evolution_flashcards_with_choices
Which of the following best describes natural selection?
a) Random changes in allele frequencies over time.
b) Survival and reproduction of individuals due to advantageous traits.
c) A process where species are created through mutations alone.
d) The preservation of traits that are harmful for survival.
b) Survival and reproduction of individuals due to advantageous traits.
What is required for natural selection to result in evolution?
a) Genetic variation, non-random association between traits and reproductive success, heritability of traits.
b) Random genetic mutations without environmental pressures.
c) Adaptation followed by migration.
d) Genetic drift and mutation only.
a) Genetic variation, non-random association between traits and reproductive success, heritability of traits.
Which of the following provides direct evidence of evolution through gradual change?
a) Biogeography.
b) Homologous structures.
c) Transitional fossils.
d) Vestigial structures.
c) Transitional fossils.
How does an adaptation differ from acclimation?
a) Adaptation is temporary, while acclimation is permanent.
b) Adaptation is a heritable trait developed over generations, while acclimation is a short-term physiological adjustment by an individual.
c) Acclimation leads to evolution, whereas adaptation does not.
d) Acclimation changes the genetic makeup of an organism.
b) Adaptation is a heritable trait developed over generations, while acclimation is a short-term physiological adjustment by an individual.
In natural selection, what happens to individuals with higher fitness?
a) They are more likely to migrate.
b) They survive and reproduce more, passing on advantageous traits to the next generation.
c) They evolve faster than others.
d) Their traits become less common over time.
b) They survive and reproduce more, passing on advantageous traits to the next generation.
Which of the following statements about genetic drift is true?
a) It always increases genetic diversity within a population.
b) It has more impact in large populations than small ones.
c) It can result in the random loss or fixation of alleles in small populations.
d) It is driven by environmental pressures.
c) It can result in the random loss or fixation of alleles in small populations.
Why is the fossil record considered important evidence for evolution?
a) It shows that all species are perfectly adapted to their environment.
b) It documents the gradual change of species over time, including transitional forms between major groups.
c) It shows that organisms do not change over time.
d) It only shows extinct species and is not relevant to modern biology.
b) It documents the gradual change of species over time, including transitional forms between major groups.
Which type of selection favors individuals with traits at both extremes of a phenotypic range?
a) Stabilizing selection.
b) Directional selection.
c) Disruptive selection.
d) Sexual selection.
c) Disruptive selection.
How do homologous structures provide evidence for common ancestry?
a) They perform the same function across different species.
b) They show similar structure in different species due to shared ancestry, despite different functions.
c) They are identical in form and function across all species.
d) They arise independently in species through convergent evolution.
b) They show similar structure in different species due to shared ancestry, despite different functions.
Why is genetic variation important in a population?
a) It decreases the likelihood of survival under changing environmental conditions.
b) It provides a pool of traits that natural selection can act upon, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments.
c) It ensures that all individuals in a population will have the same traits.
d) It prevents evolution from occurring.
b) It provides a pool of traits that natural selection can act upon, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments.
What is the role of reproductive isolation in speciation?
a) It encourages gene flow between populations.
b) It prevents different populations from interbreeding, allowing them to evolve independently.
c) It only occurs in large populations.
d) It has no impact on the evolution of new species.
b) It prevents different populations from interbreeding, allowing them to evolve independently.
What is meant by the term ‘fitness’ in the context of evolution?
a) The physical strength of an organism.
b) An organism’s ability to adapt to any environment.
c) An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.
d) An organism’s ability to avoid predation.
c) An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.
How do mutations contribute to the process of evolution?
a) They always result in beneficial traits.
b) They introduce new genetic variations, some of which may be advantageous and increase in frequency due to natural selection.
c) They decrease genetic diversity within a population.
d) They occur only when the environment changes.
b) They introduce new genetic variations, some of which may be advantageous and increase in frequency due to natural selection.
Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?
a) The wings of a bat and the wings of a bird.
b) The hind leg bones found in whales.
c) The beaks of finches on different islands.
d) The forelimbs of a cat and a human.
b) The hind leg bones found in whales.
In an experiment testing the effect of a nutrient on plant growth, which of the following would serve as the control group?
a) Plants given an increased amount of nutrients.
b) Plants that are not given any nutrients at all.
c) Plants that receive the standard amount of nutrients.
d) Plants grown in a different environment.
c) Plants that receive the standard amount of nutrients.
Why is overproduction of offspring important for natural selection?
a) It ensures that all individuals in a population survive.
b) It leads to competition for resources, where only individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce.
c) It decreases genetic diversity in the population.
d) It prevents environmental pressures from influencing survival.
b) It leads to competition for resources, where only individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce.
What is the significance of directional selection in evolution?
a) It favors the average phenotype in a population.
b) It favors individuals at one extreme of the phenotypic range, leading to a shift in the population’s traits over time.
c) It maintains genetic variation in a population.
d) It decreases the likelihood of evolution.
b) It favors individuals at one extreme of the phenotypic range, leading to a shift in the population’s traits over time.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between adaptation and fitness?
a) Adaptations are traits that reduce fitness.
b) Adaptations are traits that increase an organism’s fitness in a specific environment.
c) Fitness determines the likelihood of an organism evolving adaptations.
d) Fitness and adaptation are unrelated in the evolutionary process.
b) Adaptations are traits that increase an organism’s fitness in a specific environment.
Why are island species often studied to understand evolution?
a) Islands have more extreme environmental conditions.
b) Island species often show clear examples of adaptation and speciation due to geographic isolation.
c) Island species are genetically identical to mainland species.
d) Island species do not experience natural selection.
b) Island species often show clear examples of adaptation and speciation due to geographic isolation.
What is the primary difference between artificial and natural selection?
a) Artificial selection results in greater genetic diversity.
b) Natural selection is random, while artificial selection is controlled by humans.
c) Artificial selection focuses on traits desirable to humans, while natural selection favors traits that improve survival and reproduction in the natural environment.
d) Natural selection only occurs in wild animals, while artificial selection occurs in plants.
c) Artificial selection focuses on traits desirable to humans, while natural selection favors traits that improve survival and reproduction in the natural environment.
