Biological Anthropology Midterm 1
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Chromosome number is reduced during
mitosis.
recombination.
translation.
meiosis. - CORRECT ANSWER - Meiosis
Fitness trade-off refers to selection favoring which genotype?
homozygous dominant.
homozygous recessive.
heterozygous.
no genotype is favored. - CORRECT ANSWER - Heterozygous
The natural processes operating today are the same as the natural processes that operated in the
past; this statement describes ____________.
Catastrophism
Modern Synthesis of Evolution
Uniformitarianism
Geology - CORRECT ANSWER - Uniformitarianism
According to Larsen (2014: Chapter 4) and class discussions, what is a polymorphic trait?
Provide two examples of polymorphic traits in modern humans? Also give one example of a
, monomorphic trait. (short answer) - CORRECT ANSWER - A polymorphic trait is one in
which at least two alleles exist at a frequency greater than 0.01%. Polymorphic traits in humans
include eye, hair, and skin color, ABO blood type, and PTC tasting.
In contrast, a monomorphic trait is one in which a single allele has become fixed, so all
individuals express the same phenotype for that trait. Monomorphic traits in humans include the
number of limbs and digits and walking on two feet (bipedalism).
Why is the work of Alfred Russell Wallace considered when discussing the theory of evolution?
He was an English naturalist who had arrived at many of the same conclusions as Darwin
through his own research in the Amazon
His work is not considered, as he was mistakenly credited with the theory of natural selection
He was a British dog breeder who worked on artificial selection experiments in the same way
Mendel worked on sweet peas to determine inheritance
He was well known and gathered even more evidence to support evolution than Darwin, though
from the Amazon rather than the Galapagos - CORRECT ANSWER - He was an English
naturalist who had arrived at many of the same conclusions as Darwin through his own research
in the Amazon
Archaeology is ___________
the study of human evolution
largely devoted to recovering artifacts and building museum collections
the study of the behavior and material culture of past human societies
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER - the study of behavior and material culture of
past human societies
According to Clark Larsen (2014) in Chapter 2; why was Darwin's 1859 published theory of
natural selection not widely accepted by his peers? What later scientific advance was critical to
the subsequent broad acceptance of natural selection as a major force in evolutionary change? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Darwin's theory lacked a mechanism for the inheritance of
desirable characteristics. Gregor Mendel discovered the principles of inheritance—that is, the
basis for understanding how traits are transmitted from parent to offspring. Mendel's discovery
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Chromosome number is reduced during
mitosis.
recombination.
translation.
meiosis. - CORRECT ANSWER - Meiosis
Fitness trade-off refers to selection favoring which genotype?
homozygous dominant.
homozygous recessive.
heterozygous.
no genotype is favored. - CORRECT ANSWER - Heterozygous
The natural processes operating today are the same as the natural processes that operated in the
past; this statement describes ____________.
Catastrophism
Modern Synthesis of Evolution
Uniformitarianism
Geology - CORRECT ANSWER - Uniformitarianism
According to Larsen (2014: Chapter 4) and class discussions, what is a polymorphic trait?
Provide two examples of polymorphic traits in modern humans? Also give one example of a
, monomorphic trait. (short answer) - CORRECT ANSWER - A polymorphic trait is one in
which at least two alleles exist at a frequency greater than 0.01%. Polymorphic traits in humans
include eye, hair, and skin color, ABO blood type, and PTC tasting.
In contrast, a monomorphic trait is one in which a single allele has become fixed, so all
individuals express the same phenotype for that trait. Monomorphic traits in humans include the
number of limbs and digits and walking on two feet (bipedalism).
Why is the work of Alfred Russell Wallace considered when discussing the theory of evolution?
He was an English naturalist who had arrived at many of the same conclusions as Darwin
through his own research in the Amazon
His work is not considered, as he was mistakenly credited with the theory of natural selection
He was a British dog breeder who worked on artificial selection experiments in the same way
Mendel worked on sweet peas to determine inheritance
He was well known and gathered even more evidence to support evolution than Darwin, though
from the Amazon rather than the Galapagos - CORRECT ANSWER - He was an English
naturalist who had arrived at many of the same conclusions as Darwin through his own research
in the Amazon
Archaeology is ___________
the study of human evolution
largely devoted to recovering artifacts and building museum collections
the study of the behavior and material culture of past human societies
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER - the study of behavior and material culture of
past human societies
According to Clark Larsen (2014) in Chapter 2; why was Darwin's 1859 published theory of
natural selection not widely accepted by his peers? What later scientific advance was critical to
the subsequent broad acceptance of natural selection as a major force in evolutionary change? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Darwin's theory lacked a mechanism for the inheritance of
desirable characteristics. Gregor Mendel discovered the principles of inheritance—that is, the
basis for understanding how traits are transmitted from parent to offspring. Mendel's discovery
