Chapter 22: Descent With Modification

Darwin and Wallace independently arrived at the same conclusion that species change over time. Which observations supported their conclusions? Select all that apply. A. Mockingbirds from different Galapagos islands had subtle, consistent differences. B. Birdwing butterflies were found throughout the Malay archipelago, but species differed slightly from island to island. C. The bony shells of armadillos resembled fossilized shells from the extinct Glyptodon. D. Bird families clustered geographically: cockatoos in the Malay Archipelago and Australia, macaws and hummingbirds in the Americas. E. Tortoises from different Galapagos islands have distinct shells. The fossilized remains of giant sloths were similar to the smaller, living sloths Darwin encountered.

A, B, C, D, E

No two species of anoles lizards living in the same geographical location have dewlaps of the same size, shape or color. Why? Select all thay apply. A. Male anole lizards use dewlaps to court females. B. Differences in dewlaps keep different anole species reproductively isolated, even when they live together. C. Dewlap color is under strong selection. Dewlaps that contrast with a lizard's environment are more effective for communication. D. An anole lizard will change its dewlap's appearance to effectively communicate in a given environment. E. Female anole lizards distinguish males of their own species from males of other species by their dewlaps.

A, B, C,E

Darwin and Wallace made independent observations in different parts of the world. Which statements are true? Select all that apply. A. Both observed slightly different species on nearby islands and concluded that species could change over time. B. Both witnessed nature up close and realized it was a battlefield with massive casualties. C. Darwin observed slightly different species on nearby islands and concluded that species could change over time. The island species Wallace observed showed little variation. D. Both collected huge numbers of specimens and realized that individuals vary within species. E. Wallace collected huge numbers of specimens and realized that individuals vary within species. Darwin's collections were destroyed by fire.

A, B, D

What observations and evidence have Jonathan Losos and his colleagues gathered to support the theory of natural selection? Select all that apply. A. On each of the four large Caribbean islands, Losos observed the same distribution of anole lizard body types. B. When Losos and colleagues transplanted tree-dwelling anoles to small, hurricane-scrubbed islands without trees, the lizards evolved to have shorter legs after only a few generations. C. An anole lizard with a light-colored dewlap will develop a darker dewlap that stands out better in a bright environment. D. DNA evidence suggests that the different lizard body types (twig, grass, etc.) evolved independently on each of the four large Caribbean islands

A, B, D

Identify the four postulates of natural selection. Select all that apply. A. Individuals in a population vary in the traits they possess. B. Individuals in a population all possess the same traits. C. Survival and reproductive success are variable among individuals in a population. D. Some trait differences are heritable. E. Individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. F. All individuals in a population have equal reproductive success.

A, C, D, E Darwin's four postulates can be summarized as follows: 1. Individuals in a population vary in the traits they possess. 2. Some trait differences are heritable. 3. Survival and reproductive success are variable among individuals in a population. 4. Individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

An adaptation is _____. A. A trait that gives an organism a reproductive advantage in the current environment B. The cause of natural selection C. A trait that gives rise to a new species D. An individual's attempt to conform to its environment E. All of the above

A. A trait that gives an organism a reproductive advantage in the current environment

Which of the following is correct regarding natural selection? A. All of the listed responses are correct. B. Natural selection is a process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than do individuals without those traits. C. Over time, natural selection can increase the correspondence between organisms and their environments. D. If an environment changes, or if individuals move to a new environment, natural selection may result in adaptation to these new conditions, sometimes giving rise to new species. E. Individuals do not evolve; populations do. F. None of the listed responses is correct.

A. All of the listed responses are correct.

Even though rodents known as sugar gliders and flying squirrels are members of distinctly different groups of organisms and live on different continents, they possess similar characteristics. This is an example of __________. A. Convergent evolution B. Homology C. Adaptation D. Acquired characteristics E. Use and disuse F. All of the listed responses are correct.

A. Convergent evolution Homology is a similarity in characteristics based on common ancestry. Although the characteristics of these rodents are adaptations, "convergent evolution" is a better description. Acquired characteristics are those that develop during an organism's lifetime and are not inherited. The principle use and disuse states that characteristics will either become stronger or weaker depending on the degree of usage by the organism.

The modern idea of extinction as a common occurrence in Earth's history was first proposed in the early 19th century writings of __________. A. Cuvier B. Lamarck C. Aristotle D. Wallace E.Lyell

A. Cuvier Lamarck is best known for proposing the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Aristotle believed that all living forms could be arranged on a scale or ladder of increasing complexity, the scale of nature. Wallace is best known for proposing natural selection independently of Darwin. Lyell is best known for uniformitarianism.

Darwin originally defined evolution as __________. A. Descent with modification B. The passing of acquired characteristics to offspring C. An individual's ability to adapt to its environment D. A way to classify organisms based on morphological similarities E. None of the listed responses is correct.

A. Descent with modification

DNA evidence suggests that anole lizard species from the four largest Caribbean islands are related as shown in the figure. Which statement is true? A. Different body types evolved repeatedly and independently on each island. B. The twig lizard on Puerto Rico evolved first and is the ancestor to all the other lizards. C. Puerto Rico is the origin of all four anole lizard body types. D. Different body types evolved only once, and then groups of individuals with those body types ended up on different islands.

A. Different body types evolved repeatedly and independently on each island.

An important challenge to traditional (pre-1860) ideas about species was the observation that seemingly dissimilar organisms such as hummingbirds, humans, and whales have similar skeletal structures. This most directly suggested to biologists that __________. A. Dissimilar organisms might have evolved from a distant, common ancestor B. Only the best-adapted organisms can survive C. Advantageous changes can be passed along to offspring D. Most evolution occurs rapidly following a mass extinction E. All of the listed responses are correct.

A. Dissimilar organisms might have evolved from a distant, common ancestor

What does it mean to describe evolution as a scientific theory? A. Evolution is a broad model that is supported by many observations and much experimental evidence. B. Evolution is narrow in scope and focuses only on very specific examples. C. Evolution does not explain how organisms have changed over time. D. Evolution is not testable. E. Evolution is not observable.

A. Evolution is a broad model that is supported by many observations and much experimental evidence.

On an evolutionary tree, __________. A. Homologous characteristics form a nested pattern B. Organisms that are positioned close to each other are closely related C. Scientists are sure of the correct placement and relationships of all organisms D. The concept of descent with modification is not well-represented E. None of the listed responses is correct.

A. Homologous characteristics form a nested pattern

DNA sequences in many human genes are very similar to the sequences of corresponding genes in chimpanzees. The most likely explanation for this result is that A. Humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor. B. Humans evolved from chimpanzees. C. Chimpanzees evolved from humans. D. Convergent evolution led to the DNA similarities.

A. Humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor.

What insight did Darwin gain from reading Thomas Malthus's essay on human suffering? A. Organisms have the capacity to over reproduce. B. Natural selection should be capable of considerable modifications over hundreds of thousands of generations. C. Population size usually remains relatively stable. D. Favorable characteristics of a population accumulate over time. E. All of the listed responses are correct.

A. Organisms have the capacity to over reproduce.

Within six months of effectively using methicillin to treat S. aureus infections in a community, all new infections were caused by MRSA. How can this result best be explained? A. Some drug-resistant bacteria were present at the start of treatment, and natural selection increased their frequency. B. A patient must have become infected with MRSA from another community. C. S. aureus can resist vaccines. D. The drug caused the S. aureus DNA to change. E. In response to the drug, S. aureus began making drug-resistant versions of the protein targeted by the drug.

A. Some drug-resistant bacteria were present at the start of treatment, and natural selection increased their frequency.

In 1959, doctors began using the powerful antibiotic methicillin to treat infections of Staphylococcus aureus, but within two years, methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus (MRSA) appeared. How did the resistant strains of S. aureus emerge? A. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that were able to synthesize cell walls using a protein that was not affected by methicillin survived the methicillin treatments and reproduced at higher rates than did other individuals. Over time, these resistant individuals became increasingly common. B. In response to treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections with methicillin, some bacteria began to synthesize cell walls using a protein that was not affected by methicillin. These bacteria survived the methicillin treatments and reproduced at higher rates than did other individuals. Over time, these resistant individuals became increasingly common. C. In response to treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections with methicillin, bacterial populations gradually began to synthesize cell walls using a protein that was not affected by methicillin.

A. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that were able to synthesize cell walls using a protein that was not affected by methicillin survived the methicillin treatments and reproduced at higher rates than did other individuals. Over time, these resistant individuals became increasingly common.

Soapberry bugs use needlelike "beaks" to feed on seeds within the fruits of various plants. Bugs feed most successfully when their beak length matches the size of the fruit on which they are feeding. For 25 years, populations of soapberry bugs in central Florida have been feeding on small goldenrain tree fruits that were introduced to the area, rather than on the larger native balloon vine fruits that serve as food for other soapberry bug populations. Beak lengths of soapberry bugs are variable, but the average beak length is shorter in soapberry bug populations that feed on goldenrain tree fruits than in populations that feed on balloon vine fruits, as shown in the graph. How does natural selection act on beak length in soapberry bug populations? A. The action of natural selection on beak length in soapberry bug populations varies with the environment. B. Natural selection increases beak length in soapberry bug populations. C. Natural selection decreases beak length in soapberry bug populations.

A. The action of natural selection on beak length in soapberry bug populations varies with the environment.

What does each branch point on an evolutionary tree represent? A. The common ancestor of the lineages beginning there and to the right of it B. A homologous characteristic shared by all groups to the right of the branch point C. An analogous characteristic shared by all groups to the right of the branch point D. A homologous characteristic shared by all groups to the left of the branch point E. Convergent evolution

A. The common ancestor of the lineages beginning there and to the right of it

A group of small fish live in a lake with a uniformly light-brown sandy bottom. Most of the fish are light brown, but about 10% are mottled. This fish species is often prey for large birds that live on the shore. A construction company dumps a load of gravel in the bottom of the lake, giving it a mottled appearance. Which of these statements presents the most accurate prediction of what will happen to this fish population? A. The proportion of mottled fish will increase over time. B. The ratios will not change. C. There is no way to predict the result. D. As the mottled fish are eaten, more will be produced to fill the gap. E. In two generations, all the fish will be mottled.

A. The proportion of mottled fish will increase over time.

True or false? It would be difficult to assess whether the drug-susceptible or drug-resistant phenotype in a population of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was more fit in an environment without antibiotics. A. True B. False

A. True In an environment without antibiotics, individual cells probably would not differ in their reproductive rates or their survival. Without the application of the drug (antibiotic), it would be very difficult to analyze any differences—one wouldn't even be able to sort the cells!

Which observations led Darwin to establish a relationship between extinct and living animals? Select all that apply. A. Birdwing butterflies were found throughout the Malay archipelago, but species differed slightly from island to island. B. The bony shells of armadillos resembled the shells of ancient Glyptodon fossils. C. The fossilized remains of giant sloths were found in places where smaller sloths now live. D. Tortoises from different Galapagos islands have distinct shells. Mockingbirds from different Galapagos islands had subtle, consistent differences. E. Bird families clustered geographically: cockatoos in the Malay Archipelago and Australia, macaws and hummingbirds in the Americas.

B, C

Jonathan Losos and colleagues conducted experiments on small, hurricane-swept islands as "natural laboratories." Which of the following statements is true? Select all that apply. A. The legs of the anoles placed on the islands became shorter, and their offspring inherited shorter legs. B. Islands scrubbed by hurricanes allow researchers to introduce new lizard populations and observe their evolution. C. Experiments on the small islands show evidence for adaptation by natural selection but not for evolution. D. There are many small islands with similar environments, meaning that researchers can repeat their experiments and observations in several locations. E. Natural selection can lead to rapid changes. The average leg length of lizard populations decreased within a few generations.

B, D, E

A population of zooplankton is exposed to a small number of predatory fish that feed on the larger-sized (adult) zooplankton. Which of the following predictions would most likely occur based on the principles of natural selection? A. The predatory fish will evolve smaller mouths so that they do not drive their prey to extinction. B. Adult zooplankton will start to reach sexual maturity when they are still relatively small. C. The zooplankton will become sexually mature at larger sizes. D. The predatory fish will evolve poor eyesight so as to preserve their food supply. E. The first and the third listed responses are both good predictions.

B. Adult zooplankton will start to reach sexual maturity when they are still relatively small.

What is the most important characteristic of anole lizard species that keeps members of one species from mating with members of another species? A. Different species live in different ecological niches. B. Different species living in the same habitat have different dewlaps. C. Different species eat different types of food. D. Different species have differences in appearance, such as color or leg length.

B. Different species living in the same habitat have different dewlaps.

Which of the following statements is an accurate combination of postulates 3 and 4 of natural selection? A. Individuals experience unlimited success in their ability to survive or reproduce. B. Individuals experience differential success in their ability to survive or reproduce due to differences in certain traits. C. Individuals experience uniform success in their ability to survive or reproduce. D. Individuals experience no success in their ability to survive or reproduce.

B. Individuals experience differential success in their ability to survive or reproduce due to differences in certain traits.

Which pair of chickens should a farmer breed to produce larger chickens? A. Large hen, small rooster B. Large hen, large rooster C. Small hen, large rooster D. Small hen, small rooster

B. Large hen, large rooster

What did Wallace conclude from observing that the bones in manatee flippers look similar to the bones in a human arm and hand? A. Manatee finger bones must have an important function, necessary for the animal's survival. B. Manatees' arm and finger bones are evidence that manatees share a common ancestor with land mammals. C. Manatees were specially created in their current form, including the arm and finger bones inside their flippers. D. Manatees use their flippers like humans use their hands.

B. Manatees' arm and finger bones are evidence that manatees share a common ancestor with land mammals.

In Darwin's view of descent with modification, __________. A. An organism's traits only affect its own survival B. Natural selection can improve the match between an organism and its environment C. Individuals can evolve D. Environmental changes have no effect on the organisms living in that environment E. Natural selection only operates when an organism needs to evolve

B. Natural selection can improve the match between an organism and its environment

The upper forelimbs of humans and bats have fairly similar skeletal structures, whereas the corresponding bones in whales have very different shapes and proportions. However, genetic data suggest that all three kinds of organisms diverged from a common ancestor at about the same time. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these data? A. Forelimb evolution was adaptive in people and bats, but not in whales. B. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy. C. Genes mutate faster in whales than in human or bats. D. Whales are not properly classified as mammals.

B. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy.

Does the ability of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell to infect a new host depend on its drug-resistant phenotype? A. Yes, drug-susceptible cells can infect a new host more easily than drug-resistant cells. B. No, drug-susceptible cells and drug-resistant cells are equally likely to infect a new host. C. Yes, drug-resistant cells can infect a new host more easily than drug-susceptible cells.

B. No, drug-susceptible cells and drug-resistant cells are equally likely to infect a new host. A cell's drug susceptibility or resistance does not affect its ability to infect another host, although a cell's drug resistance would increase that cell's chances to spread in an environment containing antibiotics due to increased survival.

From his observations of organisms in the Galapagos islands, Darwin reasoned that _____. A. The organisms in the Galapagos had been specially created to thrive in that environment B. Organisms had adapted to new environments, giving rise to new species C. The shape of a bird's beak does not affect its ability to survive and reproduce D. All island species should be similar to each other E. None of the above

B. Organisms had adapted to new environments, giving rise to new species

Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which natural selection is based? A. Only a fraction of an individual's offspring may survive. B. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring. C. Species produce more offspring than the environment can support. D. Individuals whose characteristics are best suited to the environment generally leave more offspring than those whose characteristics are less well suited. E. There is heritable variation among individuals.

B. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring.

Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which natural selection is based? A. There is heritable variation among individuals. B. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring. C. Species produce more offspring - the environment can support. D. Only a fraction of an individual's offspring may survive.

B. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring.

A(n) __________ is the smallest unit that can evolve. A. Individual B. Population C. Species D. Community E. Adaptation

B. Population

As Wallace traveled the Malay Archipelago, he noticed that western islands had placental mammals, like monkeys. Eastern islands had marsupial mammals, like kangaroos. How did Wallace explain this distribution? A. Marsupial and placental mammals live in different habitats. Monkeys could only survive in the western islands and kangaroos in the eastern islands. B. The western islands were once connected to Asia and the eastern islands had been connected to Australia. The islands had never been connected to each other. C. Monkeys and tree kangaroos compete against one another and cannot live together. D. God specially created monkeys on one set of islands and kangaroos on the other.

B. The western islands were once connected to Asia and the eastern islands had been connected to Australia. The islands had never been connected to each other.

Which of the following is an example of an adaptation in anole lizards? A. small toe pads in the anole lizards that live in the tree canopy B. long legs in the anole lizards that live primarily on the ground and tree trunks C. short tails in the anole lizards that live in grass and bushes D. long leg length in the anole lizards that live mainly on twigs

B. long legs in the anole lizards that live primarily on the ground and tree trunks

Which of the following organisms could be produced by artificial selection? A. A chimpanzee that communicates through sign language. B. A rabbit that is housebroken. C. A cow that produces a large quantity of milk. D. A dog that serves as the "eyes" for a blind individual.

C. A cow that produces a large quantity of milk.

Which term describes a trait that increases an individual's ability to survive in a particular environment? A. Heritability B. Evolution C. Adaptation D. Fitness

C. Adaptation

What happened in the soapberry bug population in central Florida when the bugs began to feed on seeds from the goldenrain tree fruits which are much closer to the fruit surface? A. Bugs developed short beaks, because they needed them to feed on the small fruits. B. The length of each bug's beak gradually became shorter over time. C. Bugs with shorter beaks had more access to food, allowing them to produce more offspring.

C. Bugs with shorter beaks had more access to food, allowing them to produce more offspring.

What is the meaning of Darwin's expression "descent with modification"? A. Descent with modification refers to the partial resemblance of offspring to their parents. B. Descent with modification refers to natural selection. C. Descent with modification refers to evolutionary change over time.

C. Descent with modification refers to evolutionary change over time.

Organisms found only in specific places in the world are referred to as __________. A. Homologous B. Analogous C. Endemic D. Introduced species E. Tetrapods F. Convergent

C. Endemic "Analogous" refers to characteristics that have arisen by convergent evolution. "Homologous" refers to characteristics that are similar in different organisms due to common ancestry. "Convergent" refers to the evolution of analogous structures. Introduced species are not native to a given area. Tetrapods may be endemic in some areas.

Paleontology, the study of fossils, was developed by __________. A. Charles Lyell B. James Hutton C. Georges Cuvier D. Charles Darwin E. Aristotle

C. Georges Cuvier James Hutton (1726-1797) proposed that Earth's geologic features could be explained by gradual mechanisms. Charles Lyell (1797-1875) incorporated Hutton's thinking into his proposal that the same geologic processes that operated in the past are operating today, and at the same rate. Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution by means of natural selection. Aristotle developed the scala naturae.

DNA sequences in many human genes are very similar to the sequences of corresponding genes in chimpanzees. The most likely explanation for this result is that A. Humans and chimpanzees are not closely related. B. Humans evolved from chimpanzees. C. Humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor. D. Convergent evolution led to the DNA similarities. E. Chimpanzees evolved from humans.

C. Humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor.

Which of the following is not an observation or inference that Darwin made while developing his theory of evolution? A. Individuals whose inherited traits give them a higher probability of surviving and reproducing in a given environment tend to leave more offspring than do other individuals. B. Members of a population often vary in their inherited traits. C. Interactions between individuals and their environments cause individuals to evolve. D. All species can produce more offspring than their environments can support, and many of these offspring fail to survive and reproduce. E. The unequal abilities of individuals to survive and reproduce will lead to the accumulation of favorable traits in the population over generations.

C. Interactions between individuals and their environments cause individuals to evolve.

When Charles Darwin set sail on the HMS Beagle, what did he and most of his contemporary scientists think about the origin of species? A. Most scientists thought species were the product of natural processes, but Darwin had different ideas. B. Most scientists thought species had been created in their current forms and were unchangeable, but Darwin believed in a natural origin of species. C. Most scientists, including Darwin, thought each species was specially created by God in its present form and did not change over time. D. Most scientists, including Darwin, thought species were the product of natural processes and changed over time.

C. Most scientists, including Darwin, thought each species was specially created by God in its present form and did not change over time.

Darwin's explanation of how adaptations arise centered on __________. A. Use and disuse B. Inheritance of acquired characteristics C. Natural selection D. Artificial selection E. Descent with modification

C. Natural selection

The upper forelimbs of humans and bats have fairly similar skeletal structures, whereas the corresponding bones in whales have very different shapes and proportions. However, genetic data suggest that all three kinds of organisms diverged from a common ancestor at about the same time. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these data? A. Genes mutate faster in whales than in humans or bats. B. Forelimb evolution was adaptive in people and bats, but not in whales. C. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy. D. Humans and bats evolved by natural selection, and whales evolved by Lamarckian mechanisms. E. Whales are not properly classified as mammals.

C. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy.

Within six months of effectively using methicillin to treat S. aureus infections in a community, all new infections were caused by MRSA. How can this result best be explained? A. A patient must have become infected with MRSA from another community. B. In response to the drug, S. aureus began making drug-resistant versions of the protein targets by the drug. C. Some drug-resistant bacteria were present at the start of treatment, and natural selection increased their frequency. D. S. aureus evolved to resist vaccines.

C. Some drug-resistant bacteria were present at the start of treatment, and natural selection increased their frequency.

In the United States today, about half of the corn crop is genetically engineered with a protein that is toxic to corn borers, an insect pest of corn. Which of the following conditions would be necessary for evolution of resistance to the toxic protein to occur in the corn borer? A. The corn borer must lack variation in resistance to the toxic protein. B. The corn borers must experience no success in their ability to survive or reproduce. C. The corn borer must have or generate (by mutation) heritable variation in resistance to the toxic protein. The resistant corn borers must survive better or reproduce more than nonresistant corn borers. D. The corn borers must experience unlimited success in their ability to survive or reproduce.

C. The corn borer must have or generate (by mutation) heritable variation in resistance to the toxic protein. The resistant corn borers must survive better or reproduce more than nonresistant corn borers.

What did Darwin observe about species on islands? A. They are rarely endemic. B. Darwin only studied the Galápagos and, therefore, could not develop many insights about species on islands. C. They are often closely related to species from the nearest mainland or neighboring islands. D. They are often closely related to species from similar ecological niches all over the world. E. None of the above is correct.

C. They are often closely related to species from the nearest mainland or neighboring islands.

Homologies that appear to have marginal, if any, importance to an organism are called __________. A. Homologous structures B. Adaptations C. Vestigial structures D. Acquired characteristics E. Mutations F. None of the listed responses is correct.

C. Vestigial structures

Which of the following is an example of the process of evolution? A. the observed match between organisms and their environments B. the large number and diversity of species of marsupials in Australia C. herbivory D. the existence of homologous traits such as the forelimbs of mammals E. the changes in organisms over time observed in the fossil record

C. herbivory

Evolution of shorter legs in anole lizards placed on small, hurricane-scrubbed islands is an example of which type of evolution? A. macroevolution B. neither macroevolution nor microevolution C. microevolution

C. microevolution

Which of the following statements is an accurate combination of postulates 1 and 2 of natural selection? A. Heritable variation does not exist among individuals in a population. B. Drug resistance exists among all individuals in a population. C. Environmental variation exists for traits among individuals in a population. D Heritable variation exists for traits among individuals in a population.

D Heritable variation exists for traits among individuals in a population.

A farmer wishes to develop a strain of high-yield corn that is also resistant to drought. He has the following individuals from the current year's crop: Individual A—Yield: 179 bushels/acre; drought resistance: high Individual B—Yield: 220 bushels/acre; drought resistance: low Individual C—Yield: 185 bushels/acre; drought resistance: medium Individual D—Yield: 140 bushels/acre; drought resistance: high Individual E—Yield: 200 bushels/acre; drought resistance: medium Which of the following crosses would produce the highest corn yield with the highest resistance to drought? View Available Hint(s) A. A and B B. B and B C. C and E D. A and E

D. A and E

The theory of evolution through natural selection is considered a scientific theory because _____. A. it is broad enough in scope to explain many observations B. it is supported by a massive body of evidence from many disciplines C. it is general enough to provide many testable hypotheses D. All of the above are correct. E. None of the above is correct.

D. All of the above are correct.

During periods of rapid environmental change, what may happen to a species that was well-suited to the former environment? A. The population may change so much an adapting to the new environment that it is considered a new species. B. The species may go extinct. C. Individuals with particular traits that provide an advantage in the new environment will have higher reproductive success. D. All of the listed responses are correct. E. Traits that were favorable in the original environment may be detrimental in the new environment.

D. All of the listed responses are correct.

The breeding of plants and animals for particular traits by humans is called __________. A. Paleontology B. Natural selection C. Sexual recombination D. Artificial selection E. Homology

D. Artificial selection

Animals that possess homologous structures probably __________. A. By chance had similar mutations independently in the past B. Are headed for extinction C. Have increased genetic diversity D. Evolved from the same ancestor E. Are not related

D. Evolved from the same ancestor

How does our understanding of genetics today refute Lamarck's principle of the inheritance of acquired characteristics? A. Parts of the body that are used extensively will become stronger and be passed to offspring. B. Experiments in genetics show that traits acquired during an individual's lifetime are inherited in the way proposed by Lamarck. C. Parts of the body that are not used will deteriorate over time. D. Experiments in genetics show that traits acquired during an individual's lifetime are not inherited in the way proposed by Lamarck. E. All organisms are perfect and permanent. F. All of the listed responses are correct.

D. Experiments in genetics show that traits acquired during an individual's lifetime are not inherited in the way proposed by Lamarck.

Which term describes the ability of a trait to be passed on to offspring? A. Evolution B. Adaptation C. Fitness D. Heritability

D. Heritability

Which of the following statements about natural selection is true? A. Natural selection occurs in opposition to evolution. B. Natural selection can be used by farmers to generate organisms with desirable traits. C. Natural selection is a process whereby genes are selected randomly for preservation in the next generation. D. Natural selection favors individuals that reproduce more than others.

D. Natural selection favors individuals that reproduce more than others.

Because he was well aware of the effect his theory of evolution would have on the public and on the Church of England, Darwin delayed publishing his work for several decades while he gathered additional evidence. After invoking selective breeding of domesticated species as evidence that groups of organisms are capable of change, he then proposed that natural populations can change as well. On which two lines of evidence did he base this proposal? A. Some individuals leave more descendants than other individuals, but the individuals in a population are essentially identical to each other. B. Organisms produce more offspring than can be supported by their environment, and adaptations to specific environments increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce. C. Individuals within a population vary, yet island species around the world all appear to be related to each other. D. Organisms within a population vary, and all populations produce more offspring than can be supported by the environment, resulting in competition for survival within the population. E. Some individuals within a population have greater success in survival and reproduction than others, and favorable traits within a population will accumulate over generations.

D. Organisms within a population vary, and all populations produce more offspring than can be supported by the environment, resulting in competition for survival within the population

Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which natural selection is based? A. Individuals whose characteristics are best suited to the environment generally leave more offspring than those whose characteristics are less well suited. B. There is heritable variation among individuals. C. Species produce more offspring than the environment can support. D. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring. E. Only a fraction of an individual's offspring may survive.

D. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring.

The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus has developed resistance to some antibiotic drugs. How did this resistance come about? A. Genetic recombination of alleles during sexual reproduction in the bacteria produced antibio B. Some members of the bacteria populations mutated and developed resistance. C. Some members of the bacteria populations acquired resistance genes by being exposed to the antibiotic. D. Some members of the bacteria populations possessed some sort of genetic variation for antibiotic resistance that was selected for when the bacteria was exposed to the drugs. tic resistant genes. E. Some members of the bacteria populations possessed some sort of genetic variation for antibiotic resistance that was selected against when the bacteria was exposed to the drugs.

D. Some members of the bacteria populations possessed some sort of genetic variation for antibiotic resistance that was selected for when the bacteria was exposed to the drugs.

Which of the following observations helped Darwin shape his concept of descent with modification? A. Species diversity declines farther than the equator. B. Fewer species live on islands than on the nearest continents. C. Birds live on islands located farther from the mainland than the birds' maximum nonstop flight distance. D. South American temperature plants are more similar to the tropical plants of the South America than to the temperate plants of Europe.

D. South American temperature plants are more similar to the tropical plants of the South America than to the temperate plants of Europe.

Which of the following statements describes the evolution by natural selection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in their new environment? A. The drug-susceptibility trait is an adaptation to the environment of antibacterial soaps. B. The drug-resistance trait is an adaptation to the environment in which human hosts travel worldwide and are exposed to new strains of bacteria. C. The drug-susceptibility trait is an adaptation to the environment in which human hosts are medicated with the antibiotic rifampin. D. The drug-resistance trait is an adaptation to the environment in which human hosts are medicated with the antibiotic rifampin.

D. The drug-resistance trait is an adaptation to the environment in which human hosts are medicated with the antibiotic rifampin.

Carolus Linnaeus is considered to be the founder of __________, and he __________. A. Genetics; described the mechanism for descent with modification B. Paleontology; believed in catastrophism C. Uniformitarianism; believed the same geologic forces are operating today that occurred in the past D. The binomial classification system; thought that resemblances among different species reflected the pattern of their creation E. Evolution; first proposed that acquired characteristics are inherited

D. the binomial classification system; thought that resemblances among different species reflected the pattern of their creation

All known organisms transcribe genetic information to protein molecules via the same genetic code. This finding strongly supports the hypothesis that __________. A. None of the listed responses is correct. B. There's only one possible way to encode information in a macromolecule C. The earliest macromolecules probably arose when lightning struck an oxygen-free atmosphere D. The genetic code will never be broken E. All organisms are descended from a single common ancestor

E. All organisms are descended from a single common ancestor

How did Hutton and Lyell's ideas influence Charles Darwin's thinking? A. Darwin speculated that extinctions are common events during the course of time. B. Darwin reasoned that the Earth must be very young and that sudden events could produce substantial biological changes. C. Darwin reasoned that organisms could pass acquired modifications to their offspring. D. Darwin used Hutton and Lyell's ideas to develop the scala naturae. E. Darwin reasoned that the Earth must be very old and that slow, subtle processes could produce substantial biological changes. F. None of the listed responses is correct.

E. Darwin reasoned that the Earth must be very old and that slow, subtle processes could produce substantial biological changes. Darwin reasoned that slow, subtle processes, not sudden events, could produce substantial biological changes. Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck proposed the idea that organisms could pass acquired modifications to their offspring. Aristotle developed the scala naturae. Georges Cuvier was the first person to speculate that extinctions are common events during the course of time.

At the time Darwin voyaged on the HMS Beagle, the popularly accepted theory in Western culture that explained the origin of Earth's plants and animals held that the various species __________. A. Are all related to one another B. Arose continually from nonliving materials by spontaneous generation C. Had evolved from now-extinct organisms D. Arose from a single species that had survived the biblical flood E. Had been created by divine intervention a few thousand years before

E. Had been created by divine intervention a few thousand years before

Adaptations are defined as __________. A. Characteristics that are not passed to offspring. B. Inherited characteristics of organisms that reduce their survival and reproduction in specific environments C. Characteristics that are acquired during the lifetime of an organism D. Characteristics that become larger and stronger during the lifetime of an organism E. Inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments F. Characteristics that seem to have marginal, if any, importance to an organism

E. Inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments Adaptations are inherited characteristics that enhance, not reduce, an organism's survival and reproduction. Acquired characteristics are not inherited. Characteristics that become larger and stronger during the lifetime of an organism are not inherited.

The upper forelimbs of humans and bats have fairly similar skeletal structures, whereas the corresponding bones in whales have very different shapes and proportions. However, genetic data suggest that all three kinds of organisms diverged from a common ancestor at about the same time. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these data? A. Whales are not properly classified as mammals. B. Humans and bats evolved by natural selection, and whales evolved by Lamarckian mechanisms. C. Forelimb evolution was adaptive in people and bats, but not in whales. D. Genes mutate faster in whales than in humans or bats. E. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy.

E. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy.

Charles Darwin _____. A. Eagerly published his theory before it was well-developed B. Was the first to realize that fossils are remains of ancient organisms C. Was the first person to conclude that organisms evolve D. Proposed that unused parts of the body deteriorate E. Proposed natural selection as the mechanism of evolution

E. Proposed natural selection as the mechanism of evolution

Which of the following observations led to Darwin's major inferences A. Members of a population vary in their heritable traits. B. Body parts that are not used deteriorate over time. C. Organisms only go extinct when catastrophes occur. D. Although organisms can produce huge numbers of offspring, many of these offspring do not survive. E. The first and fourth answers are correct.

E. The first and fourth answers are correct.

Varieties of Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to the drug methicillin _____. A. Developed in response to the use of methicillin B. Already existed in the population before methicillin was developed C. Always have an advantage in every environment D. Were strongly selected for as methicillin became widely used to treat bacterial infections E. The second and fourth answers are correct.

E. The second and fourth answers are correct.

Which of the following is an example of the pattern of evolution? A. the inheritance of acquired characteristics B. heredity C. natural selection D. descent with modification E. the fossil record of the evolution of modern cetaceans

E. the fossil record of the evolution of modern cetaceans

Which of the following people developed the idea known as the scala naturae, or scale of nature? A. Linnaeus B. Darwin C. Wallace D. Hutton E. Lyell F. Aristotle

F. Aristotle Darwin developed the theory of evolution. Wallace, a contemporary of Darwin, developed a theory of evolution similar to Darwin's. Hutton proposed the principle of gradualism. Lyell proposed the idea that the same geologic processes that operated in the past are operating today, and at the same rate. Linnaeus developed the binomial method for naming organisms.