Final Exam Flashcards
T/F: Speciation always involves geographical separation of some of some kind between the two organisms.
False
T/F: phylogenetic trees based on molecular evidence (DNA) always depict the true evolutionary relationships between taxa.
False
T/F: Males are distinguished from females by the size of their gametes; males have small mobile gametes, whereas females have larger gametes.
True
T/F: Muller’s ratchet explains the increase rate of mutation that occurs in asexual compared to sexual organisms.
False
If you say that a chipmunk has greater evolutionary fitness than another chipmunk in the same population, you mean that the animal:
A) has a longer life
B) Is able to mate more frequently
C) is able to dominate other chipmunks to gain access to food
D) has more offspring that survive and reproduce themselves.
E) all of the options listed are correct
D. Has more offspring that survive and reproduce themselves.
Which of the following statements best summarizes evolution by natural selection as it is viewed today?
A) Evolution by natural selection represents the result of selection according to the acquired characteristics hypothesis (individuals can change their phenotypes and pass those down to the next generation)
B) Evolution by natural selection is the production of adaptations that need present and anticipated needs
C) Evolution by natural selection is the descent of humans from the present-day great apes.
D) Evolution by natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of the most fit phenotypes.
D. evolution by natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of the most fit phenotypes.
Natural selection that increases the the frequency of a favorable allele is called:
A) positive selection
B) balancing selection
C) Sexual selection
D) Negative selection
A. Positive Selection
Wikelski and Romero (2008) found that large marine iguanas had higher reproductive success than smaller iguanas did. However, the large iguanas were generally in poor body condition because they could not eat enough; at higher temperatures, their foraging efficiency improved, allowing them to eat more. This, Wikelski and Romero hypothesized that iguana size will ________ as global warming gradually increases air and water temperatures in the Galápagos Islands.
A) increase
B) decrease
C) stabilize around the mean body size
Remain unchanged (it is not clear that body size increases fitness)
If the Wikelski and Romero hypothesis is correct, what type of (or mode) of selection would occur?
A) increase
Directional selection would occur
A snowshoe hare produces a white coat during the winter, allowlist to better hide from predators. As a result, it has thrived and over time a majority of snowshoe hares in the population also produce white coats in the winter. Which of the statements is/are true? Select all that apply.
A) The white-coated hare has higher fitness than other hares that do not change coat colors
B) the white-coated hare has a competitive advantage in it’s environment.
C) The new population of hares has adapted via genetic drift.
D) The alleles for a white winter coat increased over time.
A, B & D
In regions where malaria is prevalent, individuals who are heterozygous for the sickle cell allele have a selective advantage since they are resistant to malaria but only have minor anemia. This is an example of what?
A) directional selection where the sickle cell allele will increase to fixation in the population
B) disruptive selection where individuals with only one copy of the allele will have higher fitness compared to individuals with a copy of both alleles.
C) balancing selection where both alleles will be maintained in the population
D) none of these answer options is correct
C) balancing selection where both alleles will be maintained in the population
Which of the following statements about mutations is false?
A) mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation.
B) mutations alone are not a strong evolutionary force to change the characteristics of a population
C) even though mutations could be beneficial, most mutations, most mutations are neutral or deleterious.
D) Perfect fidelity (limiting the number of mutations) is always most advantageous for all organisms.
D) Perfect fidelity (limiting the number of mutations) is always most advantageous for all organisms.
Which of the following answer choices are reasons why a population on an island might have less genetic diversity throughout the genome than a population on a nearby mainland? Select all that apply.
A) island populations most likely have frequent gene flow with the mainland population, which restores lost alleles.
B) The original colonizers of the island do not contain all of the genetic diversity of the larger mainland population.
C) Alleles may have been lost through random chance in the smaller island population
D) habitats on the island are the same as the mainland, so natural selection would favor the same alleles.
B & C
Select all of the statements below that are true about evolutionary processes:
A) Even though genetic drift is random, it typically lowers the fitness of small populations.
B) mutations typically increase the fitness of a population.
C) Gene flow can increase or decrease the fitness and genetic variation of a population.
D) Natural selection always increases fitness of a population by maintaining genetic variation.
A and C
A researcher is studying two populations of the same species by comparing the genetic sequence of a gene. In one of those two populations, a neutral (silent) mutation has occurred and that allele has gone to fixation. Given this information, what evolutionary force can you predict is in operation on the mutated allele that went to fixation?
A) genetic drift
B) natural selection
C) negative selection
D) gene flow
A) genetic drift
Which of the following factors are most likely to pay off (counteract) the 2-fold cost of sex?
A) climate change
B) drought
C) Floods
D) parasites
D) parasites
Genetic recombination is essential for all of life; however, prokaryotic cells are asexual. How can prokaryotic cells achieve genetic recombination?
Horizontal Gene Transfer
Genetic mutations in asexually reproducing organisms lead to more evolutionary change than to genetic mutations in sexually reproducing ones because __________.
A) asexually reproducing organisms, but not sexually reproducing organisms, pass all mutations on to their offspring.
B) asexually reproducing organisms devote more time and energy to the process of reproduction than do sexually reproducing organisms.
C) sexually reproducing organisms can produce more offspring in a given time than can asexually reproducing organisms.
D) more genetic variation is present in organisms that reproduce asexually than is present in those that reproduce sexually.
A) asexually reproducing organisms, but not sexually reproducing organisms, pass all mutations on to their offspring
List some of the ways sexual reproducing organisms can reduce the 2-fold cost of sex.
-High levels of parental care
- sexual and asexual life cycles
- sex switching
Sympatric/allopathic: Two mice populations in the same mountain range never breed because one population is nocturnal (active at night) and one is diurnal (active during the day).
Sympatric speciation
Sympatric/allopathic: some insects get blown in a storm to a new mountain range, where they lay eggs.
Allopatric speciation
Sympatric/allopathic: a mountain range raises and divides a population of lizards.
Allopatric speciation
Sympatric/allopathic: radiation near Chernobyl increases mutation rates, causing an increase in polyploidization
Sympatric speciation
True/false: all organisms use the same genetic code (with only a few minor exceptions)
True
True/false: RNA molecules can store genetic information and can also act as enzymes.
True
True/false: stromatolites are only fossils and are not found anywhere on earth today.
False
True/false: since enzymes are required for most biological processes, like copying the DNA, proteins were most likely the first macromolecule to evolve.
False
True/false: all three domains of life share many of the same biochemical features, this is strong evidence for a last universal common ancestor (LCA).
True
True/false: The RNA world concept states that during early stages in the evolution of life, various forms of RNA may have carried out most of the biochemical functions that DNA and protein complete today.
True.
What type of organism gains energy from chemical bonds and can make their own organic molecules?
A) photoheterotrophs
B) photoautotrophs
C) chemoautotrophs
D) chemohetertrophs
C) chemoautotrophs
What type of metabolism are unique (only found in bacteria and archaea? Select all that apply.
A) photoautotrophy
B) chemoautotrophy
C) Photoheterotrophy
D) Chemoheterotrophy
C) photoheterotrophy
Which of the following is NOT a hypothesis for the origin of life?
A) organic molecules arrived on earth via meteorites.
B) energy from lightning combined with gases in the ancient atmosphere to produce organic molecules
C) life spontaneously formed in a mixture of O2, warm water, and oxygen
D) Life began in thermal vents at the bottom of the ocean.
C) life spontaneously formed in a mixture of O2, warm water, and oxygen
Which of the following are TRUE regarding bacteria and archaea? Select all that apply.
A) bacteria and archaea were present on earth billions of years ago but they are not widely abundant today
B) bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes that lack nuclei, organelles and meiosis
C) some prokaryotes can live at temperatures above 100C, while others can live at temperatures below freezing (0C)
D) archaea and bacteria are integral components of human bodies and the prokaryotic diversity on our skin and in our intestines and are distinctly different.
B, C, and D
Which event happened earlier: Cyanobacteria or the evolution of anoxygenic photosynthesis
The evolution of anoxygenic photosynthesis
Which event happened earlier: Cyanobacteria or first aerobic bacteria
Cyanobacteria
Which event happened earlier: Eukarya obtained mitochondria or first aerobic bacteria
First aerobic bacteria
Which event happened earlier: Eukarya obtained mitochondria or oxygen in the atmosphere.
Oxygen in the atmosphere
Which event happened earlier: Eukarya obtained mitochondria or Eukarya obtained chloroplasts
Eukarya obtained mitochondria
Which event happened earlier: first land plans or first green algae
First green algae.
Oxygenic photosynthesis in Cyanobacteria ______.
A) is derived from features found in all mitochondria.
B) was the first type of any photosynthesis to evolve
C) is characterized by two photosystems integrated together and reflecting evolutionary origins from purple and green sulfur bacteria.
D) is based on the principle that oxygen (O2) is critical to the formation of water During photosynthetic process.
C) is characterized by two photosystems integrated together and reflecting evolutionary origins from purple and green sulfur bacteria.
Which of the following statements about (O2) levels in the atmosphere are correct? Select all that apply.
A) in the last 2 billion years, both algae and Cyanobacteria have contributed to changes in atmospheric O2.
B) increased atmospheric O2 was a prerequisite to an increase in ozone. Evolution of animals and plants on to land was not possible until there was ozone in the upper atmosphere.
C) increased O2 levels during the Carboniferous period were the result of high algal photosynthetic activities.
D) mitochondrial respiration was not possible until atmospheric O2 levels reached 21%.
A and B
Which of the following statements about the global carbon carbon cycle are TRUE? Select all that apply.
A) only geological processes affect the flux of carbon from one stock to another
B) photosynthesis is able to offset the amount of carbon humans are adding to the carbon stock in the atmosphere
C) the microbial loop in the ocean is the short term balance of heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms releasing and removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
D) deforestation and other changes in land use result in a net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere.
C and D
________ is the process where gaseous Nitrogen, N2, is converted to ammonia. This process is carried out by the enzyme Nitrogenase in ______( choose eukaryotes or prokaryotes). The enzyme Nitrogenase is inhibited by _______(choose oxygen or carbon dioxide.
Nitrogen fixation;
Prokaryotes;
Oxygen
Name some ways that plants can obtain nitrogen in a form they are able to use.
1) Nitrate or ammonia directly from the soil.
2) symbiotic relationship with fungi like mycorrhizae and gain nitrogen from them
3) symbiotic relationship with bacteria like rhizobia and gain nitrogen from them
True/false: DNA is present within mitochondria as well as within chloroplasts
True
True/false: plant cells can fix nitrogen with a plant version of the Nitrogenase enzyme.
False
True/false: Nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere as N2 gas, but this form is not accessible to most organisms.
True
True/false: Cyanobacteria are capable of both nitrogen fixation and oxygenic photosynthesis.
True
True/false: Eukaryotes were the first organisms to use aerobic metabolism
False
Which branch(es) of life is capable of N2 fixation? (Bacteria, archaea, or Eukarya) select all that apply.
Bacteria and archaea
Eukarya cannot do this.
Which branch of life has a membrane bound nucleus? (Bacteria, archaea, or Eukarya) select all that apply.
Only Eukarya has a membrane bound nucleus.
Which branch(es) of life has/have linear DNA? (Bacteria, archaea, or Eukarya) select all that apply.
Only Eukarya has linear DNA.
Archaea and bacteria have circular DNA.
Chloroplasts were once free-living __________. Mitochondria were once free-living _________.
Cyanobacteria; proteobacteria
Which of the following statements about mitochondria are true? Select all correct answers.
A) all eukaryotes have descended from a common ancestor that had mitochondria.
B) plants have chloroplasts instead of mitochondria
C) mitochondria have their own DNA and can replicate independently from the rest of the cell.
D) mitochondria we’re lost during secondary and tertiary endosymbiosis events.
E) mitochondria use oxygen as an electron acceptor
A, C and E
Evidence in support of eukaryote evolution involving both an archaea, and a bacteria include:
A) similarities in morphology
B) the presence of archaea and bacteria genes in the genomes of eukaryotes
C) similarities in the membrane bound nucleus of archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes
D) The presence of mitochondria in archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes
B) the presence of archaea and bacteria genes in the genomes of eukaryotes
True/false: there is strong evidence that the enzyme rubisco evolved only within the last 20 million years
False
True/false: in the history of photoautotrophic organisms, C3 photosynthesis evolved before C4 photosynthesis.
True
True/false: ferns and lycopods are capable of C3 photosynthesis.
True
True/false: there is strong evidence that photosynthesis was not possible in land plants before the evolution of a vascular system to transport water.
False.
Which of the following traits do ALL land plants have? Select all that apply
A) alternation of generations
B) vascular tissue
C) pollen
D) Lignin
E) cuticle
F) chloroplast
G) seeds
A, E and F
When did plants first invade land?
A) the evolution of a cuticle was critical to reduce the rate of water loss from the leaf or photosynthetic surface to a dry atmosphere
B) the evolution of the chloroplast first occurred and was critical to offset mitochondrial activities.
C) The fossil evidence suggests that roots were essential to take up water from the soil
D) fossil evidence suggests that the evolution of the stomate occurred after the evolution of a vascular system
A) the evolution of a cuticle was critical to reduce the rate of water loss from the leaf or photosynthetic surface to a dry atmosphere
In the process of alternation of generations, the_______
A) sporophyte is haploid and produces gametes
B) sporophyte is diploid and produces spores
C) gametophyte is haploid and produces spores
D) gametophyte is diploid and produces gametes
E) spores unite to form a zygote
B) sporophyte is diploid and produces spores
What is the predominant form (gametophyte or sporophyte) and the ploidy (haploid or diploid of algae
Gametophyte
Haploid
What is the predominant form (gametophyte or sporophyte) and the ploidy (haploid or diploid of a bryophyte?
Gametophyte haploid
What is the predominant form (gametophyte or sporophyte) and the ploidy (haploid or diploid of a lycophyte?
Sporophyte
Diploid
What is the predominant form (gametophyte or sporophyte) and the ploidy (haploid or diploid of fern
Sporophyte
Diploid
What is the predominant form (gametophyte or sporophyte) and the ploidy (haploid or diploid of a gymnosperm?
Sporophyte
Diploid
What is the predominant form (gametophyte or sporophyte) and the ploidy (haploid or diploid of an angiosperm?
Sporophyte
Diploid
As atmospheric CO2 concentration decreases from 350 mya to 145 mya:
True/false: gymnosperms dominated the planet first, followed by the emergence and dominance of lycophytes.
False
As atmospheric CO2 concentration decreases from 350 mya to 145 mya:
True/false: algae proliferated on land replacing the bryophytes(non vascular plants)
False
As atmospheric CO2 concentration decreases from 350 mya to 145 mya:
True/false: leaves adjusted to different CO2 levels by varying the stomata densities on leaves
True
As atmospheric CO2 concentration decreases from 350 mya to 145 mya:
True/false: the great coal forming period on earth occurred in the first part of this time period
True
The expansion of angiosperms coincides with a decrease in CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. as CO2 concentrations decreased, stomates would need to be:
A) more open
B) more closed
C) the same
D) it is impossible to say
A) more open
Indicate if the following traits are present only in gymnosperms, only in angiosperms or are in both.
Phloem
Flowers
Seeds
Pollen
Vessel elements
Phloem = both
Flowers = angiosperm
Seeds = both
Pollen = both
Vessel elements = angiosperm
What are two potential explanations for the rapid diversification of angiosperms in the past ~100 million years?
- Co-evolution with animal pollinators
- Changes in CO2 levels lead to the evolution of C4 photosynthesis
Other explanations include:
Faster transport of water through the xylem vessels (vessel elements)
Structural fibers to grow taller and faster.
Which of the following statements are true about biomes and global climate patterns? Select all that apply
A) the same biomes can be found at the same latitude all around the world doe to global climate patterns.
B) biomes are classified by their temperature and pH
C) it is dry at 30 degrees north due to dry descending air from the equator and wet at at 30 degrees south due to wet air rising.
D) if the earth did not have a 23.5 degree tilt, we would not have seasons
A and D
Explain how similar characteristics can evolve in plants independently in the same type of biome in different parts of the world. What do we call this process?
The same biomes around the world have similar climates or abiotic conditions (temperature and precipitation)
These similar environmental conditions lead to similar selective pressures which lead to the evolution of similar characteristics
This process is called convergent evolution.
Which of the following are characteristics of ALL fungi? Select all that apply.
A) prokaryotic cells
B) are composed of hyphae
C) acquiring nutrition through internal digestion
D) nutrient acquisition via external digestion
E) heterotrophic
F) form fruiting bodies (mushrooms) for dispersal
D and E
Which of the following statements correctly explains the relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plants? Select all that are correct.
A) Fungi functionally expand the area where the plant is able to obtain nutrients.
B) Some plants will not grow without a mycorrhizal association.
C) Mycorrhizae are the only example of symbioses between autotrophs and heterotrophs.
D) Plants typically grow better without a mycorrhizal fungi association.
A and B
True/false: Obligate symbiosis occurs when the fitness of one partner in the relationship requires the presence of the other partner.
True
True/false: Specialized symbionts can lose structure and entire functions as they become more dependent on their symbiotic relation.
True
True/false: Commensal relationships is when one species is negatively affected and there is no impact to the other species (-/0).
False
Which of the following statements are TRUE regarding symbioses? Select all correct answers.
A) A symbiotic relationship can be an indirect, short-term interaction.
B) Obligate symbiosis occurs when the fitness of one partner in the relationship requires the presence of the other partner.
C) Symbiosis is synonymous with mutualism.
D) Parasitic relationships can form a symbiotic relationship.
E) Specialized symbionts can lose structure and entire functions as they become more dependent on their symbiotic relation.
B, D and E
Which of these factors did NOT contribute to the Cambrian Explosion?
A) When glaciers melted, the increased erosion added minerals and nutrients to the oceans.
B) Gene duplication events related to regulatory genes (Hox genes) enabled rapid diversification of body forms.
C) Carbon dioxide levels increased in the atmosphere, causing an explosion (increase in abundance) of land plants for the animals to eat.
D) The evolution of active predation and their predator-prey coevolution led to rapid diversification.
C) Carbon dioxide levels increased in the atmosphere, causing an explosion (increase in abundance) of land plants for the animals to eat.
Label if the following characteristics are shared by all animals or only bilaterians.
Aerobic heterotrophy
Cephalization (head)
Mobile at some stage in life cycle
Hox genes
Aerobic heterotrophy = all animals
Cephalization (head) = only bilaterians
Mobile at some stage in life cycle = all animals
Hox genes = only bilaterians
Which of the following pre-adaptations facilitated arthropods moving to land? Select all that apply
A) Jointed appendages
B) Bilateral symmetry
C) Lignified tissue
D) Wings
E) Rigid exoskeleton
A and E
Which of the following innovations are responsible for the success of insects? Select all that apply
A) Wings
B) Polyphenism
C) Segmented body plan
D) Mouthpart diversity
E) Rigid exoskeleton
F) Coevolution/Specialization
A, B, D and F
Which of the following traits of tetrapod’s evolved before they moved onto land?
A) Lungs
B) Amniotic egg
C) Insulations such as feathers or fur
A) Lungs
Which of the following characteristics do NOT distinguish vertebrates from other chordates? Select all that apply.
A) pharynx
B) lateral line
C) vertebrae
D) cranium
B) lateral line ??
Indicate if the behavior below explains the proximate or ultimate cause for that behavior.
- Honeybees preform the waggle dance for other bees and use the relative location of the sun to to indicate the direction of food.
- Sea turtles swim to the open ocean to avoid predation.
- Male Anolis lizards preform courtship behaviors to females to gain mating opportunities.
1= proximate
2= ultimate
3= ultimate
Which of the following statements are FALSE about animal behavior. Select all that apply.
A) Deceitful signals are rare because they never lead to increased fitness of the sender.
B) Innate behaviors do not require any experience to show the behavior.
C) Only humans have learned behaviors.
D) Genes influence behavior.
E) Honesty can be ensured in signals if they are costly to produce and cannot be faked.
A and C
