Contemporary Issues in Biology Final Sawey
TCU Exam Questions and Correct Answers
Question 1
What made dense human civilizations possible?
Correct Answer
Water- dependent agricultural systems, developed over the last 10,000 years
Question 2
How many proteins are humans made up of?
Correct Answer
Could be over 2 million different types
Question 3
Who is Lucy?
Correct Answer
3.2 million year old ancestor of humans
Found in Ethiopia in 1974
Question 4
Genetic Markers
Correct Answer
-in men, scientists can track the markers on the Y chromosome because the Y
chromosome passes from father to son
-in women, scientists can track mitochondrial DNA that is passed from mother to
daughter in the egg
Page 1 of 104
,Question 5
Species extinction is natural
Correct Answer
Of all the species that have populated Earth at some time over the past 3.5 billion
years, more than 95% have vanished
Question 6
Most important sustainability issue
Correct Answer
Climate change and its relationship to energy use
Question 7
Why should we worry about unappealing/traditionally unwanted animals going
extinct?
Correct Answer
o Their effect on the ecosystem could be substantial, even if not obvious. Their
extinction could affect crops.
o Benefits of saving the ecosystems outweighs costs by a factor of 100. Contributes
tons to the global economy
Question 8
What have scientists found that show resemblance to humans that lived over the past
6 million years?
Correct Answer
Fossils, these species indicate a general progression from primitive to more
advanced relatives of humans
Page 2 of 104
,Question 9
water usage in the US breakdown
Correct Answer
o Agriculture (For animals): 56%
o Agriculture (For humans) :27%
o Domestic Water: 5%
Question 10
Biggest threat to species
Correct Answer
Exploitation
Question 11
Who is Ardi?
Correct Answer
4.4 million year old ancestor of humans found in Ethiopia
Question 12
What nutrients does photosynthesis bring?
Correct Answer
Phosphorus and Nitrogen
Question 13
Fire Ants cost Texas how much in damages?
Correct Answer
Failure of electrical systems, leading to over 100 million (140 mil according to
article) dollars in Texas
Page 3 of 104
, Question 14
Americans on antidepressants (most commonly used prescription drug)
Correct Answer
27 million 5 yrs and older (about 9%)
Question 15
Of all living species how many are thought to be extinct?
Correct Answer
99%
Question 16
What was the result in using DDT too often?
Correct Answer
Pests became resistant to it
Question 17
How to properly treat a fire-ant mound?
Correct Answer
1) Lay out bait and let them bring it back to mound
2) Spray poison on specifically trouble mounds.
Question 18
Endangered species
Correct Answer
An animal or plant listed by regulation as being danger of extinction
Question 19
When were continents together?
Correct Answer
200 million years ago
Page 4 of 104
TCU Exam Questions and Correct Answers
Question 1
What made dense human civilizations possible?
Correct Answer
Water- dependent agricultural systems, developed over the last 10,000 years
Question 2
How many proteins are humans made up of?
Correct Answer
Could be over 2 million different types
Question 3
Who is Lucy?
Correct Answer
3.2 million year old ancestor of humans
Found in Ethiopia in 1974
Question 4
Genetic Markers
Correct Answer
-in men, scientists can track the markers on the Y chromosome because the Y
chromosome passes from father to son
-in women, scientists can track mitochondrial DNA that is passed from mother to
daughter in the egg
Page 1 of 104
,Question 5
Species extinction is natural
Correct Answer
Of all the species that have populated Earth at some time over the past 3.5 billion
years, more than 95% have vanished
Question 6
Most important sustainability issue
Correct Answer
Climate change and its relationship to energy use
Question 7
Why should we worry about unappealing/traditionally unwanted animals going
extinct?
Correct Answer
o Their effect on the ecosystem could be substantial, even if not obvious. Their
extinction could affect crops.
o Benefits of saving the ecosystems outweighs costs by a factor of 100. Contributes
tons to the global economy
Question 8
What have scientists found that show resemblance to humans that lived over the past
6 million years?
Correct Answer
Fossils, these species indicate a general progression from primitive to more
advanced relatives of humans
Page 2 of 104
,Question 9
water usage in the US breakdown
Correct Answer
o Agriculture (For animals): 56%
o Agriculture (For humans) :27%
o Domestic Water: 5%
Question 10
Biggest threat to species
Correct Answer
Exploitation
Question 11
Who is Ardi?
Correct Answer
4.4 million year old ancestor of humans found in Ethiopia
Question 12
What nutrients does photosynthesis bring?
Correct Answer
Phosphorus and Nitrogen
Question 13
Fire Ants cost Texas how much in damages?
Correct Answer
Failure of electrical systems, leading to over 100 million (140 mil according to
article) dollars in Texas
Page 3 of 104
, Question 14
Americans on antidepressants (most commonly used prescription drug)
Correct Answer
27 million 5 yrs and older (about 9%)
Question 15
Of all living species how many are thought to be extinct?
Correct Answer
99%
Question 16
What was the result in using DDT too often?
Correct Answer
Pests became resistant to it
Question 17
How to properly treat a fire-ant mound?
Correct Answer
1) Lay out bait and let them bring it back to mound
2) Spray poison on specifically trouble mounds.
Question 18
Endangered species
Correct Answer
An animal or plant listed by regulation as being danger of extinction
Question 19
When were continents together?
Correct Answer
200 million years ago
Page 4 of 104
