Evolution Test - AP Classroom

In addition to the ABO blood groups, humans have an MN blood type system in which the M and N alleles are codominant to one another. A group of scientists found that in one population the frequency of the M allele was 0.82, and the frequency of the N allele was 0.18. Assuming that the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which of the following is the expected frequency of individuals with the genotype MN?

0.295

One facet of the study of the origin of life focuses on the nature of the first genetic material. Figure 1 describes a possible scenario known as the RNA World Hypothesis, that could have led to the evolution of our modern-day genetic material. This hypothesis states that the first genetic material was RNA, not DNA, and a transitional period led to the emergence of DNA as the storage molecule for genetic material. A scientist wishes to provide experimental evidence to support the model shown in Figure 1 by demonstrating the ability to synthesize an RNA molecule. Which of the following is an alternative hypothesis that can be tested to support the RNA World Hypothesis?

A mixture of ribonucleotides such as adenine and uracil will spontaneously form a single-stranded chains of RNA

In an exercise to understand how genetically controlled physical traits could affect speciation, a theoretical population was imagined that contained organisms with three shapes and three levels of pigmentation, as illustrated in Figures 1. Which of the following would most likely represent the types of individuals found in one of the species resulting from shape becoming a prezygotic isolating mechanism in the initial population represented in Figure 1?

All 3 the same shape, but different shades

Catalase is a protein enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas in the cells of many living organisms. Students used an online database, which used the structure of catalase from different species, to generate the phylogenetic tree shown in Figure 1. Which of the following student claims is best supported by the data provided?

Cattle and sheep are separated by only one node, and they are separated from the other organisms by more than one node.

Figure 1 shows some major structural changes between a typical prokaryotic cell, the first eukaryotic common ancestor, and the last eukaryotic common ancestor. Based on the information provided in the figure, which of the following best describes how membrane-bound organelles provided unique evolutionary advantages to the last eukaryotic common ancestor?

Cells with mitochondria were able to utilize metabolic energy more efficiently

Of the following, which is the best next step for the researchers to best determine the long-term effectiveness of these insecticides with regards to the development of resistance?

Continue treating the three insect populations with the same insecticides and determine whether their efficiencies decline significantly after several generations.

Whales, bony fishes, and cartilaginous fishes all have similar adaptations that enable them to live in the ocean. Figure 1 shows the phylogenetic relationships of selected vertebrates. Based on the phylogenetic relationships shown in Figure 1, which of the following best explains the similarities exhibited by whales, bony fishes, and cartilaginous fishes?

Convergent evolution, because these organisms do not share a recent common ancestor

A 100 acre woodlot was observed for the last forty years. Five plant species (1 through 5) were surveyed, with the results show in Table 1. Some researchers claim that the decrease in plant species richness of this woodlot is unrelated to human activities over the last 40 years. Which of the following would be an appropriate alternative hypothesis?

During the last few decades, tall buildings have been built around the woodlot, and species 3, 4, and 5 are shade-intolerant plants

Geologic events such as mountain building can directly affect biodiversity. The Sino-Himalayan fern, Lepisorus clathratus is widely distributed on the Quinghai-Tibetan plateau. If geologic events lead to a series of new mountain ranges that divide the plateau into several discrete valleys, which of the following best describes how the L. clathratus population would be affected?

Geographic isolation will create separate gene pools, leading to speciation over time

The heterotroph hypothesis of the origin of life states that basic organic building blocks formed from inorganic molecules under the primitive conditions present early in Earth's development. These building blocks combined to form polymers, such as crude proteins. Dr. Sidney Fox wished to add to the heterotroph hypothesis of the origin of life by synthesizing simple proteins from a mixture of amino acids. Which statement below best states an alternative hypothesis Fox could have used to frame his research?

In the presence of available energy and the absence of a significant quantity of atmospheric O2 simple proteins will form spontaneously from a mixture of amino acids.

A group of researchers noticed that using a particular drug to treat cancer in mice would reduce the size of the tumor, but some of the tumor cells appeared to be resistant to the drug since some of these cells would increase in number over time. The researchers wish to increase the reliability of their experimental observations before investigating new claims that chemotherapy-resistant tumors are an example of continuing evolution. Of the following, which is the best next step the researchers might take to increase the reliability of their evidence?

Increasing the number of trials and the number of mice in each treatment group.

A researcher uses the protocol shown in Figure 1 to isolate a eukaryotic gene for the purpose of genetically engineering bacteria to synthesize the corresponding protein. Which of the following best predicts why the recombinant bacteria will fail to produce the eukaryotic protein?

Introns must be removed from eukaryotic DNA before the gene is inserted into the plasmid

Mollusk fossils were excavated and collected from a costal cliff. Scientists studying the fossils observed patterns of changing shell shape in the mollusks. The scientists identified a period of stability or stasis, followed by rapid change, and then stasis again with regard to shell shape. Which of the following statements best predicts the result of a comparison between the fossils found before and after the period of rapid change?

Most of the species found in the first static period will be absent in the second static period

Students created a model showing one possible mechanism for speciation in which a geographic barrier separated one large population into two smaller populations, A and B. Over time, populations A and B developed into 2 distinct species. This model is shown in Figure 1. Which of the following best describes what occurred during the periods indicated by the arrows?

Natural selection acted on variation that was present in both populations A and B, and the lack of gene flow eventually led to the formation of two new species.

Table 1 summarizes selected characteristics of organisms from each of the three domains of life. Which of the following sets of data provides evidence that best supports common ancestry for organisms in all three domains?

Organisms in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya each have adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine bases forming their DNA.

In a particular region, a species of lizard lives in the lowlands. Even though there are numerous mountains in the region, the climate on the mountains is too cold for the lizards to survive. Scientists are concerned that the lowlands will become much warmer by the end of the twenty-first century and will become unsuitable for this lowland lizard species. Which of the following best predicts the impact on the lizard species if there is a gradual increase in the average temperatures found in both the lowlands and mountains in this region?

Some lizards will migrate to new habitats in the mountains and become isolated, leading to allopatric speciation

A group of researchers claim that chance events play an important role in the evolution of populations. To test their claim, they monitored 12 populations of E. coli for 10,000 generations under the same environmental conditions. They found that although all 12 population were exposed to the same environmental pressures, each population had differentiated from one another genetically after 10,000 generations. Which of the following statements includes a reasonable refinement that researchers could use in repeating the experiment?

Start each population with genetically identical bacterial cells from a single culture to make sure that the initial genetic variation in all of the populations was exactly the same.

A scientist is studying the impact of mutagens on genetic variation in mice. In an experiment, the scientist creates 2 groups of 20 highly inbred mice. Because the mice are highly inbred, they are essentially identical to one another. One group is given food with an added substance that is known to be a mutagen. The second group is fed the same food without the mutagen. After several generations, both groups of mice are given a new type of food that is harder to digest than the previous food. After rearing five additional generations of the mice on this new food, the two groups are assessed for how efficiently this new food is digested. Which of the following is the most reasonable prediction about the results of the experiment?

The group of mice fed the mutagen will show a greater ability to digest the food, because the higher genetic variation within the group makes it more likely that some individuals will have a combination of genes better adapted to the new food.

Some plant species flower in response to increasing daily temperatures in the spring. Many of these species rely on pollinators that migrate based on changes in day length and the position of the Sun. The current global warming trend is placing new selective pressures on the species involved in these relationships. Which of the following best explains the impact of these new selective pressures on the organisms involved?

The plant species will flower earlier in the spring in response to rising temperatures before the arrival of the pollinators, so seeds will not be produced

Iridium is an element that is rare on Earth but commonly found in meteorites. A scientist believes that the first organic molecules may have come to Earth on meteorites 3.6 billion years ago. Which of these would be an appropriate null hypothesis to test related to whether meteorites hit the Earth 3.6 billion years ago?

There is no difference in iridium levels in sediments that were deposited on Earth 3.6 billion years old, compared to recent sediments.