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Bio 1108 Exam 2 Comprehensive Questions and
Verified Answers on Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium, Natural Selection, Population
Genetics, and Evolutionary Mechanisms.
Achieve Exam Success by Mastering Fungal
Biology, Plant Reproduction, Microbial
Diversity, and Key Concepts in Ecology and
Adaptation for Undergraduate Studies.
1. The term "n" refers to the size of a population, that is, the number of
individuals in that population. In general, in a sample of n individuals, the
frequency of an allele is the number of occurrences of the allele.
a) the number of occurrences of the allele divided by n.
b) the actual value of n
c) the number of occurrences of the allele divided by twice the number of
individuals in the sample (2n).
d) twice the number of occurrences of the allele divided by n.
ANSWER: c) the number of occurrences of the allele divided by twice the number
of individuals in the sample (2n).
2. If a population is not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, we can conclude
that:
a) evolution has occurred.
b) natural selection has occurred.
c) one of the assumptions of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium has been violated.
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d) evolution has occurred because one of the assumptions of the Hardy-Weinberg
equilibrium has been violated.
ANSWER: d) evolution has occurred because one of the assumptions of the
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium has been violated.
3. The goldenrod gall fly lays its eggs on the buds of goldenrod plants. Larvae
hatch from the eggs and then chew through the goldenrod buds and into the stems.
The gall fly larvae saliva induces the goldenrod to generate a gall (an outgrowth of
tissue, a ball-shaped swelling on the stem). The larva will live inside the gall which
provides food and shelter for the developing larva.
4. The larvae are prey of both parasitoid wasps and birds. Wasps selectively
prey on larvae inside the smallest galls while birds selectively prey on larvae
inside the largest galls. The size of the gall made by the larvae is a heritable
trait. Given this information, we can conclude that the trait 'larval gall size' is
subject to:
a) balancing selection.
b) stabilizing selection.
c) directional selection.
d) disruptional selection.
e) heterozygote advantage.
ANSWER: b) stabilizing selection.
5. You find that a wild population of antelope is not in Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium. From this information alone, can you determine the mechanism of
evolution operating on the population? yes or no ANSWER: no
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A population with a novel adaptation has evolved that adaptation.
a) True, but only if the population is under sexual selection
b) True
c) False, but only if the population is under sexual selection
d) False
ANSWER: b) True
6. The peppered moth provides a well-known example of natural selection. The
light-colored form of the moth was predominant in England before the industrial
revolution. In the mid-nineteenth century, a dark-colored form appeared. The
difference is produced by a dominant allele of one gene. By about 1900,
approximately 90% of the moths around industrial areas were dark colored,
whereas light-colored moths were still abundant elsewhere. Apparently, birds
could readily find the light moths against the soot-darkened background in
industrial areas and therefore were eating more light moths. Recently, use of
cleaner fuels has greatly reduced soot in the landscape, and the dark-colored moths
have been disappearing. Should the two forms of moths be considered separate
species?
a) Yes, because they have completely different coloration and natural selection has
affected the frequency of the two different forms.
b) Yes, because n ANSWER: c) No
7. Three populations of crickets look very similar, but the males have
courtship songs that sound different. What function would this difference in
song likely serve if the populations came in contact?
a) a prezygotic isolating mechanism
Bio 1108 Exam 2 Comprehensive Questions and
Verified Answers on Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium, Natural Selection, Population
Genetics, and Evolutionary Mechanisms.
Achieve Exam Success by Mastering Fungal
Biology, Plant Reproduction, Microbial
Diversity, and Key Concepts in Ecology and
Adaptation for Undergraduate Studies.
1. The term "n" refers to the size of a population, that is, the number of
individuals in that population. In general, in a sample of n individuals, the
frequency of an allele is the number of occurrences of the allele.
a) the number of occurrences of the allele divided by n.
b) the actual value of n
c) the number of occurrences of the allele divided by twice the number of
individuals in the sample (2n).
d) twice the number of occurrences of the allele divided by n.
ANSWER: c) the number of occurrences of the allele divided by twice the number
of individuals in the sample (2n).
2. If a population is not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, we can conclude
that:
a) evolution has occurred.
b) natural selection has occurred.
c) one of the assumptions of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium has been violated.
,2|Page
d) evolution has occurred because one of the assumptions of the Hardy-Weinberg
equilibrium has been violated.
ANSWER: d) evolution has occurred because one of the assumptions of the
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium has been violated.
3. The goldenrod gall fly lays its eggs on the buds of goldenrod plants. Larvae
hatch from the eggs and then chew through the goldenrod buds and into the stems.
The gall fly larvae saliva induces the goldenrod to generate a gall (an outgrowth of
tissue, a ball-shaped swelling on the stem). The larva will live inside the gall which
provides food and shelter for the developing larva.
4. The larvae are prey of both parasitoid wasps and birds. Wasps selectively
prey on larvae inside the smallest galls while birds selectively prey on larvae
inside the largest galls. The size of the gall made by the larvae is a heritable
trait. Given this information, we can conclude that the trait 'larval gall size' is
subject to:
a) balancing selection.
b) stabilizing selection.
c) directional selection.
d) disruptional selection.
e) heterozygote advantage.
ANSWER: b) stabilizing selection.
5. You find that a wild population of antelope is not in Hardy-Weinberg
Equilibrium. From this information alone, can you determine the mechanism of
evolution operating on the population? yes or no ANSWER: no
, 3|Page
A population with a novel adaptation has evolved that adaptation.
a) True, but only if the population is under sexual selection
b) True
c) False, but only if the population is under sexual selection
d) False
ANSWER: b) True
6. The peppered moth provides a well-known example of natural selection. The
light-colored form of the moth was predominant in England before the industrial
revolution. In the mid-nineteenth century, a dark-colored form appeared. The
difference is produced by a dominant allele of one gene. By about 1900,
approximately 90% of the moths around industrial areas were dark colored,
whereas light-colored moths were still abundant elsewhere. Apparently, birds
could readily find the light moths against the soot-darkened background in
industrial areas and therefore were eating more light moths. Recently, use of
cleaner fuels has greatly reduced soot in the landscape, and the dark-colored moths
have been disappearing. Should the two forms of moths be considered separate
species?
a) Yes, because they have completely different coloration and natural selection has
affected the frequency of the two different forms.
b) Yes, because n ANSWER: c) No
7. Three populations of crickets look very similar, but the males have
courtship songs that sound different. What function would this difference in
song likely serve if the populations came in contact?
a) a prezygotic isolating mechanism
