Question 1

Which of the following evolutionary mechanisms is most likely to increase the frequency of alleles that contribute to reproductive success in a particular environment?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 2

A population of rabbits has two alleles for fur color: $$A ($$black) and $$a ($$white). If the frequency of $$A is$$ $$p = 0.7$$ and $$a is$$ $$q = 0.3$$, what is the expected frequency of heterozygotes ($$Aa) $$under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

$$2pq = 0.42$$

Question 3

Which assumption is NOT required for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Small population size

Question 4

A disease outbreak drastically reduces the size of a cheetah population, leaving only a few survivors. What evolutionary process is most likely to occur as a result?

Accepted Answer

Genetic bottleneck

Question 5

In a population of birds, individuals with intermediate beak sizes are less likely to survive than those with either very large or very small beaks. What type of selection is occurring?

Accepted Answer

Disruptive selection

Question 6

Which of the following statements about genetic drift is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

It is random with respect to fitness

Question 7

A population of flowers has the following genotype frequencies: $$AA = 0.49$$, $$Aa = 0.42$$, $$aa = 0.09. $$What are the allele frequencies of $$A$$ and $$a$$?

Accepted Answer

$$A = 0.7$$, $$a = 0.3$$

Question 8

Which evolutionary process is most likely to restore genetic diversity by creating new alleles?

Accepted Answer

Mutation

Question 9

In a population of humans, researchers find that individuals who are heterozygous at the HLA-A gene have higher fitness than homozygotes. What type of selection is this?

Accepted Answer

Balancing selection

Question 10

Which of the following is a consequence of inbreeding in a population?

Accepted Answer

Inbreeding depression

Question 11

A population of fish is isolated in a lake. Over time, some individuals migrate to a nearby river and breed with the local population. What is the most likely effect of this gene flow?

Accepted Answer

It will equalize allele frequencies between the populations

Question 12

Which of the following scenarios violates the Hardy-Weinberg assumption of random mating?

Accepted Answer

A population where individuals mate only with those of similar genotype

Question 13

If $$p is $$the frequency of allele $$A$$ and $$q is $$the frequency of allele $$a in a $$population, which equation correctly represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

Which evolutionary process is most likely responsible for the random loss or fixation of alleles in a small population?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift

Question 15

A population of beetles is exposed to a new pesticide. Over several generations, only beetles with a specific allele survive and reproduce. What type of selection is this?

Accepted Answer

Directional selection

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of sexual selection?

Accepted Answer

Males with bright feathers are more likely to attract mates

Question 17

Which process is most likely to introduce new alleles into a population from another population?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow

Question 18

In a population of plants, self-fertilization occurs frequently. What is the expected effect on genotype frequencies?

Accepted Answer

Increase in homozygotes

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a driving force of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Random mating

Question 20

A population of lizards is split by a natural disaster, and only a few individuals survive. Over time, the allele frequencies in the new population differ greatly from the original. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Population bottleneck

Evolutionary Processes and Population Genetics

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