Question 1

Which of the following best defines microevolution?

Accepted Answer

A change in the gene pool of a population over time.

Question 2

Which process is responsible for the initial appearance of the dark coat color in rock pocket mice?

Accepted Answer

A random mutation in a gene.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding mutations?

Accepted Answer

Mutations are random changes to an organism’s DNA sequence.

Question 4

Why does the frequency of the dark coat allele increase in rock pocket mice living on dark volcanic rock?

Accepted Answer

Dark-colored mice are more likely to survive and reproduce in this environment.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of microevolution?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Question 6

A population of rock pocket mice is found on a patch of dark volcanic rock. Over several generations, the proportion of dark-colored mice increases. Which mechanism best explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 7

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates gene flow?

Accepted Answer

Mice from a light-colored population migrate to a dark-colored population and interbreed.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is FALSE? Justify your answer.

Accepted Answer

The appearance of dark-colored volcanic rock caused the mutation for black fur to appear in the rock pocket mouse population.

Question 9

Suppose you observe that the DNA sequence for a fur color gene is identical in two populations of dark-colored rock pocket mice living on different volcanic rocks. Which explanation is NOT possible?

Accepted Answer

The volcanic rock caused the same mutation in each population.

Question 10

Which of the following factors would NOT contribute to selective pressure favoring dark-colored fur in rock pocket mice?

Accepted Answer

Availability of food for the rock pocket mice

Question 11

In a population of 260 rock pocket mice, you find 130 are homozygous dominant (BB), 90 are heterozygous (Bb), and 40 are homozygous recessive (bb). What is the frequency of the B allele? Use the formula $$p = \frac{2N_{BB} + N_{Bb}}{2N_{total}}.$$

Accepted Answer

$$p = \frac{2(130) + 90}{2(260)} = \frac{350}{520} = 0.673$$

Question 12

If a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which equation can be used to calculate the expected genotype frequencies?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

A population of mice is found to have the following genotype frequencies: $$BB = 0.5$$, $$Bb = 0.3$$, $$bb = 0.2. $$What is the frequency of the b allele? Use the formula $$q = \frac{2N_{bb} + N_{Bb}}{2N_{total}}.$$

Accepted Answer

$$q = 0.35$$

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why natural selection is not a random process?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favors individuals with traits that increase survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Question 15

Based on the graph 'Mouse Population in Arizona (2000-2004)', what can you infer about the relative fitness of dark and light mice during this period?

Accepted Answer

Both dark and light mice had similar fitness, as their population sizes remained relatively stable and similar.

Question 16

Refer to the graph 'Mouse Population in New Mexico (2006-2010)'. What evolutionary process is most likely responsible for the increase in dark mice and decrease in white mice?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favoring dark mice on dark volcanic rock.

Question 17

After moving 50 light-colored mice from Arizona to New Mexico and 50 dark-colored mice from New Mexico to Arizona, you observe the populations for five years. Which evolutionary mechanism is being directly tested in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow

Question 18

If the observed genotype frequencies in a population do not match the expected frequencies under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Microevolution is occurring in the population.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of genetic drift?

Accepted Answer

A small group of mice becomes isolated and their allele frequencies change by chance.

Microevolution and Natural Selection in Rock Pocket Mice

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