Question 1

Which of the following best describes the four main processes that drive evolution?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation

Question 2

A population of 62 forest mice contains 14 gray (recessive homozygous) individuals. Assuming Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, what is the frequency of the dominant (A) and recessive (a) alleles?

Accepted Answer

0.525 and 0.475

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an assumption of the Hardy–Weinberg model?

Accepted Answer

Nonrandom mating

Question 4

Which statement about inbreeding is correct?

Accepted Answer

Inbreeding increases the frequency of homozygotes and reduces the frequency of heterozygotes.

Question 5

A population is in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Which of the following must be true?

Accepted Answer

Allele and genotype frequencies remain constant from generation to generation.

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why nonrandom mating is not considered an evolutionary process?

Accepted Answer

It changes genotype frequencies but not allele frequencies.

Question 7

Which mode of natural selection is most likely responsible for the increase in average beak depth in Galápagos ground finches during a drought?

Accepted Answer

Directional selection

Question 8

Which of the following is a direct consequence of the fundamental asymmetry of sex?

Accepted Answer

Females are typically more selective in choosing mates.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about genetic drift is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift increases fitness in small populations.

Question 10

A small group of individuals colonizes a new island, and their allele frequencies differ from the original population. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Founder effect

Question 11

Which of the following best describes gene flow?

Accepted Answer

The movement of alleles between populations, which can change allele frequencies in both populations

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of sexual dimorphism resulting from sexual selection?

Accepted Answer

Male peacocks having large, colorful tails while females are brown and smaller

Question 13

Which of the following statements about mutation is correct?

Accepted Answer

Mutation is random with respect to fitness and is the ultimate source of genetic variation.

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why mutation alone is usually a weak evolutionary force in large populations?

Accepted Answer

Mutation rates are low, so changes in allele frequencies are slow unless combined with other mechanisms.

Question 15

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates balancing selection?

Accepted Answer

A population maintains two different alleles at a locus because heterozygotes have higher fitness than either homozygote.

Question 16

Which of the following is a correct application of the Hardy–Weinberg equation $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$?

Accepted Answer

Calculating expected genotype frequencies in a population under no evolution

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a population bottleneck?

Accepted Answer

A natural disaster drastically reduces the size of a population, leaving only a few survivors.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the Bateman-Trivers hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Females are choosier in mate selection because they invest more in offspring, leading to sexual selection.

Question 19

Which of the following is a likely outcome when a mutation produces a beneficial allele?

Accepted Answer

The beneficial allele may increase in frequency due to natural selection.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the significance of measuring gene flow between populations?

Accepted Answer

It helps determine how populations are connected and how alleles are exchanged, affecting genetic diversity.

Study Guide: Evolutionary Processes and Population Genetics

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards