Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main difference between Lamarck's and Darwin's theories of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Lamarck believed that acquired traits could be inherited, while Darwin believed that only inherited traits that increase fitness are passed on.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

Humans breeding dogs for specific traits such as size or temperament.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Small population size

Question 4

A population of 1,000 individuals has 245 with genotype SS, 393 with ss, and 362 with Ss. What is the frequency of the dominant allele (S)? Use the formula $$p = \frac{2N_{SS} + N_{Ss}}{2N_{total}}.$$

Accepted Answer

$$p = \frac{2(245) + 362}{2(1000)} = 0.43$$

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of disruptive selection?

Accepted Answer

A population of snails where both very light and very dark shells are favored over intermediate colors.

Question 6

Why is molecular data typically more accurate than morphological data in constructing phylogenetic trees?

Accepted Answer

Molecular data is less likely to be influenced by convergent evolution.

Question 7

Which of the following is a post-zygotic barrier to reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid breakdown, where the first generation of hybrids is fertile but their offspring are feeble or sterile.

Question 8

Which process increases genetic variation in a population?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow

Question 9

What is the main outcome of the bottleneck effect in a population?

Accepted Answer

A decrease in genetic variation due to a drastic reduction in population size.

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an example of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Resistant bacteria survive and reproduce, passing on resistance genes to the next generation.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

Wings of bats and wings of insects, which serve similar functions but have different structures.

Question 12

According to the RNA World Hypothesis, what was likely the first genetic material?

Accepted Answer

RNA

Question 13

Which of the following is a pre-zygotic barrier that prevents two species from mating?

Accepted Answer

Ecological isolation, where species live in different habitats within the same area.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT evidence for evolution?

Accepted Answer

Analogous structures that arise due to similar environmental pressures but not common ancestry.

Question 15

A population of mice lives on dark volcanic rock. After a mutation, some mice have dark fur, which helps them avoid predators. Over time, most mice in the population have dark fur. Which type of selection is this?

Accepted Answer

Directional selection

Question 16

Which of the following best describes allopatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

A population is divided by a geographic barrier, leading to reproductive isolation and the formation of new species.

Question 17

Which of the following is a vestigial structure in humans?

Accepted Answer

The appendix

Question 18

Which equation represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for genotype frequencies?

Accepted Answer

$$p^2 + 2pq$$ + $$q^2 = 1$

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

Darwin’s finches evolving different beak shapes to exploit different food sources on the Galapagos Islands.

Question 20

Which of the following would most likely cause a population to evolve?

Accepted Answer

Non-random mating

Evolution, Natural Selection, and Population Genetics: Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards