Question 1

The blueberries found in a typical grocery store have several gene differences compared to wild blueberries. What has caused this difference?
A) natural selection
B) artificial selection
C) a change in the environment
D) genetic engineering

Accepted Answer

The gene differences found in blueberries found in a typical grocery store are a result of artificial selection, also known as selective breeding. Farmers and agricultural scientists selectively breed plants with desirable traits, such as larger fruit size or resistance to disease, to create new varieties. Over time, this process has led to the development of blueberries with different genes compared to wild blueberries.

Question 2

What is an allele?
A) a gene that has been changed by natural selection
B) a trait that has been influence by artificial selection
C) a gene that hasn't changed over time
D) a particular version of a gene

Accepted Answer

An allele is a particular version or variant of a gene. Each individual has two alleles for each gene, one inherited from their mother and one from their father, and the combination of these alleles determines an individual's traits.

Question 3

Which of the following would exert selection pressure on a population of insects?
A) a new species of bird in the area
B) a fire
C) an earthquake
D) the introduction of a population of feral cats into the area

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would exert selection...

Question 4

Which of the following is an adaptation?
A) immunity to a virus caused by vaccination
B) clipped ears on a dog to prevent the dog from developing ear infections
C) webbed feet on a bird
D) a grizzly bear learning to open a Dumpster

Accepted Answer

Webbed feet on a bird are an adaptation because they allow the bird to swim or walk on water, making it easier to catch prey and avoid predators.

Answer: D 
 A grizzly bear learning to open a Dumpster is an example of behavioral adaptation, where the bear has learned a new behavior in order to obtain food.

A) immunity to a virus caused by vaccination is not an adaptation, but rather an acquired response to exposure to the virus.

B) Clipped ears on a dog is not an adaptation, but rather a medical intervention to prevent ear infections.

Question 5

After four observations, Darwin made the inference that natural selection causes ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After four observations, Darwin made the inference...

Question 6

Which of the following steps in the theory of natural selection do humans impact the most to bring about artificial selection?
A) Individuals in a population vary.
B) Some variation can be passed on to offspring.
C) Populations produce more offspring than the environment can support.
D) There is differential survival and reproduction among individuals in a population.

Accepted Answer

Humans impact the step of differential survival and reproduction among individuals in a population the most in order to bring about artificial selection. Humans intentionally choose individuals with desirable traits to breed and selectively eliminate those without desirable traits, thus controlling the reproduction of the population. The other steps, such as individual variation and the production of offspring, may exist naturally but are manipulated by humans for artificial selection.

Question 7

A primary source for new, unique genes in a population is
A) mutation.
B) natural selection.
C) artificial selection.
D) crossing over.

Accepted Answer

Mutations are the primary source for new, unique genes in a population. Mutations are random changes in the DNA sequence that can result in novel traits or characteristics. These mutations can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful and can contribute to genetic diversity in a population. Natural selection, artificial selection, and crossing over can all influence the frequency of existing genes in a population, but they are not sources for new genes.

Question 8

Any trait that is controlled by genes can be acted on by natural selection.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on traits that are controlled by genes, as these traits can be passed on from one generation to the next. Traits that are not influenced by genes, such as acquired characteristics, cannot be acted on by natural selection.

Question 9

Any allele that's present in a population exists because it increases fitness.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. Sometimes alleles can exist in a population due to genetic drift or other random factors, not just because they increase fitness. Additionally, some alleles may have neutral effects on fitness and can still persist in a population.

Question 10

A biologist has been studying two populations of trout in Montana for the last 25 years, when the two populations were established from one common population. In the southern population, the fish now have a slightly different mouth shape. But the northern population hasn't changed from the original type. The new shape works well in catching the type of prey common in the habitat of the southern population. Which explanation best explains the gene differences in the two populations?
A) The mutation only appeared in the southern population after it was exposed to the new prey.
B) The gene that produces the variation is probably still present in a small percentage of the northern population, but since there's no advantage to having it, individuals with the variation aren't selected.
C) The gene that produces the variation used to be present in a few individuals, but since it wasn't advantageous, individuals with that variation died out.
D) The gene that produces the variation used to be common in both populations, but since it wasn't advantageous in the northern population, the variation died out.

Accepted Answer

The gene that produces the variation is probably still present in a small percentage of the northern population, but since there's no advantage to having it, individuals with the variation aren't selected.

Question 11

Artificial selection occurs when an organism's fitness is controlled by ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Artificial selection occurs when an organism's fitness...

Question 12

As natural selection acts on a trait in a population, the amount of variation associated with that trait in the population is likely to do which of the following?
A) decrease
B) increase
C) remain the same
D) disappear altogether

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favors traits that provide a reproductive advantage in a specific environment, leading to the accumulation of advantageous genetic variations in a population. As a result, less advantageous alleles or variations tend to decrease in frequency or even disappear. This leads to a decrease in the amount of variation associated with that trait in the population over time.

Question 13

A population of caterpillars feeds on the leaves of trees in a forest and is in turn food for birds that eat them off the tree leaves. Given this information, which adaptation would be most likely to evolve?
A) Caterpillars would evolve to a larger size.
B) Caterpillars would evolve to eat the bark as well as the leaves.
C) Birds would evolve to eat more types of insects.
D) Caterpillars would evolve to a color that matched the leaves they eat.

Accepted Answer

Caterpillars that evolved a color that matched the leaves they ate would be better camouflaged against predators, making it more difficult for birds to find and eat them. This adaptation would increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction for the caterpillars, leading to the evolution of this trait in future generations.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of individuals who are well adapted for a particular environment?
A) They may or may not be equally fit in another environment.
B) They are the best fit for all other environments.
C) They are at a disadvantage in other environments.
D) They will mutate to become fit in other environments.

Accepted Answer

Individuals who are well adapted for a particular environment are only well adapted for that specific environment. They may not have the necessary traits to adapt to other environments, which might make them unfit in those environments. Therefore, they may or may not be equally fit in another environment.

Question 15

In what way is artificial selection different from natural selection?
A) There's no difference; both have caused evolution throughout the history of life on Earth.
B) Artificial selection applies to changes in domestic animals only, while natural selection applies to all other species.
C) In artificial selection, human preference is the selecting force; in natural selection, environmental conditions are the selecting force.
D) Artificial selection causes one species to change to another, while natural selection only modifies existing species.

Accepted Answer

The main difference between artificial and natural selection lies in the selecting force. In artificial selection, humans actively choose which individuals to breed based on desired traits, while in natural selection, the environment determines which individuals are best suited to survive and reproduce. While both processes contribute to the evolution of species, they operate differently and under different pressures.

Question 16

In a population, which individuals are most likely to survive and reproduce?
A) The individuals who are best adapted to the environment.
B) The largest individuals in the group.
C) The individuals who can catch the most prey.
D) The individuals who grow the most rapidly.

Accepted Answer

Individuals who are best adapted to the environment have traits that allow them to survive and thrive in their specific habitat. This could include traits like camouflage, efficient hunting techniques, or resistance to diseases or predators. These individuals are more likely to survive long enough to reproduce, passing their beneficial traits on to their offspring. The other choices (B, C, D) are not always indicative of survival and reproductive success in a population.

Question 17

The raw material for evolution is ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The raw material for evolution is ________....

Question 18

The goal of natural selection is to make extreme traits more common.

Accepted Answer

The goal of natural selection is not to make extreme traits more common, but rather to increase the frequency of traits that confer a better chance of survival and reproduction in a particular environment. This can sometimes lead to the emergence of extreme traits, but this is not the goal of natural selection.

Question 19

You notice in the fall that the oak trees on campus change color at slightly different times, even though the environment is the same for all the trees. What is the most likely explanation?
A) Natural selection is causing some trees to change.
B) There are different alleles of the gene responsible for color change.
C) The weather changes the genes of the oak trees each year.
D) All the trees have the same genes, but each tree makes different proteins from the genes.

Accepted Answer

Different alleles of the gene responsible for color change could be present in the population of oak trees, leading to variation in the timing of color change. This is a result of genetic variation within a population.

Question 20

Which of the following plants is the most fit?
A) a plant with deep roots
B) a plant with large leaves
C) a plant with large flowers
D) Fitness can't be determined without reference to the environment.

Accepted Answer

Fitness is context-dependent and can only be determined by how well a plant's traits allow it to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.

Quiz 11: An Evolving Enemy: Natural Selection

The blueberries found in a typical grocery store have several gene differences compared to wild blueberries. What has caused this difference?

What is an allele?

Which of the following would exert selection pressure on a population of insects?

Which of the following is an adaptation?

After four observations, Darwin made the inference that natural selection causes ________.

Which of the following steps in the theory of natural selection do humans impact the most to bring about artificial selection?

A primary source for new, unique genes in a population is

Any trait that is controlled by genes can be acted on by natural selection.

Any allele that's present in a population exists because it increases fitness.

Artificial selection occurs when an organism's fitness is controlled by ________.

As natural selection acts on a trait in a population, the amount of variation associated with that trait in the population is likely to do which of the following?

A population of caterpillars feeds on the leaves of trees in a forest and is in turn food for birds that eat them off the tree leaves. Given this information, which adaptation would be most likely to evolve?

Which of the following is true of individuals who are well adapted for a particular environment?

In what way is artificial selection different from natural selection?

In a population, which individuals are most likely to survive and reproduce?

The raw material for evolution is ________.

The goal of natural selection is to make extreme traits more common.

You notice in the fall that the oak trees on campus change color at slightly different times, even though the environment is the same for all the trees. What is the most likely explanation?

Which of the following plants is the most fit?