Question 1

What is the original source of new alleles?  
A)crossing over
B)independent assortment
C)fertilization
D)mutation
E)mitosis

Accepted Answer

The original source of new alleles is mutation, which is a random change in the DNA sequence. The other options (crossing over, independent assortment, fertilization, and mitosis) can shuffle and rearrange pre-existing alleles, but they cannot create new ones.

Question 2

Traits with more than two distinct forms are ____.
A)polymorphic
B)dimorphic
C)codominant
D)heterozygous
E)homozygous

Accepted Answer

Traits with more than two distinct forms are called polymorphic. This means that there are multiple variations of the trait within the population.

Question 3

_____ are hot spots for the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their spread to humans due to excessive use of antibiotics.
A)Hospitals
B)Laboratories
C)Farms 
D)Doctor's offices
E)Landfills

Accepted Answer

Farms are hot spots for the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to the excessive use of antibiotics in livestock, which can then spread to humans through the consumption of contaminated meat or through contact with contaminated soil or water. Hospitals and doctor's offices can also be hot spots for the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but they are not necessarily sites of evolution. Laboratories and landfills may contribute to the problem, but they are not as significant as farms.

Question 4

What is the best definition of a population?  
A)a group of individuals of two different species that interact with each other
B)a group of interbreeding individuals from different geographical regions
C)a group of potentially interbreeding individuals of the same species regardless of where they live
D)a collection of different species living in the same area at the same time
E)a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species in a given area

Accepted Answer

A population is defined as a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species in a specific area, which aligns with choice E.

Question 5

Mutations that result in the death of the individual are known as ____.
A)beneficial 
B)lethal
C)random
D)spontaneous
E)neutral

Accepted Answer

Mutations that result in the death of the individual are known as lethal mutations. Beneficial mutations provide an advantage, neutral mutations have no effect, random mutations occur without any specific pattern, and spontaneous mutations arise naturally due to errors in DNA replication or environmental factors.

Question 6

Any change in allele frequencies in a gene pool is called ____.
A)natural selection
B)macroevolution
C)microevolution
D)mutation
E)artificial selection

Accepted Answer

Microevolution refers to small-scale changes in allele frequencies within a population over time, which can be caused by factors such as genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, and natural selection. Macroevolution, on the other hand, refers to large-scale changes that result in the formation of new species or higher taxonomic groups. While natural selection and artificial selection can both contribute to microevolution, they are not synonymous with it. Mutation may lead to microevolutionary changes, but it is not in itself microevolution.

Question 7

In 2000,87% of the wild rat populations in Stadtlohn,Germany was resistant to the poison bromadiolone.This indicates that ____was/were commonly used as a rat poison(s)here,and the rat's resistance is an example of ____ selection.
A)warfarin; directional
B)bromadiolone; directional
C)both warfarin and bromadiolone; disruptive
D)neither warfarin nor bromadiolone; stabilizing
E)bromadiolone; disruptive

Accepted Answer

The fact that 87% of the wild rat population was resistant specifically to bromadiolone indicates that this particular poison was commonly used. Additionally, the resistance shows directional selection, in which the trait that confers resistance becomes more common in the population over time.

Question 8

Fatter sociable weaver birds spend more time foraging where they are vulnerable to predation,are more attractive to predators,and are less likely to escape an attack.Conversely,thin birds risk starvation.Therefore,sociable weaver of an intermediate weight have a selective advantage.This is an example of ____ selection.
A)frequent
B)directional
C)disruptive
D)stabilizing
E)mutational

Accepted Answer

Stabilizing selection occurs when individuals with intermediate phenotypes have a selective advantage over individuals with extreme phenotypes. In this scenario, birds that are of intermediate weight have an advantage over birds that are either too thin or too fat. This is because the birds that are too thin risk starvation, while the birds that are too fat are more vulnerable to predation. The sociable weaver birds that fall in the intermediate range are more likely to survive and reproduce, thus stabilizing the population towards this phenotype.

Question 9

Which of the following is most likely the result of a neutral mutation?  
A)fingerprint patterns
B)larger brains
C)standing upright
D)digestion of cellulose
E)fur

Accepted Answer

Fingerprint patterns are largely determined by chance, and do not confer a significant advantage or disadvantage in terms of survival or reproduction. Therefore, any mutations related to fingerprint patterns would likely be neutral in terms of their effect on fitness.

Question 10

An allele's abundance within a population is referred to as ____ frequency.
A)allele
B)mutation
C)ratio
D)population
E)gene

Accepted Answer

The answer of An allele's abundance within a population is...

Question 11

Individuals,such as veterinarians,who work closely with farm animals treated with antibiotics tend to carry ____ as a result.
A)lethal bacteria
B)bacteria vulnerable to all antibiotics
C)bacteria vulnerable to some antibiotics
D)bacteria resistant to Flavomycin® but not vancomycin
E)more antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Accepted Answer

Individuals who work closely with farm animals treated with antibiotics tend to come into contact with more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance in their own microbiota. This is due to the selective pressure placed on bacteria in these environments, as those that are resistant to antibiotics are more likely to survive and proliferate.

Question 12

All of the alleles in a population make up the ____.
A)species richness
B)species abundance
C)genome
D)gene pool
E)species diversity

Accepted Answer

The gene pool refers to all of the alleles (different forms of genes) present in a population. This includes both dominant and recessive alleles for all traits, with their frequency distribution determined by the forces of evolution such as natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. The gene pool can change over time through mutation, recombination, and other factors, leading to genetic diversity within and between populations. Therefore, the correct answer is D) gene pool.

Question 13

In sexually reproducing species,genetic variations are not passed onto offspring via ____.
A)mutation
B)crossing over
C)independent assortment
D)fertilization
E)mitosis

Accepted Answer

Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in somatic cells and results in the production of two genetically identical daughter cells. However, it does not contribute to the formation of gametes (sperm or egg cells) and therefore does not create genetic variation in offspring. Mutations, crossing over, independent assortment, and fertilization all contribute to genetic variation in offspring.

Question 14

____ increases the frequency of adaptive mutations in a population over time.
A)Fitness
B)Natural selection
C)Artificial selection
D)Adaptive radiation
E)Macroevolution

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favors adaptive mutations because they increase the fitness of individuals in a population, allowing them to survive and reproduce. As a result, these adaptive mutations become more common in the population over time.

Question 15

How are new combinations of alleles introduced into chromosomes?  
A)independent assortment in meiosis I
B)crossing over in meiosis I
C)breeding between the dominant individuals in the population
D)breeding between the recessive individuals in the population
E)independent assortment at meiosis II

Accepted Answer

Crossing over occurs during meiosis I when homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, resulting in new combinations of alleles in the chromosomes of the resulting gametes. Independent assortment (A and E) refers to the random arrangement of homologous chromosomes during meiosis I and II, respectively, which also creates different combinations of alleles in gametes, but it does not involve the physical exchange of genetic material like crossing over. Breeding between dominant or recessive individuals (C and D) may increase the frequency of certain alleles in a population but does not necessarily introduce new combinations of alleles into chromosomes.

Question 16

A 2013 investigation found "worrisome" amounts of ____ in 97% of the chicken meat in stores across the United States.
A)bacteria
B)antibiotics
C)viruses
D)vancomycin
E)DNA

Accepted Answer

The 2013 investigation found "worrisome" amounts of bacteria in 97% of the chicken meat in stores across the United States, highlighting concerns about food safety and the potential for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Question 17

Environmental pressures result in a(n)____ of adaptive alleles.
A)decrease in the frequency
B)increase in the frequency
C)assortment
D)removal
E)migration

Accepted Answer

Environmental pressures can cause certain traits to become more advantageous for survival and reproduction, leading to an increase in the frequency of the alleles responsible for those traits. This process is known as natural selection.

Question 18

A ____ mutation changes the DNA sequence but has no impact on the fitness of the individual.
A)beneficial
B)lethal
C)random
D)neutral
E)deleterious

Accepted Answer

A neutral mutation does not affect the fitness of the individual. It may still be passed on to offspring, but it will not give an advantage or disadvantage to the organism's survival and reproduction.

Question 19

Natural selection drives changes in allele frequencies by influencing traits with a ____ basis.
A)genetic
B)non-genetic
C)asexual
D)lethal
E)intermediate

Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on genetic variation within a population, so changes in allele frequencies are driven by genetic factors. Non-genetic factors, such as the environment or behavior, can influence the expression of genes, but they do not directly drive changes in allele frequencies. Asexual reproduction can lead to genetic drift, but it does not introduce new genetic variation into a population, which is necessary for natural selection to occur. Lethal traits are unlikely to be selected for, as they decrease an individual's fitness. Intermediate traits may be subject to selection if they confer some advantage, but the basis for this advantage is still genetic variation.

Question 20

With ____ selection,the frequency of a favored allele will increase as a phenotypic variation becomes more adaptive.
A)directional
B)stabilizing
C)disruptive
D)frequent
E)mutational

Accepted Answer

Directional selection favors individuals with a particular trait and causes the frequency of the favored allele to increase over time. As phenotypic variation becomes more adaptive (meaning it provides a selective advantage), individuals with that trait will have higher fitness and may produce more offspring, leading to an increase in the frequency of the favored allele in the population. Stabilizing and disruptive selection do not necessarily lead to an increase in the frequency of a favored allele, and frequent and mutational selection are not types of selection.

Quiz 12: Processes Of Evolution

What is the original source of new alleles?

Traits with more than two distinct forms are ____.

_____ are hot spots for the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their spread to humans due to excessive use of antibiotics.

What is the best definition of a population?

Mutations that result in the death of the individual are known as ____.

Any change in allele frequencies in a gene pool is called ____.

In 2000,87% of the wild rat populations in Stadtlohn,Germany was resistant to the poison bromadiolone.This indicates that was/were commonly used as a rat poison(s) here,and the rat's resistance is an example of selection.

Which of the following is most likely the result of a neutral mutation?

An allele's abundance within a population is referred to as ____ frequency.

Individuals,such as veterinarians,who work closely with farm animals treated with antibiotics tend to carry ____ as a result.

All of the alleles in a population make up the ____.

In sexually reproducing species,genetic variations are not passed onto offspring via ____.

____ increases the frequency of adaptive mutations in a population over time.

How are new combinations of alleles introduced into chromosomes?

A 2013 investigation found "worrisome" amounts of ____ in 97% of the chicken meat in stores across the United States.

Environmental pressures result in a(n) ____ of adaptive alleles.

A ____ mutation changes the DNA sequence but has no impact on the fitness of the individual.

Natural selection drives changes in allele frequencies by influencing traits with a ____ basis.

With ____ selection,the frequency of a favored allele will increase as a phenotypic variation becomes more adaptive.