Biology 1407 exam test queries and
answers graded A+
What theory was Darwin the first to propose? - ANS✅✅Natural selection
Which of the following MUST exist in a population before natural selection can act upon that
population? - ANS✅✅Genetic variation among individuals
The role that humans play in artificial selection is to _____ - ANS✅✅choose which organisms
reproduce
Of the following anatomical structures, which is homologous to the bones in the wing of a bird? -
ANS✅✅bones in the flipper of a whale
What must be true of any organ described as vestigial? - ANS✅✅it must be homologous to some
feature in an ancestor
Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the same
bones, which develop from similar embryonic tissues. These structural similarities are an example of
_____. - ANS✅✅homology due to divergent evolution
Which of the following evidence most strongly supports the common origin of all life on Earth? All
organisms _____ - ANS✅✅use essentially the same genetic code
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? - ANS✅✅a behavioral reproductive isolating mechanism
A type of reproductive isolation mechanism in which the differences in the timing of critical
reproductive events prevent members of closely related species from mating and producing hybrid
offspring. - ANS✅✅temporal isolation
Macroevolution is _____. - ANS✅✅evolution above the species level
, Most causes of speciation are relatively slow, in that they may take many generations to see
changes, with the exception of ________ - ANS✅✅polyploidy
Dog breeders maintain the purity of breeds by keeping dogs of different breeds apart when they are
fertile. This kind of isolation is most similar to which of the following reproductive isolating
mechanisms? - ANS✅✅habitat isolation
Two species of frogs belonging to the same genus occasionally mate, but the embryos stop
developing after a day and then die. These two frog species separate by _______. -
ANS✅✅reduced hybrid viability
The production of sterile mules by interbreeding between female horses (mares) and male donkeys
(jacks) is an example of ___________ - ANS✅✅reduced hybrid fertility
Speciation can involve changes to a single ______. - ANS✅✅gene
How are two different species most likely to evolve from one ancestral species? (Allopatric or
Sympatric speciation?) - ANS✅✅allopatric, after the ancestral species has split into two
populations
What trait do bacteria and archaeans share? - ANS✅✅lack of nuclear envelope (nucleus) and
presence of plasma membrane
Individuals that are heterozygous for the sickle cell allele, and are resistant to malaria are an
example of______ advantage - ANS✅✅heterozygote
Human child birth weight being optimal in the intermediate range is an example of what type of
selection? - ANS✅✅stabilizing selection
Light clams (that resemble stones) and dark clams (that resemble shadows) are both less likely to be
spotted and eaten by predators than their gray (intermediate) counterparts. What type of selection
does this display? - ANS✅✅disruptive selection
Which species concept defines a species as a group of populations whose members have the
potential to interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring? - ANS✅✅biological species concept
answers graded A+
What theory was Darwin the first to propose? - ANS✅✅Natural selection
Which of the following MUST exist in a population before natural selection can act upon that
population? - ANS✅✅Genetic variation among individuals
The role that humans play in artificial selection is to _____ - ANS✅✅choose which organisms
reproduce
Of the following anatomical structures, which is homologous to the bones in the wing of a bird? -
ANS✅✅bones in the flipper of a whale
What must be true of any organ described as vestigial? - ANS✅✅it must be homologous to some
feature in an ancestor
Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the same
bones, which develop from similar embryonic tissues. These structural similarities are an example of
_____. - ANS✅✅homology due to divergent evolution
Which of the following evidence most strongly supports the common origin of all life on Earth? All
organisms _____ - ANS✅✅use essentially the same genetic code
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? - ANS✅✅a behavioral reproductive isolating mechanism
A type of reproductive isolation mechanism in which the differences in the timing of critical
reproductive events prevent members of closely related species from mating and producing hybrid
offspring. - ANS✅✅temporal isolation
Macroevolution is _____. - ANS✅✅evolution above the species level
, Most causes of speciation are relatively slow, in that they may take many generations to see
changes, with the exception of ________ - ANS✅✅polyploidy
Dog breeders maintain the purity of breeds by keeping dogs of different breeds apart when they are
fertile. This kind of isolation is most similar to which of the following reproductive isolating
mechanisms? - ANS✅✅habitat isolation
Two species of frogs belonging to the same genus occasionally mate, but the embryos stop
developing after a day and then die. These two frog species separate by _______. -
ANS✅✅reduced hybrid viability
The production of sterile mules by interbreeding between female horses (mares) and male donkeys
(jacks) is an example of ___________ - ANS✅✅reduced hybrid fertility
Speciation can involve changes to a single ______. - ANS✅✅gene
How are two different species most likely to evolve from one ancestral species? (Allopatric or
Sympatric speciation?) - ANS✅✅allopatric, after the ancestral species has split into two
populations
What trait do bacteria and archaeans share? - ANS✅✅lack of nuclear envelope (nucleus) and
presence of plasma membrane
Individuals that are heterozygous for the sickle cell allele, and are resistant to malaria are an
example of______ advantage - ANS✅✅heterozygote
Human child birth weight being optimal in the intermediate range is an example of what type of
selection? - ANS✅✅stabilizing selection
Light clams (that resemble stones) and dark clams (that resemble shadows) are both less likely to be
spotted and eaten by predators than their gray (intermediate) counterparts. What type of selection
does this display? - ANS✅✅disruptive selection
Which species concept defines a species as a group of populations whose members have the
potential to interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring? - ANS✅✅biological species concept
