Question 1

A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a ________.
A) community
B) population
C) ecosystem
D) family

Accepted Answer

A population refers to a group of organisms of the same species living in a specific geographic area. A community encompasses multiple populations of different species living in the same area. An ecosystem refers to the combination of living organisms and their physical environment interacting with each other. A family is a taxonomic rank above the level of the genus and species and refers to a group of related species.

Question 2

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?
A) informatics
B) taxonomy
C) genomics
D) evolution

Accepted Answer

Taxonomy is the branch of biology that deals with the identification, naming, and classification of organisms according to their natural relationships.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of natural selection?
A) It requires genetic variation.
B) It results in descent with modification.
C) It involves differential reproductive success.
D) It requires genetic variation, results in descent with modification, and involves differential reproductive success.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection requires genetic variation for there to be differences in traits that can be selected for or against. The process of natural selection results in descent with modification because the traits that are favored become more prevalent in the population over time. This is a form of evolution. Differential reproductive success is a key factor in natural selection as individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to their offspring. Thus, all three statements are true of natural selection.

Question 4

Which of the following order is correct in terms of the hierarchy of the organization?
A) Ecosystem → Biosphere → Population → Community → Organism
B) Biosphere → Ecosystem → Population → Community → Organism
C) Ecosystem → Community → Biosphere → Population → Organism
D) Biosphere → Ecosystem →Community → Population → Organism

Accepted Answer

The correct hierarchy from largest to smallest is: Biosphere, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Organism.

Question 5

Plants convert ________.
A) chemical energy to mechanical energy.
B) sunlight to mechanical energy.
C) sunlight to chemical energy.
D) mechanical energy to chemical energy.

Accepted Answer

Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis, which is a chemical reaction. Therefore, plants convert sunlight to chemical energy.

Question 6

Cells are ________.
A) only found in pairs, because single cells cannot exist independently
B) limited in size to 200 and 500 micrometers in diameter
C) characteristic of eukaryotic but not prokaryotic organisms
D) characteristic of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms

Accepted Answer

Cells are present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Option A is incorrect as cells can exist independently, such as in unicellular organisms. Option B is incorrect as some cells can be smaller or larger than the given range. Option C is incorrect as cells are present in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.

Question 7

When your body temperature rises on a hot day, the neural and hormonal mechanisms activate sweating. Evaporation of sweat leads to cooling of the body surface. This is an example of ________.
A) positive feedback regulation
B) negative feedback regulation
C) chemical cycling
D) emergent properties

Accepted Answer

This is an example of negative feedback regulation, where a change in a variable (body temperature) triggers a response that counteracts the initial change (sweating and evaporation cooling the body). This helps to maintain homeostasis, or a stable internal environment. Positive feedback regulation would amplify the initial change, which is not the case here. Chemical cycling and emergent properties are not relevant to this scenario.

Question 8

You are suffering from Streptococcus throat infection. You share the following with the bacteria that is responsible for your condition.
A) You both belong to the same domain.
B) You both are made up of cells.
C) You both have genetic material in your nucleus.
D) You and Streptococcus have nothing in common.

Accepted Answer

Both the Streptococcus bacteria and the human body are made up of cells. However, humans have eukaryotic cells with a nucleus containing genetic material, while Streptococcus has prokaryotic cells without a nucleus. Therefore, option C is incorrect. Option D is also incorrect as there are some basic similarities between all living organisms. Option A is incorrect as belonging to the same domain does not necessarily mean that we share any specific characteristics with the bacteria causing a particular infection.

Question 9

To understand the chemical basis of inheritance, we must understand the molecular structure of DNA. This is an example of the application of which concept to the study of biology?
A) evolution
B) emergent properties
C) reductionism
D) feedback regulation

Accepted Answer

The application of reductionism in the study of biology involves breaking down complex biological systems into their smaller, more simple components in order to understand how they function. In this case, understanding the chemical basis of inheritance involves understanding the molecular structure of DNA, which is a fundamental component of the genetic code.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true regarding the complexity of biological systems?
A) An understanding of the interactions between different components within a living system is an approach towards understanding reductionism.
B) Knowing the function of a component of a living system can provide insights into the structure and organization of the living system.
C) Understanding the chemical structure of DNA reveals how it directs the functioning of a living cell.
D) An ecosystem displays complex properties of the biotic component only.

Accepted Answer

Knowing the function of a component of a living system can provide insights into the structure and organization of the living system. Biological systems are complex and understanding the function of individual components can provide insights into the overall organization and function of the system. However, reductionism, which is an approach to understanding complex systems by breaking them down into smaller, simpler parts, is not a complete approach to understanding biological systems.

Question 11

As letters are to English language, ________ is/are to genetic information.
A) proteins
B) nucleotides
C) DNA double helix
D) A and B

Accepted Answer

Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of genetic information, just like letters are the building blocks of English language. Proteins are important molecules in carrying out genetic information, but they are not the building blocks. The DNA double helix is the three-dimensional structure that nucleotides form, but it is not itself the building block of genetic information.

Question 12

Characters are transmitted from parents to offspring. ________ are the units of inheritance.
A) Genes
B) Proteins
C) RNA
D) DNA

Accepted Answer

Genes are the units of inheritance that are transmitted from parents to offspring. Proteins and RNA are products of gene expression, and DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information in most organisms.

Question 13

Which of the following types of cells utilize deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as their genetic material but do not have their DNA encased within a nuclear envelope?
A) animal
B) plant
C) archaean
D) fungi

Accepted Answer

Archaean cells utilize DNA as their genetic material but do not have their DNA encased within a nuclear envelope. Animal, plant, and fungal cells all have their DNA contained within a nuclear envelope.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true?
A) mRNA is the only type of RNA found in the living system
B) All forms of life employ the same genetic code
C) A typical human liver cell has one set of chromosomes
D) Organisms interact but do not affect their environment

Accepted Answer

All forms of life employ the same genetic code, meaning that the genetic code used to specify amino acids in protein synthesis is the same across all living organisms. A, C, and D are all false statements. mRNA is not the only type of RNA found in the living system (there are also tRNA and rRNA). A typical human liver cell has two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent). Organisms can affect their environment through their interactions (e.g. predator-prey relationships, competition for resources, etc.).

Question 15

In comparison to eukaryotes, prokaryotes ________.
A) are more structurally complex
B) are larger
C) are smaller
D) do not have membranes

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotes are generally smaller in size than eukaryotes.

Question 16

Which of the following is not one of Charles Darwin's observations?
A) Individuals in a population vary in their traits.
B) Many of the traits in an individual are heritable.
C) A population avoids competition by producing only as many offspring as can successfully reproduce on their own.
D) Species generally are adapted to their environments.

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin did not make the observation that a population avoids competition by producing only as many offspring as can successfully reproduce on their own. This is a principle known as the carrying capacity and was developed by ecologists after Darwin's time.

Question 17

The process by which the information in a gene directs the synthesis of a protein is called ________.
A) gene expression
B) replication
C) post translation modification
D) cloning

Accepted Answer

Gene expression refers to the process by which the information in a gene is used to produce a functional protein. This process involves transcription of DNA into RNA, and translation of the RNA into a protein. Replication is the process by which genetic material is duplicated, while post-translation modification refers to changes that occur to a protein after it has been synthesized. Cloning is a separate process by which an exact copy of an organism or gene is produced.

Question 18

Which of these provides evidence of the common ancestry of all life?
A) near universality of the genetic code
B) structure of the nucleus
C) structure of cilia
D) structure of chloroplasts

Accepted Answer

The near universality of the genetic code, in which the same codons code for the same amino acids across all living organisms, provides strong evidence for their common ancestry. This suggests that all living organisms share a common ancestor that established this genetic code. The structure of the nucleus, cilia, and chloroplasts are not universal and therefore do not provide as strong evidence for common ancestry.

Question 19

Use the following figure to answer the question.

"A" is ________; "B" is ________.
A) the most recent species to evolve on Earth; an ancestor of group "A"
B) the most recent species to evolve on Earth; the last common ancestor of Archaea and Eukarya
C) the common ancestor of all life; the common ancestor of Bacteria and Archaea
D) the common ancestor of all life; the last common ancestor of Archaea and Eukarya

Accepted Answer

According to the figure, "A" is the most recent species to evolve on Earth and an ancestor of group "A," while "B" is the common ancestor of all life and the last common ancestor of Archaea and Eukarya. Therefore, the best choice is D, which describes each accurately.

Question 20

Use the following figure to answer the question.

The phylogenetic tree ________.
A) depicts that Archaea is closer to Bacteria than Eukarya
B) depicts that Eukarya is closer to Bacteria than Archaea
C) includes unicellular and some forms of multicellular life, but not complex animals and plants
D) includes every single life form on this earth

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use the following figure to answer the...

Quiz 1: Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a ________.

Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?

Which of the following is true of natural selection?

Which of the following order is correct in terms of the hierarchy of the organization?

Plants convert ________.

Cells are ________.

When your body temperature rises on a hot day, the neural and hormonal mechanisms activate sweating. Evaporation of sweat leads to cooling of the body surface. This is an example of ________.

You are suffering from Streptococcus throat infection. You share the following with the bacteria that is responsible for your condition.

To understand the chemical basis of inheritance, we must understand the molecular structure of DNA. This is an example of the application of which concept to the study of biology?

Which of the following statements is true regarding the complexity of biological systems?

As letters are to English language, ________ is/are to genetic information.

Characters are transmitted from parents to offspring. ________ are the units of inheritance.

Which of the following types of cells utilize deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as their genetic material but do not have their DNA encased within a nuclear envelope?

Which of the following statements is true?

In comparison to eukaryotes, prokaryotes ________.

Which of the following is not one of Charles Darwin's observations?

The process by which the information in a gene directs the synthesis of a protein is called ________.

Which of these provides evidence of the common ancestry of all life?

Use the following figure to answer the question. "A" is ; "B" is .

Use the following figure to answer the question. The phylogenetic tree ________.