BIOLOGY 172 FINAL EXAM WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Which of the following is the definition of evolution? correct
answer (A) A change in the genetic composition of a population.
Which of the following is the definition of population? correct
answer (B) A group of potentially interbreeding individuals
capable of producing fertile and viable offspring.
If you were measuring the number of fertile and viable offspring
produced by an individual over their lifetime, what would you be
measuring? correct answer (E) None of the above.
Options:
(A) Phenotypic variation.
(B) Adaptation.
(C) Selection.
(D) Survivorship.
(E) None of the above.
In evolutionary biology, when we discuss the environment as the
factor which drives evolution by natural selection, we must
recognize the environment includes both physical and biological
factors. correct answer (A) True.
,A selection agent is an environmental variable which causes
differential fitness within a population. correct answer (A) True.
Of the individuals below, who was responsible for first developing
the idea of Gradualism (which was later slightly modified and
known as Uniformitarianism)? correct answer (C) Hutton
Of the individuals below, who was responsible for developing the
taxonomic system and the concept of binomial nomenclature
used today? correct answer (A) Linnaeus
Which of the following individuals was responsible for developing
the concept of the "Struggle for Existance"? correct answer (E)
Malthus
Your Grandmother called and asked, "dear, if a giraffe spent much
of its pre-adult life stretching its neck while reaching fro higher
leaves and its neck elongated 20" over this time period, would its
offspring possess longer necks as a result?". Given your modern
knowledge of natural selection and evolution, how would you
reply? correct answer (D) The change in a character, or the
acquisition of a new character, within an individuals lifetime and
due to the individuals environment, cannot be inherited by
offspring.
Science makes progress (demonstrates new cause and effect
relationships) by rejecting null hypotheses. correct answer (A)
True
Which of the following is not one of the prerequisites in Darwin's
natural selection mechanism? correct answer (C) The
, heritability of the trait includes the interaction of dominant and
recessive alleles.
Lamarck should be given credit, because like Darwin, he
recognized... correct answer (C) An organisms interaction with
the changing environment drives evolution.
All of the following were strong influences on Darwin except...
correct answer (D) Linnaeus
What are the two sources of variation that contribute to the
variation one can observe among the members of a population?
correct answer (B) Genetic and environmental variation.
If one is going to attempt to investigate whether a population has
evolved by natural selection, which of the following would be
required? correct answer (E) All of the above.
Options:
(A) Demonstrate at least one character has changed.
(B) Demonstrate the heritability of the character.
(C) Demonstrate variation in the character causes variation in
fitness (differential fitness).
(D) Identify the selection agent.
(E) All of the above.
A feature may not be an adaptation because... correct answer
(D) All of the above.
100% CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Which of the following is the definition of evolution? correct
answer (A) A change in the genetic composition of a population.
Which of the following is the definition of population? correct
answer (B) A group of potentially interbreeding individuals
capable of producing fertile and viable offspring.
If you were measuring the number of fertile and viable offspring
produced by an individual over their lifetime, what would you be
measuring? correct answer (E) None of the above.
Options:
(A) Phenotypic variation.
(B) Adaptation.
(C) Selection.
(D) Survivorship.
(E) None of the above.
In evolutionary biology, when we discuss the environment as the
factor which drives evolution by natural selection, we must
recognize the environment includes both physical and biological
factors. correct answer (A) True.
,A selection agent is an environmental variable which causes
differential fitness within a population. correct answer (A) True.
Of the individuals below, who was responsible for first developing
the idea of Gradualism (which was later slightly modified and
known as Uniformitarianism)? correct answer (C) Hutton
Of the individuals below, who was responsible for developing the
taxonomic system and the concept of binomial nomenclature
used today? correct answer (A) Linnaeus
Which of the following individuals was responsible for developing
the concept of the "Struggle for Existance"? correct answer (E)
Malthus
Your Grandmother called and asked, "dear, if a giraffe spent much
of its pre-adult life stretching its neck while reaching fro higher
leaves and its neck elongated 20" over this time period, would its
offspring possess longer necks as a result?". Given your modern
knowledge of natural selection and evolution, how would you
reply? correct answer (D) The change in a character, or the
acquisition of a new character, within an individuals lifetime and
due to the individuals environment, cannot be inherited by
offspring.
Science makes progress (demonstrates new cause and effect
relationships) by rejecting null hypotheses. correct answer (A)
True
Which of the following is not one of the prerequisites in Darwin's
natural selection mechanism? correct answer (C) The
, heritability of the trait includes the interaction of dominant and
recessive alleles.
Lamarck should be given credit, because like Darwin, he
recognized... correct answer (C) An organisms interaction with
the changing environment drives evolution.
All of the following were strong influences on Darwin except...
correct answer (D) Linnaeus
What are the two sources of variation that contribute to the
variation one can observe among the members of a population?
correct answer (B) Genetic and environmental variation.
If one is going to attempt to investigate whether a population has
evolved by natural selection, which of the following would be
required? correct answer (E) All of the above.
Options:
(A) Demonstrate at least one character has changed.
(B) Demonstrate the heritability of the character.
(C) Demonstrate variation in the character causes variation in
fitness (differential fitness).
(D) Identify the selection agent.
(E) All of the above.
A feature may not be an adaptation because... correct answer
(D) All of the above.
