Title: Theory of Evolution
Course: Question Banks

Q: Based on Charles Darwin's observations in the Galapagos Islands, why did tortoises in the Galapagos Islands have longer necks than tortoises in dry lowlands? Choose the best answer.
- Longer necks promoted more prolific mating and populations growth. (Incorrect. This is not what Darwin suggested about the tortoises.)
- The trait was randomly selected by chance. (Incorrect. Darwin’s observations do not relate to chance.)
- Those with long necks could reach more leaves and access more food than those with short necks. (Correct. The longer necks conveyed a selective advantage to the tortoises. The more food you can obtain, the healthier you are, the more likely you are to pass along your genes to the next generation.)
A: Those with long necks could reach more leaves and access more food than those with short necks.

Q: Darwin reasoned that the finches on the Galapagos Islands ________.
- developed independently on each island (Incorrect. Darwin did not suggest this.)
- changed each generation based on environment (Incorrect. Darwin did not suggest this.)
- were modified descendants of mainland finches (Correct. Darwin reasoned that the island finches had developed from the original mainland finches and demonstrated unique traits suited to their island environment.)
A: were modified descendants of mainland finches

Q: A key observations of ________ was that species of organisms on different islands were clearly similar, yet had distinct differences.
- Mendel (Incorrect. Mendel never studied island species.)
- Linnaeus (Incorrect. Linnaeus never studied island species.)
- Darwin (Correct. Darwin, the ‘father of evolution’, developed many of his ideas by observing species unique to the Galapagos Islands.)
A: Darwin

Q: According to ________, increased reproductive success is based on traits favored by a particular environment.
- evolution (Incorrect. Evolution is much more than just reproductive success in a particular environment.)
- sexual selection (Incorrect. Sexual selection involves mating choices based on variable characteristics in the opposite sex.)
- natural selection (Correct. The key idea here is favorable traits are situationally dependent (only matched to a particular environment).)
A: natural selection

Q: One of the foundational concepts of natural selection was an essay on ________.
- geological time scales (Incorrect. While Darwin had read works on geological time scales and knew the earth was very old, this was not as key to the development of his ideas on natural selection.)
- the Black Plague and rats (Incorrect. Darwin did not base his ideas on an essay about the Black Plague and rats.)
- human economic pressures (Correct. Thoma Malthus’ work led directly to one of the three principles of natural selection.)
A: human economic pressures

Q: One of the principles of ________ is that organisms will compete for resources.
- evolution (Incorrect. Evolution is much more than just competition for resources.)
- sexual selection (Incorrect. Sexual selection involves mating choices based on variable characteristics in the opposite sex.)
- natural selection (Correct. Competition for resources is a central principle of natural selection; this competition is a selective pressure.)
A: natural selection

Q: ________ is recognized as the father of evolution but ________ also helped develop the idea.
- Alfred Wallace; Thomas Malthus (Incorrect. Wallace is not the father of evolution.)
- Thomas Malthus; Peter Grant (Incorrect. Thomas Malthus was an economist, not the father of genetics.)
- Charles Darwin; Alfred Wallace (Correct. Darwin is the father of evolution; Wallace developed similar ideas and discussions between the two helped refine and hone the idea.)
A: Charles Darwin; Alfred Wallace

Q: A trait that increases the environmental fitness of an organism is called an ________.
- advantage (Incorrect. Scientists do not call such traits advantages.)
- asset (Incorrect. Scientists do not call such traits assets.)
- adaptation (Correct. Scientists use the term adaptation to describe a trait with a positive impact on environmental fitness.)
A: adaptation

Q: In order for organisms to change over generations, there must first be ________.
- environmental pressure (Incorrect. Environmental pressure can change what features of an organism give it an advantage but they are not the force behind the observed changes.)
- Competition (Incorrect. Competition is a type of selective pressure, but not the source of observed changes.)
- genetic variation (Correct. Genetic differences generate changes in organisms; these changes can be adaptive or not, depending on selective pressures.)
A: genetic variation

Q: When two species evolve in unique directions from a common point, the process of ________ is at work.
- convergent evolution (Incorrect. Convergent means “together,” which indicates two species evolve in a similar direction.)
- selective pressure (Incorrect. While selective pressures are part of evolution, they are not a process.)
- divergent evolution (Correct. Divergent evolution results in two species evolving in different directions from a common point.)
A: divergent evolution

Q: Fossil evidence allows scientists to determine ________.
- exactly when an organism lived (Incorrect. There is nothing ‘exact’ about fossil evidence.)
- when an organism died (Incorrect. Scientists can suggest when an organism likely died but there is no way to determine when that actually happened.)
- when organisms lived relative to each other (Correct. Organisms can be sequenced (before, concurrent, after) using fossil evidence.)
A: when organisms lived relative to each other

Q: Structures with no apparent function in a modern organism are ________.
- redundant (Incorrect. Redundant indicates a structure does have a function, which is shared by another structure.)
- leftover (Incorrect. Scientists do not call these structures leftover.)
- vestigial (Correct. Vestigial structures have no apparent, modern function.)
A: vestigial

Q: Scientists studying shared anatomical features are looking at ________.
- redundant structures (Incorrect. Redundant structures do not play a key role in examining shared anatomical features.)
- vestigial structures (Incorrect. The shared anatomical features may not be vestigial ones.)
- homologous structures (Correct. Homologous indicates like or similar; for comparing anatomical features associated with evolutionary changes, scientists need to look at homologous structures, like all the arm bones.)
A: homologous structures

Q: Typically, islands are ________ for increased evolutionary pressures.
- a neutral setting (Incorrect. Islands are not neutral in terms of evolutionary pressures.)
- a poor setting (Incorrect. The isolation of islands do not make them a poor setting for evolutionary pressures.)
- an ideal setting (Correct. Islands tend to have unique life forms not found elsewhere due to their isolation and unique selective pressures.)
A: an ideal setting

Q: Scientists use shared biological components such as ribosomes to determine relationships among ________.
- different species within the domains Archaea and Eukarya (Incorrect. While this is correct, it is not the best use of ribosomes for studying relationships.)
- individuals of the same species (Incorrect. Ribosomes are definitely not used to study members of the same species.)
- the three domains of life (Correct. To examine all three domains, scientists must look at components present in all three.)
A: the three domains of life

Q: Scientists use shared biological components such as ________ to determine relationships among the three domains of life.
- cell walls (Incorrect. Not all organisms have cell walls so these are not useful for looking at all three domains at once.)
- flagella (Incorrect. Not all organisms have flagella so these are not useful for looking at all three domains at once.)
- ribosomes (Correct. To examine all three domains, scientists must look at components present in all three.)
A: ribosomes

Q: Species that are ________ will have a lot of genetic similarities.
- have similar needs (Incorrect. Just having similar needs will not correlate with genetic similarities. We all need ‘air’ after all.)
- located in the same habitat (Incorrect. Just living in the same habitat will not correlate with genetic similarities.)
- closely related (Correct. Genetic similarities will occur more often in closely related organisms and species.)
A: closely related

Q: A common misconception about evolution is that ________.
- genetic mutations are always passed on to the next generation (Incorrect. Genetic mutations are not always passed along to the next generation.)
- it does not have a goal (Incorrect. This is true, not a misconception.)
- environmental changes cause genetic mutations (Correct. Many people incorrectly believe that the environment can force genes to change in a directed fashion.)
A: environmental changes cause genetic mutations

Q: During ________, populations change over time.
- mutation (Incorrect. Mutations occur in individuals, not populations.)
- adaptation (Incorrect. Adaptations occur in individuals, not populations.)
- evolution (Correct. Populations change over evolutionary time.)
A: evolution

Q: Evolution is fundamentally a ________.
- change in the environment that cause genetic changes (Incorrect. This is a better definition of natural selection.)
- change in biological habitats (Incorrect. Changing biological habitats are selective pressures.)
- change in gene variation over time (Correct. Genes are the basis for the adaptations that natural selection works upon; over time these variations shift in relative abundance in a population. This is evolution.)
A: change in gene variation over time

Q: Identify the factors necessary for evolution by natural selection.
- chemicals in the environment (Incorrect. Chemicals in the environment are not necessary for evolution.)
- unlimited resources (Incorrect. Unlimited resources are not necessary for evolution and would actually remove significant selective pressures.)
- genetic based variation among individuals (Correct. There must be genetically driven differences between individuals in a population for evolution to occur.)
A: genetic based variation among individuals

Q: Changes in allele frequencies are at the core of how ________ occurs.
- natural selection (Incorrect. Natural selection is about the fit of an individual in an environment.)
- mutation (Incorrect. Mutations are changes in DNA sequences, which can cause changes in alleles.)
- evolution (Correct. It is changes in the abundance of alleles within a population that drives evolution.)
A: evolution

Q: Allele frequencies are the ________.
- number of alleles for each gene (Incorrect. This is not the definition of allele frequencies.)
- combination of certain alleles in an individual (Incorrect. This is simply an individual’s genotype.)
- ratios of alleles within a population (Correct. Allele frequencies are the relative frequencies (ratios) of alleles within a population.)
A: ratios of alleles within a population

Q: ________ are the ratios of alleles within a population.
- Proportional allele counts (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe ratios of alleles in a population.)
- Population alleles (Incorrect. These are just the alleles present in a population.)
- Allele frequencies (Correct. Allele frequencies are the relative frequencies (ratios) of alleles within a population.)
A: Allele frequencies

Q: A mouse population that originally ranges from white to black becoming mostly grey over several generations is an example of what type of selection?
- Directional (Incorrect. Directional selection moves the population to one phenotype from another.)
- Diversifying (Incorrect. Diversifying selection moves the population to two (usually opposite) phenotypes.)
- Stabilizing (Correct. Stabilizing selection moves the population to an intermediate phenotype.)
A: Stabilizing

Q: Which of the following is an example of directional selection?
- a flower population that originally ranges from white to red becoming mostly pink over several generations (Incorrect. This would be stabilizing selection.)
- a moth population that is originally grey gradually dividing into discrete white and black populations over several generations (Incorrect. This would be directional selection.)
- a mouse population that is originally white in color becoming darker in color after several generations (Correct. Directional selection moves the population to one phenotype from another.)
A: a mouse population that is originally white in color becoming darker in color after several generations

Q: The ability of an individual to contribute to the gene pool of the next generation is an organism’s ________ fitness.
- relative (Incorrect. Relative fitness is contribution to the next generation compared to others (not just the ability to contribute).)
- absolute (Incorrect. Absolute fitness is the final overall genotype of the next generation.)
- evolutionary (Correct. The ability to contribute to the next generation is the evolutionary fitness.)
A: evolutionary

Q: Relative fitness measures ________ in relation to others of the same population.
- the actual performance and traits of offspring (Incorrect. This is absolute fitness.)
- the potential contribution of offspring to the next generation (Incorrect. This is evolutionary fitness.)
- the actual contribution of offspring to the next generation (Correct. Relative fitness is contribution to the next generation compared to others (not just the ability to contribute).)
A: the actual contribution of offspring to the next generation

Q: Natural selection is limited because it works at the ________ level.
- allele (Incorrect. Individual alleles are not impacted by natural selection.)
- population (Incorrect. Natural selection does not work at the level of populations, although evolution does.)
- individual (Correct. Natural selection actually works on individuals: who survives to reproduce the most.)
A: individual

Q: ________ is the sum of various forces which may not all be adaptive.
- Mutation (Incorrect. Mutation is simply a change in a DNA sequence.)
- Natural selection (Incorrect. Natural selection is based off adaptations to environments.)
- Evolution (Correct. Not all forces at work in evolution are adaptive; some can lead to extinction.)
A: Evolution

Q: Heritability refers to ________.
- a trait being genetically controlled (Incorrect. Nearly all traits are at least influenced by genetic factors.)
- the effect of chance on a phenotype (Incorrect. This relates more to genetic drift.)
- the phenotypic variation due to genetic differences (Correct. The fraction of phenotypic variation due to genetic differences is known as heritability.)
A: the phenotypic variation due to genetic differences

Q: ________ populations are more susceptible to genetic drift.
- Interbreeding (Incorrect. Interbreeding has little to do with genetic drift.)
- Large (Incorrect. Large populations are less impacted by random changes in allele frequencies.)
- Small (Correct. Chance changes have a larger impact on smaller populations or samples.)
A: Small

Q: ________ describes changes in the genetic composition of a population due to movement of individuals into or out of a group.
- Geographical selection (Incorrect. Geographical variation describes phenotypic variations between populations in different locations; there is no such term as geographical selection.)
- Genetic drift (Incorrect. This describes the impact of chance on the allele and genotype frequencies of a population.)
- Gene flow (Correct. Gene flow describes the impact of individuals leaving or entering a population, thereby changing the genetic variation.)
A: Gene flow

Q: ________ summarizes the evolution of various life forms on earth
- A taxonomy (Incorrect. This is a hierarchical arrangement of things, including organisms.)
- A scientific name (Incorrect. The scientific name is just the universally accepted name for a specific organism.)
- A phylogenetic tree (Correct. A phylogenetic tree is a visual summary of evolutionary relationships.)
A: A phylogenetic tree

Q: Phylogenetic trees ________.
- identify specific changes leading to new species (Incorrect. Phylogenetic trees can contribute to our understanding of species differences but that is all.)
- confirm working hypotheses about species relationships (Incorrect. Phylogenetic trees are themselves hypotheses, not confirmation of one.)
- show the evolutionary connections among organisms (Correct. A phylogenetic tree is a visual summary of evolutionary relationships.)
A: show the evolutionary connections among organisms

Q: Phylogenetic trees are usually based on ________ evidence.
- geological and biological (Incorrect. Geological evidence does not play a role in evolutionary relationships.)
- genetic and chemical (Incorrect. Chemical evidence is not used to construct phylogenetic trees.)
- genetic and morphological (Correct. Most phylogenetic trees are based on either genetic or morphological evidence.)
A: genetic and morphological

Q: A(n) ________ phylogenetic tree has a single lineage at the base.
- unrooted (Incorrect. An unrooted tree simply shows relationships between species.)
- branched (Incorrect. Phylogenetic trees are always branched because distinct species are represented by individual branches.)
- rooted (Correct. A rooted tree has a single lineage at the base (or root).)
A: rooted

Q: An unrooted phylogenetic tree ________.
- has a single lineage at the base (Incorrect. This would be a rooted tree.)
- does not show relationships between species (Incorrect. All phylogenetic trees show relationships between species.)
- shows relationships but not lineage between species. (Correct. An unrooted tree simply shows relationships between species.)
A: shows relationships but not lineage between species.

Q: A ________ in a phylogenetic tree represents when a single lineage split into a distinct new one.
- basal taxon (Incorrect. The basal taxon evolved early in a lineage and remains unbranched.)
- root (Incorrect. A root is the single starting lineage in a rooted tree.)
- branch point (Correct. Each branch represents a unique species so when two species separate we see a branch point.)
A: branch point

Q: The branches in phylogenetic trees ________.
- account for time since species diverged (Incorrect. Evolutionary time is always approximate and is not accounted for exactly in phylogenetic trees.)
- are aligned by physical appearance (Incorrect. Branches may include physical differences, or they may be based on genetic differences that cause no phenotypic effect.)
- indicate evolutionary order (Correct. The branching order of a tree indicates when species appear in the evolutionary lineage.)
A: indicate evolutionary order

Q: If two species share a trait—such as birds’ and bats’ wings—they ________.
- are always evolutionarily connected. (Incorrect. Other than the fact that all life is related, shared traits do not necessarily indicate evolutionary connections.)
- may have evolved from different evolutionary conditions. (Incorrect. Organisms would not share traits if they had not been exposed to the same types of evolutionary pressures.)
- may have arisen under similar conditions without being related. (Correct. Phenotype is driven by genotype but different environmental and evolutionary pressures can select for similar traits.)
A: may have arisen under similar conditions without being related.

Q: Once a branch point occurs, ________ of the branches evolve.
- only one (Incorrect. Evolution does not necessarily stop once a branch point has occurred.)
- both (Incorrect. This does not necessarily occur.)
- one, both, or neither (Correct. Evolution is a fluid process. Some species may die out, some may continue to survive as a single lineage, and some may split again.)
A: one, both, or neither

Q: What is the most specific taxonomic category?
- genus (Incorrect. Genus is not the most specific taxonomy category.)
- domain (Incorrect. Domain is actually the least specific taxonomic category.)
- species (Correct. Species is the most specific designation in taxonomy.)
A: species

Q: The ________ system uses a hierarchical model for classification.
- Darwinian (Incorrect. There is no Darwinian classification.)
- Mendelian (Incorrect. There is no Mendelian classification.)
- Linnaean (Correct. The Linnaean system is hierarchical, with increasingly specific designations for an organism.)
A: Linnaean

Q: The Linnaean taxonomic system is ________.
- static (Incorrect. The current taxonomic designation are not set in stone.)
- being forsaken (Incorrect. The Linnaean system is still in use with biologists.)
- fluid (Correct. The current taxonomic designations can, and are, updated as new evidence comes to light.)
A: fluid