Question 1

Which of the following best describes the process of natural selection as depicted in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Heritable variation leads to differential survival and reproduction, causing the frequency of selected traits to increase in subsequent generations.

Question 2

In the context of phylogeny, what does a 'common ancestor' represent on a phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

An extinct organism from which two or more lineages have diverged.

Question 3

Which sequence correctly represents the flow of genetic information as described in the genetics of color vision?

Accepted Answer

Gene $\rightarrow$ Protein $\rightarrow$ Functional Unit $\rightarrow$ Cell $\rightarrow$ Organism

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a unifying concept of biology according to the study materials?

Accepted Answer

All organisms are composed of multiple tissues.

Question 5

A population of moths has a gene for wing color. If darker wings become more common over generations due to predation, which mechanism is responsible?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why populations evolve rather than individuals?

Accepted Answer

Evolution is the change in the frequency of heritable traits in a population over time.

Question 7

If a mutation occurs in the opsin gene, which of the following is the most direct consequence?

Accepted Answer

The protein produced may be altered, potentially affecting the function of photoreceptors.

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic shared by all three domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya)?

Accepted Answer

Composed of one or more cells

Question 9

A scientist is studying the ancestry of two species, B and C. According to the phylogenetic tree, what does the shared history of B and C indicate?

Accepted Answer

They share a common ancestor from which both species diverged.

Question 10

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

Farmers breed cows that produce more milk, increasing the frequency of high milk production in the population.

Question 11

According to cell theory, which statement is correct?

Accepted Answer

All cells come from pre-existing cells through growth and division.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the role of heritable variation in evolution?

Accepted Answer

Heritable variation provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon.

Question 13

If a population of bacteria is exposed to an antibiotic, and only those with a resistance gene survive and reproduce, what is the expected outcome over several generations?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of the resistance gene will increase.

Question 14

Which of the following equations best represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for a gene with two alleles, $p$ and $q$?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Which statement about the relationship between genes and proteins is correct?

Accepted Answer

Genes code for proteins, which perform specific functions in cells.

Question 16

A population of finches on an island shows variation in beak size. Over time, only finches with larger beaks survive due to a change in available food. What evolutionary process is occurring?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for evolution by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

All individuals must have identical traits

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why cell theory is fundamental to biology?

Accepted Answer

It explains that all organisms are composed of one or more cells, and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Question 19

Which of the following is a direct result of differential survival and reproduction in a population?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of advantageous traits increases over generations.

Foundations of Evolution, Phylogeny, and Cell Theory in General Biology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards