BIOL 226 Biodiversity and Ecology- 2025 Practical Quizzes
Evolution Concepts and Genetic Variation Insights
Concordia University
1) Which of the following is the best modern definition of evolution?
A) descent with modification
B) change in the number of genes in a population over time
C) survival of the fittest
D) inheritance of acquired characters
A) descent with modification
2
2) Which variable is likely to undergo the largest change in value resulting from a
mutation that introduces a new allele into a population at a locus for which all individuals
formerly had been fully homozygous?
A) average heterozygosity
B) nucleotide variability
C) geographic variability
D) average number of loci
A) average heterozygosity
3
3) Which statement about the beak size of finches on the island of Daphne Major during
prolonged drought is true?
A) Each bird evolved a deeper, stronger beak as the drought persisted.
B) Each bird's survival was strongly influenced by the depth and strength of its beak as
the drought persisted.
C) Each bird that survived the drought produced only offspring with deeper, stronger
beaks than seen in the previous generation.
D) The frequency of the strong-beak alleles increased in each bird as the drought
persisted.
B) Each bird's survival was strongly influenced by the depth and strength of its beak as
the drought persisted.
4
,4) Which statement about variation is true?
A) All phenotypic variation is the result of genotypic variation.
B) All genetic variation produces phenotypic variation.
C) All nucleotide variability results in neutral variation.
D) All new alleles are the result of nucleotide variability.
D) All new alleles are the result of nucleotide variability.
5
5) Rank the following one-base point mutations (from most likely to least likely) with
respect to their likelihood of affecting the structure of the corresponding polypeptide.
1. insertion mutation deep within an intron
2. substitution mutation at the third position of an exonic codon
, 3. substitution mutation at the second position of an exonic codon
4. deletion mutation within the first exon of the gene
A) 1, 2, 3, 4
B) 4, 3, 2, 1
C) 2, 1, 4, 3
D) 3, 1, 4, 2
B) 4, 3, 2, 1
6
6) Genetic variation .
A) is created by the direct action of natural selection
B) arises in response to changes in the environment
C) must be present in a population before natural selection can act upon the population
D) tends to be reduced by when diploid organisms produce gametes
C) must be present in a population before natural selection can act upon the population
7
HIV's genome of RNA includes the code for reverse transcriptase (RT), an enzyme that
acts early in infection to synthesize a DNA genome off of an RNA template. The HIV
genome also codes for protease (PR), an enzyme that acts later in infection by cutting
long viral polyproteins into smaller, functional proteins. Both RT and PR represent
potential targets for antiretroviral drugs. Drugs called nucleoside analogs (NA) act
against RT, whereas drugs called protease inhibitors (PI) act against PR.
7) Which of the following represents the treatment option most likely to avoid the
evolution of drug-resistant HIV (assuming no drug interactions or side effects)?
A) using a series of NAs, one at a time, and changed about once a week
B) using a single PI, but slowly increasing the dosage over the course of a week
C) using high doses of NA and a PI at the same time for a period not to exceed one day
D) using moderate doses of NA and two different PIs at the same time for several months
D) using moderate doses of NA and two different PIs at the same time for several months
8
HIV's genome of RNA includes the code for reverse transcriptase (RT), an enzyme that
acts early in infection to synthesize a DNA genome off of an RNA template. The HIV
genome also codes for protease (PR), an enzyme that acts later in infection by cutting
long viral polyproteins into smaller, functional proteins. Both RT and PR represent
potential targets for antiretroviral drugs. Drugs called nucleoside analogs (NA) act
against RT, whereas drugs called protease inhibitors (PI) act against PR.
8) Every HIV particle contains two RNA molecules. If two genes from one RNA molecule
become detached and then, as a unit, get attached to one end of the other RNA
molecule within a single HIV particle, which of these is true?
A) There are now fewer genes within the viral particle.
B) There are now more genes within the viral particle.
Evolution Concepts and Genetic Variation Insights
Concordia University
1) Which of the following is the best modern definition of evolution?
A) descent with modification
B) change in the number of genes in a population over time
C) survival of the fittest
D) inheritance of acquired characters
A) descent with modification
2
2) Which variable is likely to undergo the largest change in value resulting from a
mutation that introduces a new allele into a population at a locus for which all individuals
formerly had been fully homozygous?
A) average heterozygosity
B) nucleotide variability
C) geographic variability
D) average number of loci
A) average heterozygosity
3
3) Which statement about the beak size of finches on the island of Daphne Major during
prolonged drought is true?
A) Each bird evolved a deeper, stronger beak as the drought persisted.
B) Each bird's survival was strongly influenced by the depth and strength of its beak as
the drought persisted.
C) Each bird that survived the drought produced only offspring with deeper, stronger
beaks than seen in the previous generation.
D) The frequency of the strong-beak alleles increased in each bird as the drought
persisted.
B) Each bird's survival was strongly influenced by the depth and strength of its beak as
the drought persisted.
4
,4) Which statement about variation is true?
A) All phenotypic variation is the result of genotypic variation.
B) All genetic variation produces phenotypic variation.
C) All nucleotide variability results in neutral variation.
D) All new alleles are the result of nucleotide variability.
D) All new alleles are the result of nucleotide variability.
5
5) Rank the following one-base point mutations (from most likely to least likely) with
respect to their likelihood of affecting the structure of the corresponding polypeptide.
1. insertion mutation deep within an intron
2. substitution mutation at the third position of an exonic codon
, 3. substitution mutation at the second position of an exonic codon
4. deletion mutation within the first exon of the gene
A) 1, 2, 3, 4
B) 4, 3, 2, 1
C) 2, 1, 4, 3
D) 3, 1, 4, 2
B) 4, 3, 2, 1
6
6) Genetic variation .
A) is created by the direct action of natural selection
B) arises in response to changes in the environment
C) must be present in a population before natural selection can act upon the population
D) tends to be reduced by when diploid organisms produce gametes
C) must be present in a population before natural selection can act upon the population
7
HIV's genome of RNA includes the code for reverse transcriptase (RT), an enzyme that
acts early in infection to synthesize a DNA genome off of an RNA template. The HIV
genome also codes for protease (PR), an enzyme that acts later in infection by cutting
long viral polyproteins into smaller, functional proteins. Both RT and PR represent
potential targets for antiretroviral drugs. Drugs called nucleoside analogs (NA) act
against RT, whereas drugs called protease inhibitors (PI) act against PR.
7) Which of the following represents the treatment option most likely to avoid the
evolution of drug-resistant HIV (assuming no drug interactions or side effects)?
A) using a series of NAs, one at a time, and changed about once a week
B) using a single PI, but slowly increasing the dosage over the course of a week
C) using high doses of NA and a PI at the same time for a period not to exceed one day
D) using moderate doses of NA and two different PIs at the same time for several months
D) using moderate doses of NA and two different PIs at the same time for several months
8
HIV's genome of RNA includes the code for reverse transcriptase (RT), an enzyme that
acts early in infection to synthesize a DNA genome off of an RNA template. The HIV
genome also codes for protease (PR), an enzyme that acts later in infection by cutting
long viral polyproteins into smaller, functional proteins. Both RT and PR represent
potential targets for antiretroviral drugs. Drugs called nucleoside analogs (NA) act
against RT, whereas drugs called protease inhibitors (PI) act against PR.
8) Every HIV particle contains two RNA molecules. If two genes from one RNA molecule
become detached and then, as a unit, get attached to one end of the other RNA
molecule within a single HIV particle, which of these is true?
A) There are now fewer genes within the viral particle.
B) There are now more genes within the viral particle.
