Evolution Final Quiz Questions – Practice & Revision Guide
What process (model) did Darwin propose as a mechanism for evolution - correct answer ✔✔1.
natural selection
2. Descent with mod
What do we mean by fitness? - correct answer ✔✔It's the ability of a trait to be successfully
passed on. If an organism is more equipped or more likely to be reproduced, it's considered
more fit.
Define adaptation? Give a specific example (taxon and structure) - correct answer ✔✔A trait
with identifiable function. Ex: kinetic skulls in snakes to compensate for large food
4 groups that independently evolved flight - correct answer ✔✔1. arthropods
2. mammals
3. avians
4. reptiles
Why is natural selection non random? - correct answer ✔✔Hereditary. Relies on genes that
influence phenotypes (built upon itself overtime, encoded into animals)
What is an allele? Example - correct answer ✔✔Variant of a gene. Hemoglobin structure is
affected by your allele combination. Different eye colors are coded for by different allele
combinations
How many alleles does one sperm cell have for the same gene - correct answer ✔✔One
Two heterozygous parents- how many different genotypes are possible in the first generation? -
correct answer ✔✔3
, How many protein coding genes does a human sperm cell have - correct answer ✔✔20,000
A breeder buys 40 palomino horses (Aa) and 60 cremello (aa). What's the freqencies of alleles
and genotypes? - correct answer ✔✔Allele: a = 80% A = 20%
Geno: Aa = 40% aa = 60%
What is the hardy-weinberg equation? - correct answer ✔✔p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
In a population, relative fitness (w) of AA is .7, Aa = 1, and aa = .3. Frequencies of these
genotypes do not change over generations. How do you interpret this case? Which factors are
involved? What real world example can you give and why - correct answer ✔✔Heterozygote
(Aa) displays the best fitness. This might be a case of genetic mutation where recessive
mutation is circumstantially beneficial in Hetero cases but detrimental in homo recessive
instances. A real life example is sickle cell, in which deformed heterozygous cells are harder to
feed on for mosquitos, leading to less malaria in individuals with hetero genes
(regarding relative fitness where hetero cases are more successful, as with sickle cell) Is it the
same as hardy-weinberg? - correct answer ✔✔No, selection is at play leading to increase in
hetero cases, like the fitness of dominant/recessive alleles
Why recessive, deleterious mutations don't disappear? - correct answer ✔✔1. Mutated back
into populations
2. circumstantial benefits
What allele frequency is Hardy-weinberg at max heterozygotes - correct answer ✔✔.5 (fact
check this one)
Difference between gene flow and genetic drift? Example in humans - correct answer ✔✔Gene
flow is a gradual change of allele frequency due to migratory activity. Non-random, a result of
What process (model) did Darwin propose as a mechanism for evolution - correct answer ✔✔1.
natural selection
2. Descent with mod
What do we mean by fitness? - correct answer ✔✔It's the ability of a trait to be successfully
passed on. If an organism is more equipped or more likely to be reproduced, it's considered
more fit.
Define adaptation? Give a specific example (taxon and structure) - correct answer ✔✔A trait
with identifiable function. Ex: kinetic skulls in snakes to compensate for large food
4 groups that independently evolved flight - correct answer ✔✔1. arthropods
2. mammals
3. avians
4. reptiles
Why is natural selection non random? - correct answer ✔✔Hereditary. Relies on genes that
influence phenotypes (built upon itself overtime, encoded into animals)
What is an allele? Example - correct answer ✔✔Variant of a gene. Hemoglobin structure is
affected by your allele combination. Different eye colors are coded for by different allele
combinations
How many alleles does one sperm cell have for the same gene - correct answer ✔✔One
Two heterozygous parents- how many different genotypes are possible in the first generation? -
correct answer ✔✔3
, How many protein coding genes does a human sperm cell have - correct answer ✔✔20,000
A breeder buys 40 palomino horses (Aa) and 60 cremello (aa). What's the freqencies of alleles
and genotypes? - correct answer ✔✔Allele: a = 80% A = 20%
Geno: Aa = 40% aa = 60%
What is the hardy-weinberg equation? - correct answer ✔✔p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
In a population, relative fitness (w) of AA is .7, Aa = 1, and aa = .3. Frequencies of these
genotypes do not change over generations. How do you interpret this case? Which factors are
involved? What real world example can you give and why - correct answer ✔✔Heterozygote
(Aa) displays the best fitness. This might be a case of genetic mutation where recessive
mutation is circumstantially beneficial in Hetero cases but detrimental in homo recessive
instances. A real life example is sickle cell, in which deformed heterozygous cells are harder to
feed on for mosquitos, leading to less malaria in individuals with hetero genes
(regarding relative fitness where hetero cases are more successful, as with sickle cell) Is it the
same as hardy-weinberg? - correct answer ✔✔No, selection is at play leading to increase in
hetero cases, like the fitness of dominant/recessive alleles
Why recessive, deleterious mutations don't disappear? - correct answer ✔✔1. Mutated back
into populations
2. circumstantial benefits
What allele frequency is Hardy-weinberg at max heterozygotes - correct answer ✔✔.5 (fact
check this one)
Difference between gene flow and genetic drift? Example in humans - correct answer ✔✔Gene
flow is a gradual change of allele frequency due to migratory activity. Non-random, a result of
