UMKC Bio 108 Exam 4 Study Guide
questions with verified answers
2025/2026
What is the most important missing evidence or observation in Darwin's theory of evolution
when proposed in 1859? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔An understanding of inheritance and the
source of genetic variation.
Which of the following statements about the biological species concept is incorrect? - CORRECT
ANSWER ✔✔Biological species concept is the model used for grouping extinct forms of life.
If allele frequencies in a population are changing due to chance or random events, what is
happening? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔genetic drift
A grouping of species in which a common ancestral species is missing is _____. - CORRECT
ANSWER ✔✔polyphyletic
Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the
same bones, these bones having developed from common ancestry. What do biologists call
these features? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔homologous structures
What type of reproductive isolating barrier is observed if a hybrid is vigorous, but sterile? -
CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔reduced hybrid fertility
When an individual organism is said to have a greater fitness than another individual, this
specifically means that the organism _________. - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔leaves more viable
offspring than others of its species
, Shared derived characters are most likely to be found in taxa that are _______. - CORRECT
ANSWER ✔✔monophyletic
What type of evolution is observed if similarity is observed between two species that is due to
homology and not analogy? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔divergent evolution
What type of reproductive isolating barrier is observed if organisms breed based on behaviors
that are unique to its species? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔behavioral isolation
Which of the following is a condition that will prevent a population from being in a Hardy-
Weinberg equilibrium? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔natural selection
Place the taxa below in order from most specific to least specific. - CORRECT ANSWER
✔✔species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom
Which statement about natural selection is most correct? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔Well-adapted
individuals leave more offspring, and thus contribute more to the next generation's gene pool,
than do poorly adapted individuals.
A mode of speciation in which gene flow between populations is prevented by a geographic
barrier. - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔allopatric speciation
In a population undergoing natural selection, what type of selection is illustrated here, in which
selection favors one of the homozygotes? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔directional selection
For each example, indicate whether it describes natural or artificial selection.
1.)Selective breeding of wild mustard that ultimately resulted in cabbage and brussel sprouts.
2.)The Galapagos Islands have 13 species of finches with unique territories and food sources.
questions with verified answers
2025/2026
What is the most important missing evidence or observation in Darwin's theory of evolution
when proposed in 1859? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔An understanding of inheritance and the
source of genetic variation.
Which of the following statements about the biological species concept is incorrect? - CORRECT
ANSWER ✔✔Biological species concept is the model used for grouping extinct forms of life.
If allele frequencies in a population are changing due to chance or random events, what is
happening? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔genetic drift
A grouping of species in which a common ancestral species is missing is _____. - CORRECT
ANSWER ✔✔polyphyletic
Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the
same bones, these bones having developed from common ancestry. What do biologists call
these features? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔homologous structures
What type of reproductive isolating barrier is observed if a hybrid is vigorous, but sterile? -
CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔reduced hybrid fertility
When an individual organism is said to have a greater fitness than another individual, this
specifically means that the organism _________. - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔leaves more viable
offspring than others of its species
, Shared derived characters are most likely to be found in taxa that are _______. - CORRECT
ANSWER ✔✔monophyletic
What type of evolution is observed if similarity is observed between two species that is due to
homology and not analogy? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔divergent evolution
What type of reproductive isolating barrier is observed if organisms breed based on behaviors
that are unique to its species? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔behavioral isolation
Which of the following is a condition that will prevent a population from being in a Hardy-
Weinberg equilibrium? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔natural selection
Place the taxa below in order from most specific to least specific. - CORRECT ANSWER
✔✔species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom
Which statement about natural selection is most correct? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔Well-adapted
individuals leave more offspring, and thus contribute more to the next generation's gene pool,
than do poorly adapted individuals.
A mode of speciation in which gene flow between populations is prevented by a geographic
barrier. - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔allopatric speciation
In a population undergoing natural selection, what type of selection is illustrated here, in which
selection favors one of the homozygotes? - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔directional selection
For each example, indicate whether it describes natural or artificial selection.
1.)Selective breeding of wild mustard that ultimately resulted in cabbage and brussel sprouts.
2.)The Galapagos Islands have 13 species of finches with unique territories and food sources.
