Evolutionary Biology Exam 1 – Study Guide & Revision Notes
Many types of antibiotics that were highly effective a few decades ago are not nearly as
effective in the present. Why might this be the case? - correct answer ✔✔Bacteria have evolved
resistance to antibiotics, driven by natural selection.
Why is evolutionary biology one of the best paradigms in which to study the spread of viruses
like Ebola into new populations and species? - correct answer ✔✔Evolutionary biologists work
on understanding how populations (the viruses) adapt to new environments (the hosts).
What is meant by "the theory of evolution"? - correct answer ✔✔Evolution is well-supported by
evidence and has survived repeated testing.
Natural selection is only one of several possible mechanisms of evolution. Another mechanism
is - correct answer ✔✔genetic drift.
Which of these had the least influence on Darwin's work and writing? - correct answer
✔✔Knowledge of inheritance, as discovered by Gregor Mendel.
What was the most important immediate outcome of Wallace's 1858 letter to Darwin, which
included Wallace's ideas of natural selection? - correct answer ✔✔Darwin was prompted to
make his own research on the subject public.
The two major themes of On the Origin of Species are - correct answer ✔✔descent with
modification and a variational theory of change.
Which of the following is not one of Darwin's theories? - correct answer ✔✔Change via
saltations (extreme, sudden changes in an organism's traits)
, In the early twentieth century, many geneticists were at odds with evolutionary biologists. Why?
- correct answer ✔✔Geneticists observed discrete effects of mutations, while Darwin suggested
that evolution occurs via gradual changes.
Which of the following is one of the principles of evolution? - correct answer ✔✔Heritable
variation can be maintained because of the particulate nature of genes.
Which statement is true? - correct answer ✔✔Mutations are the raw material for natural
selection.
Which modern development has the least potential to aid our understanding of
macroevolution? - correct answer ✔✔The neutral theory of molecular evolution, which argues
that most changes to DNA sequences are neutral with respect to fitness.
What is wrong with the following claim? "Lichens involve a symbiotic association between a
fungus and alga. The purpose of algae is to provide nutrients to fungi." - correct answer ✔✔The
explanation is purpose-driven, as opposed to functional.
Which of these is an example of the "naturalistic fallacy"? - correct answer ✔✔Evolution can be
used to justify immoral behavior, violating natural law.
Which statement best characterizes the distinction between proximate and ultimate causes? -
correct answer ✔✔Food is eaten to satiate one's appetite but also to provide energy for
metabolism.
Biological evolution is defined as - correct answer ✔✔change in the properties of groups of
organisms over the course of generations.
Uniformitarianism allows evolutionary biology to be an experimental science. Which of the
following is an example of uniformitarianism? - correct answer ✔✔Present observations of
erosion on a streambank demonstrate how a canyon was formed.
Many types of antibiotics that were highly effective a few decades ago are not nearly as
effective in the present. Why might this be the case? - correct answer ✔✔Bacteria have evolved
resistance to antibiotics, driven by natural selection.
Why is evolutionary biology one of the best paradigms in which to study the spread of viruses
like Ebola into new populations and species? - correct answer ✔✔Evolutionary biologists work
on understanding how populations (the viruses) adapt to new environments (the hosts).
What is meant by "the theory of evolution"? - correct answer ✔✔Evolution is well-supported by
evidence and has survived repeated testing.
Natural selection is only one of several possible mechanisms of evolution. Another mechanism
is - correct answer ✔✔genetic drift.
Which of these had the least influence on Darwin's work and writing? - correct answer
✔✔Knowledge of inheritance, as discovered by Gregor Mendel.
What was the most important immediate outcome of Wallace's 1858 letter to Darwin, which
included Wallace's ideas of natural selection? - correct answer ✔✔Darwin was prompted to
make his own research on the subject public.
The two major themes of On the Origin of Species are - correct answer ✔✔descent with
modification and a variational theory of change.
Which of the following is not one of Darwin's theories? - correct answer ✔✔Change via
saltations (extreme, sudden changes in an organism's traits)
, In the early twentieth century, many geneticists were at odds with evolutionary biologists. Why?
- correct answer ✔✔Geneticists observed discrete effects of mutations, while Darwin suggested
that evolution occurs via gradual changes.
Which of the following is one of the principles of evolution? - correct answer ✔✔Heritable
variation can be maintained because of the particulate nature of genes.
Which statement is true? - correct answer ✔✔Mutations are the raw material for natural
selection.
Which modern development has the least potential to aid our understanding of
macroevolution? - correct answer ✔✔The neutral theory of molecular evolution, which argues
that most changes to DNA sequences are neutral with respect to fitness.
What is wrong with the following claim? "Lichens involve a symbiotic association between a
fungus and alga. The purpose of algae is to provide nutrients to fungi." - correct answer ✔✔The
explanation is purpose-driven, as opposed to functional.
Which of these is an example of the "naturalistic fallacy"? - correct answer ✔✔Evolution can be
used to justify immoral behavior, violating natural law.
Which statement best characterizes the distinction between proximate and ultimate causes? -
correct answer ✔✔Food is eaten to satiate one's appetite but also to provide energy for
metabolism.
Biological evolution is defined as - correct answer ✔✔change in the properties of groups of
organisms over the course of generations.
Uniformitarianism allows evolutionary biology to be an experimental science. Which of the
following is an example of uniformitarianism? - correct answer ✔✔Present observations of
erosion on a streambank demonstrate how a canyon was formed.
