BIOL2400: MIDTERMS & EXAM
PRACTICE Q'S AND CORRECT
ANSWERS.
You have sequenced a section of a gene from four species of acorn barnacles and intend to use
it to build a phylogeny using maximum parsimony. The sequences are as follows:
Base number: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Species I A G C G G A T
Species II A C C T G A C
Species III G C C T G A T
Species IV T C C G G A C
Which DNA bases (1-7) are parsimony informative? - Answer Bases 4 and 7
A phenotype is:
A complex trait involving the interaction between the genotype and the environment
The physical appearance of an organism resulting from input from the environment only
A measurable characteristic such as a morphological character, developmental or physiological
process or behavior
A feature of an organism that can never change during its lifetime
Both 1 and 3
Both 3 and 4 - Answer Both 1 and 3
Which is NOT part of the theory of Natural Selection:
Individuals within species are variable. Some phenotypic variation among individuals is
inheritable by their offspring.
Offspring inherit all favorable traits from their parents, always resulting in more fit individuals
within a population.
In every generation, more offspring are produced than can survive therefore, only some will
breed.
The survival and reproduction of individuals is not random: Individuals with the most favorable
variations will survive and reproduce the most are thus "naturally selected-> "Survival of the
Fittest". - Answer Offspring inherit all favorable traits from their parents, always resulting in
more fit individuals within a population.
True or False: Darwin determined there to be Dominant and Recessive traits - Answer False
What is Evolution?
,Is the result of individuals adapting to new environments.
Is Natural selection.
Is the process by which populations change over time due to changes in allele frequencies
between generations.
An idea based on poor evidence of how species change over time.
Is the process by which individuals get the adaptations they need to be successful. - Answer
Is the process by which populations change over time due to changes in allele frequencies
between generations.
Similarity in character states can be due to ____.
1. Sharing a common ancestor.
2. Homoplasy
3. Convergent evolution and evolutionary reversal of characters.
4. 1, 2 and 3.
5. None of the above - Answer 4. 1, 2 and 3.
Adaptations are:
Inherited traits that result in individuals to being favoured by natural selection in certain
environments.
Traits that evolve in response to an animal's need in its current environment.
Traits that ensure the survival of a species.
Evolved traits that perfectly perform a required function.
All of the above. - Answer Inherited traits that result in individuals to being favoured by
natural selection in certain environments.
Malthus's "Essay on the principle of population" helped Darwin realise:
Population growth exceeds available resources, causing competition for the resources necessary
for survival.
Populations evolve over time in response to environmental pressures.
Evolution does not consider what is best for the population, it is the result of individual
adaptation.
That someone else had developed the theory of evolution and that Darwin had to publish his
work immediately. - Answer Population growth exceeds available resources, causing
competition for the resources necessary for survival.
Pterosaur wings and butterfly wings are:
Homologous
A synapomorphic character
, Analogous
None of the above - Answer Analogous
Which of the following is NOT a component of natural selection?
Life is driven inexorably from simplicity to complexity.
The potential fertility of a species should allow for exponential population growth.
Variation is heritable.
Natural resources are limited and in a stable environment remain constant - Answer Life is
driven inexorably from simplicity to complexity.
What is a correct definition of homology?
Similarity of traits in different organisms due to shared inheritance from a common ancestor.
Common function of traits due to similar usage in different organisms.
Structure of limbs that are common among all mammals.
All of the above.
None of the above. - Answer Similarity of traits in different organisms due to shared
inheritance from a common ancestor.
When we say that the genotypes at a particular locus do not differ from Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium for a particular population we mean that:
That allele frequencies in the population will change from one generation to the next.
That allele frequencies at a genetic locus will not change from one generation to the next .
That the population is evolving due to migration, mutation and natural selection
That the population is evolving in absence of migration, mutation and natural selection.
the genotypes: A1A1 A1A2 A2A2
have the frequencies that are not significantly different from those predicted by HWE:
of: p^2 2pq and q^2 respectively. - Answer the genotypes: A1A1 A1A2 A2A2
have the frequencies that are not significantly different from those predicted by HWE:
of: p^2 2pq and q^2 respectively.
Which of the following instances obeys the Hardy-Weinberg Theorem?
A small population that is in equilibrium with respect to selection and mutationA population
where migration is counteracted by the force of genetic drift
An infinite population with no migration, selection, mutation nor genetic drift
PRACTICE Q'S AND CORRECT
ANSWERS.
You have sequenced a section of a gene from four species of acorn barnacles and intend to use
it to build a phylogeny using maximum parsimony. The sequences are as follows:
Base number: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Species I A G C G G A T
Species II A C C T G A C
Species III G C C T G A T
Species IV T C C G G A C
Which DNA bases (1-7) are parsimony informative? - Answer Bases 4 and 7
A phenotype is:
A complex trait involving the interaction between the genotype and the environment
The physical appearance of an organism resulting from input from the environment only
A measurable characteristic such as a morphological character, developmental or physiological
process or behavior
A feature of an organism that can never change during its lifetime
Both 1 and 3
Both 3 and 4 - Answer Both 1 and 3
Which is NOT part of the theory of Natural Selection:
Individuals within species are variable. Some phenotypic variation among individuals is
inheritable by their offspring.
Offspring inherit all favorable traits from their parents, always resulting in more fit individuals
within a population.
In every generation, more offspring are produced than can survive therefore, only some will
breed.
The survival and reproduction of individuals is not random: Individuals with the most favorable
variations will survive and reproduce the most are thus "naturally selected-> "Survival of the
Fittest". - Answer Offspring inherit all favorable traits from their parents, always resulting in
more fit individuals within a population.
True or False: Darwin determined there to be Dominant and Recessive traits - Answer False
What is Evolution?
,Is the result of individuals adapting to new environments.
Is Natural selection.
Is the process by which populations change over time due to changes in allele frequencies
between generations.
An idea based on poor evidence of how species change over time.
Is the process by which individuals get the adaptations they need to be successful. - Answer
Is the process by which populations change over time due to changes in allele frequencies
between generations.
Similarity in character states can be due to ____.
1. Sharing a common ancestor.
2. Homoplasy
3. Convergent evolution and evolutionary reversal of characters.
4. 1, 2 and 3.
5. None of the above - Answer 4. 1, 2 and 3.
Adaptations are:
Inherited traits that result in individuals to being favoured by natural selection in certain
environments.
Traits that evolve in response to an animal's need in its current environment.
Traits that ensure the survival of a species.
Evolved traits that perfectly perform a required function.
All of the above. - Answer Inherited traits that result in individuals to being favoured by
natural selection in certain environments.
Malthus's "Essay on the principle of population" helped Darwin realise:
Population growth exceeds available resources, causing competition for the resources necessary
for survival.
Populations evolve over time in response to environmental pressures.
Evolution does not consider what is best for the population, it is the result of individual
adaptation.
That someone else had developed the theory of evolution and that Darwin had to publish his
work immediately. - Answer Population growth exceeds available resources, causing
competition for the resources necessary for survival.
Pterosaur wings and butterfly wings are:
Homologous
A synapomorphic character
, Analogous
None of the above - Answer Analogous
Which of the following is NOT a component of natural selection?
Life is driven inexorably from simplicity to complexity.
The potential fertility of a species should allow for exponential population growth.
Variation is heritable.
Natural resources are limited and in a stable environment remain constant - Answer Life is
driven inexorably from simplicity to complexity.
What is a correct definition of homology?
Similarity of traits in different organisms due to shared inheritance from a common ancestor.
Common function of traits due to similar usage in different organisms.
Structure of limbs that are common among all mammals.
All of the above.
None of the above. - Answer Similarity of traits in different organisms due to shared
inheritance from a common ancestor.
When we say that the genotypes at a particular locus do not differ from Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium for a particular population we mean that:
That allele frequencies in the population will change from one generation to the next.
That allele frequencies at a genetic locus will not change from one generation to the next .
That the population is evolving due to migration, mutation and natural selection
That the population is evolving in absence of migration, mutation and natural selection.
the genotypes: A1A1 A1A2 A2A2
have the frequencies that are not significantly different from those predicted by HWE:
of: p^2 2pq and q^2 respectively. - Answer the genotypes: A1A1 A1A2 A2A2
have the frequencies that are not significantly different from those predicted by HWE:
of: p^2 2pq and q^2 respectively.
Which of the following instances obeys the Hardy-Weinberg Theorem?
A small population that is in equilibrium with respect to selection and mutationA population
where migration is counteracted by the force of genetic drift
An infinite population with no migration, selection, mutation nor genetic drift
