an organism to survive or reproduce

Question 2

Harmful mutation:

Answer 2

A deleterious mutation that can cause disease

Question 3

Beneficial mutation

Answer 3

Mutations that can help an organism. Ex: the ability to b amune to a certain disease

Question 4

Artificial selection:

Answer 4

The intentional breeding to produce desirable traits

Question 5

Immutable:

Answer 5

Not capable of change

Question 6

Fossil:

Answer 6

Preserved evidence. Impressions and remains of organisms preserved in aged rock or mud

Question 7

Paleontology:

Answer 7

Scientific study of previous life

Question 8

Catastrophe

Answer 8

The theory that Geological changes in earths history were caused by catastrophes

Question 9

Natural selection:

Answer 9

the success of certain traits with alleles passed on to generations (due to survival success in a certain environment.)

Question 10

Sexual selection:

Answer 10

The ability to successfully reproduce by going to extreme lengths (peacocks maintain elaborate tails, elephant seals fight over territory, fruit flies dance

Question 11

Convergent evolution:

Answer 11

When 2 unrelated species develop same traits or features

Question 12

Divergent evolution:

Answer 12

process of tracing back 2 or more species to their common ancestor. what was once one species has diverged into two.

Question 13

Adaptive radiation:

Answer 13

organisms that diversify rapidly into a new forms, when change in environment occurs, new resources available, new challenges, or new environmental niches are introduced

Question 14

Co- evolution

Answer 14

When 2 or more species positively impact each other’s survival

Question 15

homologous feature:

Answer 15

when different animals have similar bones in form or function + seem to be related.

Question 16

Analogous structure:

Answer 16

structures in different species that have the same function but have evolved separately (do not share common ancestor) ex: wings of insects and birds used for flying.

Question 17

Vestigial feature:

Answer 17

structure that has lost all or most of its original function in the course of evolution (ex human appendixes)

Question 18

What are the paths of evolution:

Answer 18

1. Natural selection
2. Mutations
3. Genetic drift
4. Migration
5. Nonrandom mating

Question 19

2 types of natural selection:

Answer 19

Crossing over, independent assortment

Question 20

Reproductive isolation:

Answer 20

when different species live in the same area, but can’t interbreed due to isolating mechanisms.

Question 21

Prezygotic :

Answer 21

Prevents mating and fertilization

Question 22

Postzygotic:

Answer 22

Prevents formation of fertile offspring

Question 23

Prezygotic isolating mechanisms:

Answer 23

1. Ecological: species occupy different habitats
2. Temporal: species breed at different times
3. Behavioral isolation: species engage in distinct courtship/mating rituals
4. Mechanical isolation: interbreeding prevented by structural/molecular blockage of zygote formation.

Question 24

Postzygotic isolating mechanisms:

Answer 24

1. Hybrid inviability: abnormal zygote formation
2. Hybrid sterility: (chromosomes from parents don’t crossover correctly)
3. Hybrid is healthy but with later generations infertility and less fitness may show

Question 25

Sympatric speciation:

Answer 25

when 2 populations overlap in their ranges and much gene flow occurs

Question 26

How does sympatric speciation occur:

Answer 26

• occurs without geographical isolation
• reproductive Barriers arise within range of 1 species/population
• less common than allopatric

Question 27

What does sympatric speciation rely on:

Answer 27

Development of reproductive isolation mechanisms (to allow divergence of 2 sub-populations)

Question 28

“Polyploidy”:

Answer 28

A condition where there are extra sets of chromosomes. (Ex in symprstric speciation: chroms doubles to 4N due to mistake cell division. 4N + 4N = 4N plant, 4N + 2N = 3N (this plant is sterile which means it is reproductively isolated from 2N original pop)

Question 29

Allopatric speciation:

Answer 29

When population becomes geographically isolated into two populations. species commonly split (by lake, mountain, Forrest, island)

Question 30

How does geographic isolation (allopatric speciation) lead to reproductive isolation?

Answer 30

Bc species r free to follow different evolutionary paths

Question 31

Cladograms

Answer 31

The most approximate way of classifying animals according to their genetic relatedness + historical ties called “cladistics”.

Question 32

Disruptive selection:

Answer 32

Average decreases and more diverse selection becomes most prominent (average bill length decreases and longer or shorter length survives)

Question 33

3 types of natural selection:

Answer 33

Directional, disruptive, stabilizing

Question 34

Directional selection:

Answer 34

When the environment changes, phenotypes are selected at one end of the spectrum of existing variation. (Peppered moth)

Question 35

Stabilizing selection:

Answer 35

an average phenotype is favored

Question 36

Micro evolution:

Answer 36

Small changes in allele frequency that can be observed within a population.

Question 37

Macro evolution:

Answer 37

major evolutionary change. The term applies mainly to the evolution of whole taxonomic groups over long periods of time.

Question 38

Genetic bottleneck

Answer 38

Drastic reduction in population size

Question 39

Synapomorphy:

Answer 39

a characteristic or trait in an ancestral species shared (in more or less modified form) by its evolutionary descendants.

Question 40

SElection pressure:

Answer 40

organisms having a particular characteristic are either eliminated or favoured by environmental demands.

Question 41

Evidence of evolution:

Answer 41

• Fossil record
• Darwin’s finch study
• natural selection research