Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Evolution Review AP Biology During a study session about evolution, one of your fellow students remarks, "The giraffe stretched its neck while reaching for higher leaves; its offspring inherited longer necks as a result." Which statement is most likely to be helpful in correcting this student's misconception? a. Characteristics acquired during an organism's life are generally not passed on through genes. b. Spontaneous mutations can result in the appearance of new traits. c. Only favorable adaptations have survival value. d. Disuse of an organ may lead to its eventual disappearance. e. Overproduction of offspring leads to a struggle for survival. In a hypothetical environment, fishes called pikecichlids are visual predators of algae-eating fish (i.e., they locate their prey by sight). If a population of algae-eaters experiences predation pressure from pike-cichlids, which of the following should least likely be observed in the algae-eater population over the course of many generations? a. Selection for drab coloration of the algae-eaters b. Selection for nocturnal algae-eaters (active only at night) c. Selection for larger female algae-eaters, bearing broods composed of more, and larger, young d. Selection for algae-eaters that become sexually mature at smaller overall body sizes e. Selection for algae-eaters that are faster swimmers Of the following anatomical structures, which is homologous to the wing of a bird? a. Dorsal fin of a shark b. Hindlimb of a kangaroo c. Wing of a butterfly d. Tail fin of a flying fish e. Flipper of a cetacean Which of the following statements most detracts from the claim that the human appendix is a completely vestigial organ? a. The appendix can be surgically removed with no immediate ill effects. b. The appendix might have been larger in fossil hominids. c. The appendix has a substantial amount of defensive lymphatic tissue. d. Individuals with a larger-than-average appendix leave fewer offspring than those with a below-average-sized appendix. e. In a million years, the human species might completely lack an appendix The upper forelimbs of humans and bats have fairly similar skeletal structures, whereas the corresponding bones in whales have very different shapes and proportions. However, genetic data suggest that all three kinds of organisms diverged from a common ancestor at about the same time. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these data? a. Humans and bats evolved by natural selection, and whales evolved by Lamarckian mechanisms. b. Forelimb evolution was adaptive in people and bats, but not in whales. c. Natural selection in an aquatic environment resulted in significant changes to whale forelimb anatomy. d. Genes mutate faster in whales than in humans or bats. e. Whales are not properly classified as mammals. DNA sequences in many human genes are very similar to the sequences of corresponding genes in chimpanzees. The most likely explanation for this result is that a. humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor. b. humans evolved from chimpanzees. c. chimpanzees evolved from humans. d. convergent evolution led to the DNA similarities. e. humans and chimpanzees are not closely related. Which of these variables is likely to undergo the largest change in value as the result of a mutation that introduces a brand-new allele into a population's gene pool at a locus that had formerly been fixed? a. Average heterozygosity b. Nucleotide variability c. Geographic variability d. Average number of loci Each of the following has a better chance of influencing gene frequencies in small populations than in large populations, but which one most consistently requires a small population as a precondition for its occurrence? a. Mutation b. Non-random mating c. Genetic drift d. Natural selection e. Gene flow Which is a true statement concerning genetic variation? a. It is created by the direct action of natural selection. b. It arises in response to changes in the environment. c. It must be present in a population before natural selection can act upon the population. d. It tends to be reduced by the processes involved when diploid organisms produce gametes. e. A population that has a higher average heterozygosity has less genetic variation than one with a larger average heterozygosity. In a Hardy-Weinberg population with two alleles, A and a, that are in equilibrium, the frequency of allele a is 0.1. What is the percentage of the population that is heterozygous for this allele? a. 90 b. 81 c. 49 d. 18 e. 10 In the year 2500, five male space colonists and five female space colonists (all unrelated to each other) settle on an uninhabited Earthlike planet in the Andromeda galaxy. The colonists and their offspring randomly mate for generations. All ten of the original colonists had free earlobes, and two were heterozygous for that trait. The allele for free earlobes is dominant to the allele for attached earlobes. If one assumes that Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium applies to the population of colonists on this planet, about how many people will have attached earlobes when the planet's population reaches 10,000? a. 100 b. 400 c. 800 d. 1,000 e. 10,000 You are studying three populations of birds. Population A has ten birds, of which one is brown (a recessive trait) and nine are red. Population B has 100 birds, of which ten are brown. Population C has 30 birds, and three of them are brown. In which population would it be least likely that an accident would significantly alter the frequency of the brown allele? a. Population A. b. Population B. c. Population C. d. They are all the same. Over time, the movement of people on Earth has steadily increased. This has altered the course of human evolution by increasing a. non-random mating. b. geographic isolation. c. genetic drift. d. mutations. e. gene flow. Arrange the following from most general (i.e., most inclusive) to most specific (i.e., least inclusive): 1. Natural selection 2. Microevolution 3. Intrasexual selection 4. Evolution 5. Sexual selection a. 4, 1, 2, 3, 5 b. 4, 2, 1, 3, 5 c. 4, 2, 1, 5, 3 d. 1, 4, 2, 5, 3 e. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3 Adult male humans generally have deeper voices than do adult female humans, as the direct result of higher levels of testosterone causing growth of the larynx. If the fossil records of apes and humans alike show a trend toward decreasing larynx size in adult females, and increasing larynx size in adult males, then a. sexual dimorphism was developing over time in these species. b. intrasexual selection seems to have occurred. c. the "good genes" hypothesis was refuted by these data. d. stabilizing selection was occurring in these species concerning larynx size. e. selection was acting more directly upon genotype than upon phenotype. Heterozygote advantage should be most closely linked to which of the following? a. sexual selection b. stabilizing selection c. random selection d. directional selection e. disruptive selection In a very large population, a quantitative trait has the following distribution pattern: What is true of the trait whose frequency distribution in a large population appears below? It has probably undergone a. directional selection. b. stabilizing selection. c. disruptive selection. d. sexual selection. e. random selection. A proficient engineer can easily design skeletal structures that are more functional than those currently found in the forelimbs of such diverse mammals as horses, whales, and bats. That the actual forelimbs of these mammals do not seem to be optimally arranged is because a. natural selection has not had sufficient time to create the optimal design in each case, but will do so given enough time. b. natural selection operates in ways that are beyond the capability of the human mind to comprehend. c. in many cases, phenotype is not merely determined by genotype, but by the environment as well. d. though we may not consider the fit between the current skeletal arrangements and their functions excellent, we should not doubt that natural selection ultimately produces the best design. e. natural selection is generally limited to modifying structures that were present in previous generations and in previous species. Several closely related frog species of the genus Rana are found in the forests of the southeastern United States. The species boundaries are maintained by reproductive barriers. In each case, match the various descriptions of frogs below with the appropriate reproductive barrier listed. Males of one species sing only when its predators are absent; males of another species sing only when its predators are present. a. behavioral b. gametic c. habitat d. temporal e. mechanical Several closely related frog species of the genus Rana are found in the forests of the southeastern United States. The species boundaries are maintained by reproductive barriers. In each case, match the various descriptions of frogs below with the appropriate reproductive barrier listed. One species mates at the season when daylight is increasing from 13 hours to 13 hours, 15 minutes; another species mates at the season when daylight is increasing from 14 hours to 14 hours, 15 minutes. a. behavioral b. gametic c. habitat d. temporal e. mechanical A hybrid zone is properly defined as a. an area where two closely related species' ranges overlap. b. an area where mating occurs between members of two closely related species, producing viable offspring. c. a zone that features a gradual change in species composition where two neighboring ecosystems border each other. d. a zone that includes the intermediate portion of a cline. e. an area where members of two closely related species intermingle, but experience no gene flow. According to the concept of punctuated equilibrium, the "sudden" appearance of a new species in the fossil record means that a. the species is now extinct. b. speciation occurred instantaneously. c. speciation occurred in one generation. d. speciation occurred rapidly in geologic time. e. the species will consequently have a relatively short existence, compared with other species. Which of these five species is the extant (i.e., not extinct) species that is most closely related to species X, and why is this so? a. V; shared a common ancestor with X most recently b. W; shared a common ancestor with X most recently c. Y; arose in the same fashion (i.e., at the same tempo) as X d. Z; shared a common ancestor with X most recently, and arose in the same fashion as X In what way were conditions on the early Earth of more than 3 billion years ago different from those on today's Earth? a. Only early Earth had water vapor in its atmosphere. b. Only early Earth was intensely bombarded by large space debris. c. Only early Earth had an oxidizing atmosphere. d. Less ultraviolet radiation penetrated Earth's early atmosphere. e. Earth's early atmosphere had significant quantities of ozone. Which is a defining characteristic that all protobionts had in common? a. the ability to synthesize enzymes b. a surrounding membrane or membrane-like structure c. RNA genes d. a nucleus e. the ability to replicate RNA What probably accounts for the switch to DNAbased genetic systems during the evolution of life on Earth? a. DNA is chemically more stable and replicates with fewer errors (mutations) than RNA. b. Only DNA can replicate during cell division. c. RNA is too involved with translation of proteins and cannot provide multiple functions. d. DNA forms the rod-shaped chromosomes necessary for cell division. e. Replication of RNA occurs too slowly. If the half-life of carbon-14 is about 5,730 years, then a fossil that has one-sixteenth the normal proportion of carbon-14 to carbon-12 should be about how many years old? a. 1,400 b. 2,800 c. 11,200 d. 16,800 e. 22,400 What is thought to be the correct sequence of these events, from earliest to most recent, in the evolution of life on Earth? 1. origin of mitochondria 2. origin of multicellular eukaryotes 3. origin of chloroplasts 4. origin of cyanobacteria 5. origin of fungal-plant symbioses a. 4, 3, 2, 1, 5 b. 4, 1, 2, 3, 5 c. 4, 1, 3, 2, 5 d. 4, 3, 1, 5, 2 e. 3, 4, 1, 2, 5 Which of these observations fails to support the endosymbiotic theory for the origin of eukaryotic cells? a. the existence of structural and molecular differences between the plasma membranes of prokaryotes and the internal membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts b. the existence of size differences between the cytosolic ribosomes of eukaryotes and the ribosomes within mitochondria and chloroplasts c. the existence of size differences between some prokaryotic cells and mitochondria d. the existence of rRNA sequence differences between the cytosolic ribosomes of eukaryotes and the ribosomes within mitochondria and chloroplasts A hypothetical mutation in a squirrel population produces organisms with eight legs rather than four. Further, these mutant squirrels survive, successfully invade new habitats, and eventually give rise to a new species. The initial event, giving rise to extra legs, would be a good example of a. punctuated equilibrium. b. species selection. c. habitat selection. d. changes in homeotic genes. e. allometry. The existence of evolutionary trends, such as increasing body sizes among horse species, is evidence that a. a larger volume-to-surface area ratio is beneficial to all mammals. b. an unseen guiding force is at work. c. evolution always tends toward increased complexity or increased size. d. in particular environments, similar adaptations can be beneficial in more than one species. e. evolution generally progresses toward some predetermined goal. Fossil evidence indicates that several kinds of flightless dinosaurs possessed feathers. If some of these feather-bearing dinosaurs incubated clutches of eggs in carefully constructed nests, this might be evidence supporting the claim that a. dinosaurs were as fully endothermal (warmblooded) as modern birds and mammals. b. their feathers originally served as insulation, and only later became flight surfaces. c. the earliest reptiles could fly, and the feathers of flightless dinosaurs were vestigial flight surfaces. d. the feathers were plucked from the bodies of other adults to provide nest-building materials. e. all fossils with feathers are actually some kind of bird. Select the factor most likely to have caused the animals and plants of India to differ greatly from species in nearby Southeast Asia. a. The species have become separated by convergent evolution. b. The climates of the two regions are similar. c. India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia. d. Life in India was wiped out by ancient volcanic eruptions. e. India was a separate continent until 55 million years ago. Which of these illustrates the correct representation of the binomial scientific name for the African lion? a. Panthera leo b. panthera leo c. Panthera leo d. Panthera Leo e. Panthera leo The common housefly belongs to all of the following taxa. Assuming you had access to textbooks or other scientific literature, knowing which of the following should provide you with the most specific information about the common housefly? a. order Diptera b. family Muscidae c. genus Musca d. class Hexapoda e. phylum Arthropoda Which of the following pairs are the best examples of homologous structures? a. bat wing and human hand b. owl wing and hornet wing c. porcupine quill and cactus spine d. bat forelimb and bird wing e. Australian mole and North American mole In angiosperm plants, flower morphology can be very intricate. If a tree, such as a New Mexico locust, has flowers that share many morphological intricacies with flowers of the sweet pea vine, then the most likely explanation for these floral similarities is the same general explanation for the similarities between the a. dorsal fins of sharks and of dolphins. b. reduced eyes of Australian moles and North American moles. c. scales on moth wings and the scales of fish skin. d. cranial bones of humans and those of chimpanzees. e. adaptations for flight in birds and adaptations for flight in bats. Which species are extinct? a. A and E b. A and B c. C and D d. D and E A researcher compared the nucleotide sequences of a homologous gene from five different species of mammals with the homologous human gene. The sequence homology between each species' version of the gene and the human gene is presented as a percentage of similarity. What probably explains the inclusion of rabbits in this research? a. Their short generation time provides a ready source of DNA. b. They possess all of the shared derived characters as do the other species listed. c. They are the closest known relatives of rhesus monkeys. d. They are the outgroup. e. They are the most recent common ancestor of the primates. When it acts upon a gene, which of these processes consequently makes that gene an accurate molecular clock? a. transcription b. directional natural selection c. mutation d. proofreading e. reverse transcription The HIV genome's reliably high rate of change permits it to serve as a molecular clock. Which of these features is most responsible for this genome's high rate of change? a. the relatively low number of nucleotides in the genome b. the relatively small number of genes in the genome c. the genome's ability to insert itself into the genome of the host d. the lack of proofreading by the enzyme that converts HIV's RNA genome into a DNA genome The following questions refer to the table below, which compares the % sequence homology of four different parts (2 introns and 2 exons) of a gene that is found in five different eukaryotic species. Each part is numbered to indicate its distance from the promoter (e.g., Intron I is that closest to the promoter). The data reported for Species A were obtained by comparing DNA from one member of species A to another member of Species A. Which of these is the best explanation for the high degree of sequence homology observed in Exon I among these five species? a. It is the most-upstream exon of this gene. b. Due to alternative gene splicing, this exon is often treated as an intron. c. It codes for a polypeptide domain that has a crucial function. d. These five species must actually constitute a single species. e. This exon is rich in G-C base pairs; thus, is more stable. The following questions refer to the table below, which compares the % sequence homology of four different Parts (2 introns and 2 exons) of a gene that is found in five different eukaryotic species. Each part is numbered to indicate its distance from the promoter (e.g., Intron I is that closest to the promoter). The data reported for Species A were obtained by comparing DNA from one member of species A to another member of Species A. Regarding these sequence homology data, the principle of maximum parsimony would be applicable in a. distinguishing introns from exons. b. determining degree of sequence homology. c. selecting appropriate genes for comparison among species. d. inferring evolutionary relatedness from the number of sequence differences. The following questions refer to the table below, which compares the % sequence homology of four different parts (2 introns and 2 exons) of a gene that is found in five different eukaryotic species. Each part is numbered to indicate its distance from the promoter (e.g., Intron I is that closest to the promoter). The data reported for Species A were obtained by comparing DNA from one member of species A to another member of Species A. Which of these four gene parts should allow the construction of the most accurate phylogenetic tree, assuming that this is the only part of the gene that has acted as a reliable molecular clock? a. Intron I b. Exon I c. Intron VI d. Exon V The following questions refer to the table below, which compares the % sequence homology of four different parts (2 introns and 2 exons) of a gene that is found in five different eukaryotic species. Each part is numbered to indicate its distance from the promoter (e.g., Intron I is that closest to the promoter). The data reported for Species A were obtained by comparing DNA from one member of species A to another member of Species A. Which of these is the best explanation for Intron I's relatively high sequence homology among these five species? a. It is the most-upstream of this gene's introns. b. It was once an exon, but became intronic in the common ancestor of these five species. c. Due to alternative gene splicing, it is often treated as an exon in these five species; as an exon, it codes for an important part of a polypeptide. d. It has a relatively high average rate of mutation. an outcrop of sedimentary rock whose strata are labeled A-D. Which stratum should contain the greatest proportion of extinct organisms? an outcrop of sedimentary rock whose strata are labeled A-D. If "x" indicates the location of fossils of two closely related species, then fossils of their mostrecent common ancestor are most likely to occur in which stratum? Blue light is that portion of the visible spectrum that penetrates the deepest into bodies of water. Ultraviolet (UV) light, though, can penetrate even deeper. A gene within a population of marine fish that inhabits depths from 500 m to 1,000 m has an allele for a photopigment that is sensitive to UV light, and another allele for a photopigment that is sensitive to blue light. Which graph below best depicts the predicted distribution of these alleles if the fish that carry these alleles prefer to locate themselves where they can see best? When sufficient heat is applied, double-stranded DNA denatures into two single-stranded molecules as the heat breaks all of the hydrogen bonds. In an experiment, molecules of single-stranded DNA from species X are separately hybridized with putatively homologous single-stranded DNA molecules from five species (A-E). The hybridized DNAs are then heated, and the temperature at which complete denaturation occurs is recorded. Based on the data below, which species is probably most closely related to species X? Typically, mutations that modify the active site of an enzyme are more likely to be harmful than mutations that affect other parts of the enzyme. A hypothetical enzyme consists of four domains (A—D), and the amino acid sequences of these four domains have been determined in five related species. Given the proportion of amino acid homologies among the five species at each of the four domains, which domain probably contains the active site? Which curve in the graph below best depicts the way that mutation rate varies over time in a gene that can serve as a reliable molecular clock?