Question 1

Which of the following mechanisms is most responsible for the creation of gene families, such as the globin family in vertebrates, over evolutionary time?

Accepted Answer

Gene duplication

Question 2

A mutation occurs in a somatic cell of a human. What is the most likely outcome regarding the transmission of this mutation to the next generation?

Accepted Answer

The mutation will not be transmitted to the next generation.

Question 3

Which type of point mutation results in a premature stop codon, potentially truncating the protein product?

Accepted Answer

Nonsense mutation

Question 4

During sexual reproduction, which process contributes most to the genetic diversity of offspring?

Accepted Answer

Crossing over and independent assortment

Question 5

A bacterial cell acquires a new gene from another unrelated bacterial species through a process involving direct cell-to-cell contact. What is this process called?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal gene transfer (conjugation)

Question 6

Which equation best represents the number of possible combinations of chromosomes due to independent assortment in humans?

Accepted Answer

$$2^n$$

Question 7

A mutation in the regulatory region of a gene is most likely to affect which aspect of gene expression?

Accepted Answer

The timing and level of gene transcription

Question 8

Which of the following is a plausible outcome of exon shuffling in eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Creation of a protein with a novel combination of functional domains

Question 9

Mobile genetic elements, such as transposons, are classified based on their mechanism of movement. Which mechanism is most common in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

DNA-only transposons

Question 10

Which of the following statements about viruses is correct?

Accepted Answer

Most viruses that cause human disease have genomes made of either double-stranded DNA or single-stranded RNA.

Question 11

A gene undergoes duplication followed by divergence. Over time, what is the most likely evolutionary outcome?

Accepted Answer

One copy may acquire a new function while the other retains the original function.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a missense mutation?

Accepted Answer

A mutation that changes one amino acid to another

Question 13

Which process is illustrated by the unequal crossing-over between homologous chromosomes, resulting in one chromosome with a duplicated gene and another with a deleted gene?

Accepted Answer

Gene duplication

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for generating genetic variation in eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal gene transfer

Question 15

The globin gene family in vertebrates is an example of which evolutionary process?

Accepted Answer

Gene duplication and divergence

Question 16

Which of the following statements about mobile genetic elements in the human genome is correct?

Accepted Answer

Most mobile genetic elements move via an RNA intermediate.

Question 17

A silent mutation is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A mutation that does not alter the amino acid sequence

Question 18

Which of the following is a consequence of whole genome duplication in vertebrates?

Accepted Answer

Creation of multiple versions of nearly every gene

Question 19

Which process is rare among eukaryotes but common among bacteria, and involves the exchange of DNA between organisms?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal gene transfer

Question 20

Which of the following best explains why offspring produced by sexual reproduction are genetically distinct from their parents?

Accepted Answer

Crossing over, independent assortment, and fertilization

How Genes and Genomes Evolve: Mechanisms of Genetic Variation and Innovation

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards