Unit 6 and 7 Study Questions

What effect can bottleneck events have on populations that have nearly become extinct? a. Bottleneck events lead to increased gene flow and genetic diversity. b. Bottleneck events have no impact on populations that have nearly become extinct. c. Bottleneck events lead to the founder effect and eventually increase genetic diversity. d. Bottleneck events reduce the size of the population and greatly reduce genetic variation.

Bottleneck events lead to increased gene flow and genetic diversity

Sexual reproduction contributes to genetic diversity by allowing... a. A single parent to pass along a complete set of unmixed genes to offspring. b. Unmixed genes from two parents to be passed to offspring. c. Genes from two parents to be mixed and remixed before being passed to offspring. d. Genes from a single parent to be mixed and remixed before being passed to offspring.

Genes from two parents to be mixed and remixed before being passed to offspring.

All Hawaiian honeycreeper bird species have similar skeletal and muscle structures. However, each Hawaiian honeycreeper species has a bill specialized for eating certain foods. What would a scientist most likely conclude based on this observation? a. Artificial selection shaped the bill for eating certain foods. b. Increased genetic variation resulted in similar skeletal and muscle structure. c. Changes in each honeycreeper species occurred independently but resulted in similar traits. d. Honeycreepers arose from a single species that migrated to Hawaii and adapted to different niches over time

Honeycreepers arose from a single species that migrated to Hawaii and adapted to different niches over time

How does the random alignment of homologous chromosomes contribute to genetic variation in a population? a. It stimulates mutations within the chromosomes. b. It gives certain cells twice as much genetic information. c. It passes on cells with specific chromosome combinations. d. It causes gametes to have a unique set of genetic information

It causes gametes to have a unique set of genetic information

Which of the following is NOT part of Charles Darwin's observations that describe the mechanisms of natural selection? a. Organisms produce more offspring than can survive. b. Organisms with advantages will survive and reproduce. c. Disease and natural disaster will limit population growth. d. Species today descended with modifications from ancestral species.

Species today descended with modifications from ancestral species.

Since its inception, the theory of evolution has been the subject of frequent debate. Those who oppose evolutionary theory often point to gaps in the fossil record in an attempt to discredit the theory. Which statement would be the best counterargument as to why the fossil record can be relied upon to support evolution? a.The fossil record provides evidence that extinct species only fossilized during certain geologic eras. b. The fossil record provides evidence that extinct species are genetically identical to current species. c. The fossil record provides evidence of many different types of organisms since most species fossilize well. d. The fossil record provides evidence of many transitional organisms that show relationships between species

The fossil record provides evidence of many transitional organisms that show relationships between species.

In Central and Northern California, the Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora) breeds from January to March. The closely related Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) breeds from late March through May. Based on this information, which of the following is a scientist most likely to observe if these two species of frog are studied for multiple generations? a. The two species may experience convergent evolution due to differences in the timing of sexual activity. b. The two species may experience divergent evolution due to differences in the timing of sexual activity. c. The two species may experience coevolution due to differences in the timing of sexual activity. d. The two species may experience adaptive radiation due to differences in the timing of sexual activity.

The two species may experience divergent evolution due to differences in the timing of sexual activity

Whales, humans, lizards, and birds each have forelimbs that are adapted for different functions, including swimming, using tools, walking, and flying. While different in function, these forelimbs share a similar skeletal structure of the humerus, radius, and ulna. How does a comparison of the forelimbs of these organisms provide evidence for evolution? a. These homologous structures indicate that these four organisms all share a common ancestor. b. These analogous structures indicate that whales are descended from organisms that lived on land. c. These analogous structures indicate that these four organisms all experienced convergent evolution. d. These homologous structures indicate that humans, whales, and birds all evolved from a lineage of lizards.

These homologous structures indicate that these four organisms all share a common ancestor.

In the 1950s, Stanley Miller performed experiments to study the origins of life. He created an atmosphere rich in methane, hydrogen, ammonia, water, and simulated lightning. Which substances were most likely produced during Miller's experiments? a. Protists b. bacteria c. amino acids d. RNA strands

amino acids

The birds shown below are two types of the 13 species of finches Darwin found on the Galápagos Islands. The large ground finch obtains food by cracking seeds. It's short, strong beak is an example of which of the following? a. an adaptation b. the struggle for existence c. an inheritance of acquired traits d. the tendency towards perfection

an adaptation

According to natural selection, which of the following correctly describes an individual with higher fitness? a. an individual who is more likely to survive than others b. an individual who has higher reproductive success than others c. an individual who is stronger and healthier than less fit individuals d. an individual who is better adapted to his/her environment than others

an individual who has higher reproductive success than others

One theory of early life on Earth states that the first life forms did not use oxygen for respiration and were unable to make their own food. Based on this theory, which types of organisms were most likely present? a. aerobic, autotrophic bacteria b. aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria c. anaerobic, autotrophic bacteria d. anaerobic, heterotrophic bacteria

anaerobic, heterotrophic bacteria

_____When a farmer breeds only his or her best livestock, the process involved is... a. natural selection. b. artificial selection. c. artificial variation. d. survival of the fittest.

artificial selection

Eastern meadowlarks do not respond to western meadowlark mating songs. This is an example a. founder effect. b. behavioral isolation. c. genetic drift. d. temporal isolation.

behavioral isolation

Fossils of canines were found on opposite sides of a mountain range. The fossils are from species that are anatomically similar but the climates were extremely different on each side of the range. Which type of evidence for evolution do these fossils exemplify? a. Coevolution b. biogeography c. vestigial structures d. analogous structures

biogeography

The ability to develop and use tools was first seen in early hominids. Which of the following characteristics was the main factor that contributed to this ability? a. Small jaw b. bipedalism c. compact skull d. language skills

bipedalism

Earths early atmosphere was composed a. oxygen and water. b. carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen. c. oxygen and carbon monoxide. d. hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.

carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen

The process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other over time is called... a. convergent evolution. b. adaptive radiation. c. coevolution. d. punctuated equilibrium.

coevolution.

_The Australian flying phalanger is a marsupial flying squirrel. Its appearance, behavior, environment, and diet closely resemble those of the American flying squirrel, a placental mammal. This resemblance is most likely due to... a. adaptive radiation. b. convergent evolution. c. coevolution. d. gradualism.

convergent evolution

Which of these activities would be least likely to help scientists explain the origin of life on Earth? a. determining how pollution is affecting life in the ocean b. determining how the atmosphere became rich in oxygen c. determining how cells could develop from nonliving matter d. determining how organelles developed from symbiotic organisms

determining how pollution is affecting life in the ocean

The endosymbiotic theory proposes that mitochondria in eukaryotic cells arose from... a.endosymbiotic eukaryotes that metabolized oxygen. b. endosymbiotic eukaryotes that were photosynthetic. c. endosymbiotic prokaryotes that metabolized oxygen. d. endosymbiotic prokaryotes that were photosynthetic.

endosymbiotic prokaryotes that metabolized oxygen

_Which choice shows the correct order in which the evolution of traits occurred? a.eukaryotic cells, sexual reproduction, multicellularity b. sexual reproduction, eukaryotic cells, multicellularity c. multicellularity, sexual reproduction, eukaryotic cells d. eukaryotic cells, multicellularity, sexual reproduction

eukaryotic cells, sexual reproduction, multicellularitys

Species Y and Z have very different proteins and genes. What is most likely true about these two species? Species Y a. is older than Species Z. b. is younger than Species Z. c. evolved for a long time separately from Species Z. d. shares a relatively recent common ancestor with Species Z.

evolved for a long time separately from Species Z

The situation in which allele frequencies in the gene pool of a population remain constant is called... a. evolution. b. genetic drift. c. genetic equilibrium. d. natural selection.

genetic equilibrium

Having a thumb that can move against the other fingers makes it possible for a primate to... a.hold objects firmly. b. merge visual images. c. display elaborate social behaviors. d. judge the locations of tree branches.

hold objects firmly

The allele frequencies of a population are more likely to change if... a. the population size is increased. b. no immigration or emigration occurs. c. mating is not random. d. the mutation rate decreases

mating is not random

Which two processes are the primary sources of genetic variation? a. mitosis and fertilization b. synapsis and disjunction c. mutation and recombination d. overpopulation and reproduction

mutation and recombination

In organisms that reproduce sexually, variation that can be inherited is due to a.mutations during gamete formation. b. polygenic traits. c. gene recombination during asexual reproduction. d. mutations during somatic cell formation

mutations during gamete formation

Which of the following ideas is associated with Lamarck's evolution hypothesis? a. disruptive selection b. inheritance of acquired traits c. natural selection d. survival of the fittest

natural selection b. inheritance of acquired traits

Natural selection acts directly on... a. alleles. b. genes. c. phenotypes. d. mutations.

phenotypes

According to Darwin's theory of natural selection, individuals who survive are the ones best adapted for their environment. Their survival is due to the... a. possession of adaptations developed through use. b. possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness. c. lack of competition within the species. d. choices made by plant and animal breeders.

possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness.

_Modern sea star larvae resemble some primitive vertebrate larvae. This similarity may suggest... a. belong to the same species as sea stars. b. evolved before sea stars. c. evolved from sea stars. d. share a common ancestor with sea stars.

share a common ancestor with sea stars.

The diagram below shows the changes in skull structure from early hominids to modern humans. Which characteristic developed in the skulls over time? a. larger teeth b. smaller volume c. smaller jaw bone d. prominent brow ridge

smaller jaw bone

One of the accepted scientific theories describing the origin of life on Earth is known as chemical evolution. According to this theory, which of the following events would need to occur first for life to evolve? a. onset of photosynthesis b. origin of genetic material c. synthesis of organic molecules d. formation of the plasma membrane

synthesis of organic molecules

What situation might develop in a population having some plants whose flowers open at midday and other plants whose flowers open late in the day? a. behavioral isolation b. geographic isolation c. temporal isolation d. genetic drift

temporal isolation

Molecular evidence in support of natural selection includes... a. the presence of vestigial structures. b. the nearly universal genetic code. c. a tendency toward perfect, unchanging DNA in various species. d. the transmission of acquired characteristics by DNA.

the nearly universal genetic code.

The number of phenotypes produced for a given trait depends upon.. a.the number of genes that control the trait. b. which form of the trait is dominant. c. the allele frequencies of the various alleles. d. the relationship of the allele frequencies to Mendelian ratios

the number of genes that control the trait

Biogeography is the study of... a.where species and their ancestors live. b. how extinct species can be related to living species. c. how different species can interbreed. d. how animals that live in the same area are closely related

where species and their ancestors live