07.11 Natural Selection Module Exam

Artificial selection results in the occurrence of particular traits. Which of the following is an example of artificial selection? - An individual catfish that is able to breathe outside of water - A farmer using a wild mustard plant to cultivate kale by enlarging leaves - A plant bending toward a light source due to phototropism - A moth that is able to survive in a new environment due to camouflage

A farmer using a wild mustard plant to cultivate kale by enlarging leaves

Which of the following would be greatly affected by a bacterial disease? - A large population - A genetically diverse population - A small population - A resilient population

A small population

Which of the following represents one of the steps through which simple cells are hypothesized to have been produced? - Abiotic synthesis of small organic molecules - Formation of nitrogenous bases from amino acids - Joining of self-replicating molecules into protocells - Packaging of inorganic macromolecules into vesicles

Abiotic synthesis of small organic molecules

Biologists have discovered that many islands contain a variety of unique species. Generally, these species are found nowhere else in the world. A bird species found on an island is similar in appearance to a bird found on the mainland, but the two species cannot produce offspring. Which of the following is a logical conclusion that can be reached regarding these bird species? - Allopatric speciation has occurred as a result of geographic isolation. - Hybridization has occurred as a result of reduced gene flow. - Reproductive isolation has occurred as a result of prezygotic barriers. - Sympatric speciation has occurred as a result of postzygotic barriers.

Allopatric speciation has occurred as a result of geographic isolation.

Which of the following best describes biochemical evidence that would not support the modern concept of evolution? - A bacterium that uses inorganic materials to produce energy - An organism that does not undergo cellular respiration - A species of bacteria that is capable of photosynthesis - An organism that undergoes both aerobic and anaerobic respiration

An organism that does not undergo cellular respiration

Which of the following describes convergent evolution between two species with analogous structures? - Analogous structures share similar functions but not a common ancestry. - Analogous structures have different functions but share a common ancestry. - The two species shared a recent common ancestor, resulting in similar structures. - The two species evolved from the same ancestors but adapted to different environments.

Analogous structures share similar functions but not a common ancestry.

Which of the following results in completely new alleles and phenotypes, allowing natural selection to occur? - Changes in genetic makeup - Population experiencing bottleneck effect - Individuals adapting to environment - Changes due to stabilizing selection

Changes in genetic makeup

Which of the following would most likely cause allopatric speciation? - Behavioral isolation - Geographic isolation - Mechanical isolation - Temporal isolation

Geographic isolation

Which of the following describes the current sixth mass extinct? - A single catastrophic natural event that decreased genetic diversity - Human activities rapidly destroying and degrading the resources that many species need to survive - Speciation occurring at rapid rates, resulting in habitat loss for many species - Ecosystems collapsing due to intermittent natural disasters occurring every few years

Human activities rapidly destroying and degrading the resources that many species need to survive

The building of a new highway results in pollution of a nearby lake ecosystem as runoff flows into the lake. The frogs in the lake seem to be especially susceptible to the effects of the pollutants; however, some of the frog population survives, and, over time, scientists determine that the frog population has evolved. Which of the following is not a requirement for evolution by natural selection to occur in the frog population? - Frogs must be capable of producing more offspring than will be able to survive. - In order to evolve, individuals in the frog population must develop traits that make them resistant to the effects of the pollution. - Some frogs must possess beneficial traits that help them survive and reproduce. - Variations must occur naturally within the frog population.

In order to evolve, individuals in the frog population must develop traits that make them resistant to the effects of the pollution.

In a species of insect, wing length is determined by a single gene, for which there are only two alleles. In a population of 150 insects, the frequency of the recessive trait is 0.05. After four generations, the recessive allele frequency is 0.31 in a population of 125 insects. Which of the following does this most likely suggest about the recessive allele? - After about 20 generations, the recessive allele will be the only one that exists for the gene. - It is not advantageous to the insects because it results in an overall decrease in the population. - It results in a phenotype that makes the insect better fit to survive in its environment. - Because it is still not a dominant allele, it does not have a significant impact on the survival of the species.

It results in a phenotype that makes the insect better fit to survive in its environment.

Adaptive radiation is often seen after which of the following events? - Mass extinctions - Sexual selection - Genetic drift - Founder effect

Mass extinctions

A farmer found that caterpillars were eating his corn. He sprayed his field with pesticide to kill them. For the first three years, this treatment worked well, leaving only a few caterpillars in the field. Based on what is known about natural selection, what can he expect in succeeding years if he continues to use the same pesticide? - The caterpillar population will develop resistance to the pesticide if any of them survived it because they were genetically different from the rest. - The caterpillar population will remain at very low levels every year the pesticide is applied since it keeps them from reproducing well. - The caterpillar population will continue to be successfully controlled by the pesticide indefinitely since it has worked for three years. - The caterpillar population will eventually be exterminated completely, and it will likely become extinct.

The caterpillar population will develop resistance to the pesticide if any of them survived it because they were genetically different from the rest.

California condors are the largest birds in North America. They were once near extinction due to lead poisoning from ammunition in scavenged carcasses and pesticides thinning their fragile eggshells. In addition, male condors do not breed until six years old and females lay just one egg every two years. Which of the following is the best explanation for their endangered state? - The population of condors lacked genetic diversity and became at risk of decline. - Environmental perturbations increased the rate of adaptive alleles. - The late maturity and slow reproduction rate increased the condors' fitness. - The population of condors are genetically diverse and resilient to environmental perturbations.

The population of condors lacked genetic diversity and became at risk of decline.

Which of the following best describes morphological evidence that two different species of animal evolved from a common ancestor? - The species are similar in size and color. - The species exhibit similar behaviors. - The species have similar bone patterns. - The species live in similar environments.

The species have similar bone patterns.

Which of the following is a condition of Hardy-Weinberg? - There are no net mutations. - Natural selection is occurring. - Non-random mating is occurring. - Migration is occurring.

There are no net mutations.

Organisms that are classified into different domains may differ in significant ways. For example, all Archaea are single-celled, while many Eukarya are multicellular. Which of the following supports the idea that Archaea and Eukarya share a common origin, despite their differences? - They are both capable of photosynthesis and produce energy to support food webs. - They both carry out core biological processes, such as reproduction and metabolism. - They can both survive under extreme environmental conditions. - They first appeared on Earth around the same time, according to fossil evidence.

They both carry out core biological processes, such as reproduction and metabolism.

Which of the following best compares the effects of genetic drift and natural selection on the genetic makeup of a population? - They are both selective processes that decrease the genetic variation of a population. - They are both selective processes, but genetic drift increases genetic variation and natural selection does not. - They both decrease genetic variation, but genetic drift is random and natural selection is not. - They both increase the genetic variation of a population, but genetic drift is directed and natural selection is not.

They both decrease genetic variation, but genetic drift is random and natural selection is not.

Using information from the cladogram and the data table shown below, which of the following best describes the evolutionary history of gorillas? - They are more closely related to salamanders than they are to lizards. - They evolved into a separate species as a result of bipedal motion. - They have jaws, lungs, hair, an amniotic membrane, and a tail but lack bipedal motion. - They share a more recent common evolutionary ancestor with leopards than they do with lizards.

They share a more recent common evolutionary ancestor with leopards than they do with lizards.

Based on the information shown in the data table and the cladogram shown below, which of the following best describes the evolutionary history of birds? - They are more closely related to salamanders than they are to lizards. - They evolved into a separate species as a result of having claws and feathers. - They have jaws, lungs, and feathers but lack claws, nails, and mammary glands. - They share a more recent common evolutionary ancestor with lizards than they do with salamanders.

They share a more recent common evolutionary ancestor with lizards than they do with salamanders.

Which of the following describes disruptive selection? - Occurs when conditions favor one extreme phenotype - Prevents mutations from occurring - Intermediate variants are favored in a population - Usually results in two distinct phenotypes

Usually results in two distinct phenotypes

It is hypothesized that RNA may have evolved before DNA because RNA molecules - were the first molecules synthesized by Miller and Urey - are more important to genetic inheritance than DNA - can catalyze a variety of biologically important reactions - are found in more modern cells than are DNA molecules

can catalyze a variety of biologically important reactions

Natural selection is based on all of the following except - individuals adapt to their environments, and thereby evolve - genetic variation exists within populations - individuals who survive longer tend to leave more offspring than those who die young - the best adapted individuals tend to leave the most offspring

individuals adapt to their environments, and thereby evolve