Evolution Exam 2 - PCB4674
FSU
Questions and Answers
Verified Solutions Latest Update
,Evolution Exam 2 - PCB4674 FSU
Verified Questions and Answers Latest Version
1. Which of the following is defined as a shared, derived character state that
provides evidence of common ancestry?
A. Synapomorphy
B. Symplesiomorphy
C. Homoplasy
D. Autapomorphy
Answer: A
Rationale: Synapomorphies are shared derived traits used to define clades and determine
phylogenetic relationships.
2. In which scenario is genetic drift most likely to have the largest impact on
allele frequencies?
A. A small population undergoing a bottleneck
B. A large population with high gene flow
C. A population under strong directional selection
D. A population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
Answer: A
Rationale: Genetic drift is a stochastic process that has significantly more influence in
small populations or during bottleneck events.
, 3. The Biological Species Concept (BSC) defines species primarily based on which
of the following?
A. Morphological similarity
B. Reproductive isolation
C. Ecological niche
D. Phylogenetic history
Answer: B
Rationale: The BSC defines a species as a group of interbreeding natural populations that
are reproductively isolated from other such groups.
4. Which type of speciation occurs when populations are geographically
separated?
A. Sympatric speciation
B. Parapatric speciation
C. Peripatric speciation
D. Allopatric speciation
Answer: D
Rationale: Allopatric speciation occurs when a physical barrier divides a population,
preventing gene flow.
5. In a phylogenetic tree, what does a ‘node’ represent?
A. The extinction of a species
B. A specific character trait
C. The common ancestor of two or more lineages
D. A single living organism
Answer: C
Rationale: Nodes represent the most recent common ancestor of the descendant lineages
branching from that point.
FSU
Questions and Answers
Verified Solutions Latest Update
,Evolution Exam 2 - PCB4674 FSU
Verified Questions and Answers Latest Version
1. Which of the following is defined as a shared, derived character state that
provides evidence of common ancestry?
A. Synapomorphy
B. Symplesiomorphy
C. Homoplasy
D. Autapomorphy
Answer: A
Rationale: Synapomorphies are shared derived traits used to define clades and determine
phylogenetic relationships.
2. In which scenario is genetic drift most likely to have the largest impact on
allele frequencies?
A. A small population undergoing a bottleneck
B. A large population with high gene flow
C. A population under strong directional selection
D. A population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
Answer: A
Rationale: Genetic drift is a stochastic process that has significantly more influence in
small populations or during bottleneck events.
, 3. The Biological Species Concept (BSC) defines species primarily based on which
of the following?
A. Morphological similarity
B. Reproductive isolation
C. Ecological niche
D. Phylogenetic history
Answer: B
Rationale: The BSC defines a species as a group of interbreeding natural populations that
are reproductively isolated from other such groups.
4. Which type of speciation occurs when populations are geographically
separated?
A. Sympatric speciation
B. Parapatric speciation
C. Peripatric speciation
D. Allopatric speciation
Answer: D
Rationale: Allopatric speciation occurs when a physical barrier divides a population,
preventing gene flow.
5. In a phylogenetic tree, what does a ‘node’ represent?
A. The extinction of a species
B. A specific character trait
C. The common ancestor of two or more lineages
D. A single living organism
Answer: C
Rationale: Nodes represent the most recent common ancestor of the descendant lineages
branching from that point.
