Question 1

A heritable trait that improves the ability of an individual organism to survive and to reproduce at a higher rate than other individuals in a population is called a(n)____.​

Accepted Answer

A heritable trait that improves the ability to survive and reproduce is an adaptation. Adaptations are the result of natural selection, which acts on variations within a population to favor those that are better suited to the environment. Mutagens are agents that cause mutations, while a niche is the specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem. Chromosomes are the structures that contain an organism's genetic material. Selection is a broad term that can refer to various types of natural or artificial selection processes.

Question 2

Humans evolved from ___.​

Accepted Answer

Both apes and monkeys share a common ancestor with humans, and thus humans evolved from that ancestor. It is important to note that this ancestor may not have looked exactly like modern day apes or monkeys, but rather was a unique species that eventually gave rise to all three groups (humans, apes, and monkeys).

Question 3

Specialist species occupy ____.​

Accepted Answer

Specialist species have a narrow ecological niche, meaning they are very specific in their habitat requirements and the resources they use.

Question 4

​A species that is found only on one island would be described as ____.

Accepted Answer

A species that is found only on one island is referred to as endemic. Endemic species are unique and rare, making their conservation important for the protection of biodiversity.

Question 5

Which statement best describes an organism's habitat?​

Accepted Answer

An organism's habitat refers to the specific place or type of ecosystem in which a species lives. While nutrient relationships, resource requirements, range of tolerance, and competitors may all be factors that impact an organism's survival within its habitat, the habitat itself is the overarching environment that contains these elements.

Question 6

Which statement is true with regard to keystone species?​

Accepted Answer

Some keystone species, such as predators or plants that provide food and habitat for many other species, may have a disproportionate impact on their ecosystem. Therefore, they may be more vulnerable to extinction than other species.

Question 7

We can say that on a long-term basis,the ____ principle of sustainability has especially helped life on the earth to adapt to drastic changes in environmental conditions.​

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity is the principle of sustainability that has helped life on Earth adapt to drastic changes in environmental conditions over the long term by providing a wide range of species and genetic diversity that can survive and thrive in varying environments.

Question 8

​An intertidal species of sea star helps to maintain the diversity of the intertidal region by controlling the mussel population.Without the sea star,the mussel population would crowd out other species and take over their territory.The sea star could be called a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large effect on an ecosystem relative to its abundance. This is true of the sea star in this scenario, as its role in controlling the mussel population is critical in maintaining the diversity of the intertidal region. Removing the sea star would have cascading effects on the ecosystem, leading to a domination by mussels and a reduction in biodiversity.

Question 9

Some genetic mutations occur from exposure to external agents called ____,such as radioactivity,ultraviolet radiation from the sun,and certain natural and human-made chemicals.​

Accepted Answer

The term "mutagens" refers to external agents that can cause genetic mutations. Radioactivity, ultraviolet radiation, and certain chemicals are all examples of mutagens. Heritable traits, keystones, niches, and antibiotics do not refer specifically to external agents that cause genetic mutations.

Question 10

____ is a technology that enables scientists to make new sequences of DNA and to use such genetic information to design and create new cells,tissues,organisms,and devices,and to redesign natural biological systems.​

Accepted Answer

Synthetic biology is the technology that enables scientists to make new sequences of DNA and use genetic information to design and create new cells, tissues, organisms, and devices. It is a rapidly growing field that combines principles from biology, engineering, and computer science to design and build novel biological systems with specific functions. Options B, C, D, and E are not suitable as they do not accurately describe the technology in question.

Question 11

Scientists use ____ to alter an organism's genetic material by adding,deleting,or changing segments of its DNA to produce desirable traits or to eliminate undesirable ones.​

Accepted Answer

Genetic engineering is the process of altering an organism's genetic material by adding, deleting, or changing segments of its DNA to produce desirable traits or to eliminate undesirable ones. This is achieved through techniques such as gene cloning, gene splicing, and gene editing. Natural selection, geographic isolation, speciation, and genetic resistance are all different concepts in biology with different meanings and applications.

Question 12

The process by which members of isolated populations become so different in genetic makeup that they cannot produce live,fertile offspring if they are rejoined is best described as ____.​

Accepted Answer

This process is called reproductive isolation, which refers to the mechanisms that prevent members of different species from successfully mating with each other or producing viable offspring. Geographic isolation refers to physical barriers that separate populations, while evolutionary isolation and endemic isolation are not commonly used terms in biology. Niche isolation refers to the process by which different species evolve to occupy different ecological niches.

Question 13

The ability of one or more organisms in a population to tolerate a chemical such as a pesticide or antibiotic designed to kill it and to reproduce more rapidly than the members of the population that do not have such genetic traits is called ____.​

Accepted Answer

Genetic resistance refers to the ability of certain individuals in a population to withstand exposure to a chemical or toxin that would otherwise kill them, due to genetic traits that allow them to tolerate the substance. These individuals are then able to pass on these traits to their offspring, leading to a population that is increasingly resistant to the chemical. This phenomenon is seen in cases of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and pesticide resistance in insects, and is a major concern for public health and agriculture. Choices A, B, C, and E all refer to different aspects of genetic manipulation and engineering, but do not specifically address the mechanism of genetic resistance in populations.

Question 14

​A species that can live in many different places and eat a variety of foods could be described as ____.

Accepted Answer

A generalist species can adapt to many different environments and consume a variety of food sources, which allows them to thrive in different habitats.

Question 15

When environmental conditions change dramatically or rapidly,a population of a species faces three possible futures: adapt to the new conditions through natural selection,migrate (if possible)to another area with more favorable conditions,or ____.​

Accepted Answer

If a species cannot adapt or migrate to more favorable conditions, the only option left is extinction. This has been observed in many species throughout history when environmental conditions changed too quickly for them to cope with.

Question 16

Traits that can be passed from one generation to the next are called ____ traits.​

Accepted Answer

Heritable traits are those that can be passed from one generation to the next through the genes of parents. These traits are inherited and can be controlled by the genes. Therefore, the best choice is D- Heritable.

Question 17

Artificial selection can be achieved by ____.​

Accepted Answer

Selective breeding involves intentionally choosing certain individuals with desired traits to reproduce, while excluding others from the breeding population. This process can result in rapid changes in the genetic makeup of a population over time, and is commonly used in agriculture and animal breeding. The other options listed do not necessarily involve intentional selection based on desirable traits.

Question 18

Which organism would best be described as a specialist species?​

Accepted Answer

Panda bears are known for being specialists, as they have a diet consisting almost entirely of bamboo. They have specialized adaptations for digesting and processing this tough plant material, making them a prime example of a specialist species.

Question 19

​____ is the most common cause of speciation.

Accepted Answer

Geographic isolation, where a population is separated from the rest of its species by a physical barrier such as a mountain range or a body of water, is the most common cause of speciation. The isolated population may experience different environmental pressures and genetic drift, leading to the evolution of different traits and the eventual development of a new species.

Question 20

Humans have used ____ to change the genetic characteristics of populations to generate individuals with desired traits.​

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection is the process by which humans use selective breeding to select individuals with desired traits to mate and produce offspring with those desirable traits. This process has been used for centuries to produce crops, livestock, and even pets with certain desired traits such as increased size, yield, or appearance.

Quiz 4: Biodiversity and Evolution

A heritable trait that improves the ability of an individual organism to survive and to reproduce at a higher rate than other individuals in a population is called a(n) ____.

Humans evolved from ___.

Specialist species occupy ____.

A species that is found only on one island would be described as ____.

Which statement best describes an organism's habitat?

Which statement is true with regard to keystone species?

We can say that on a long-term basis,the ____ principle of sustainability has especially helped life on the earth to adapt to drastic changes in environmental conditions.

An intertidal species of sea star helps to maintain the diversity of the intertidal region by controlling the mussel population.Without the sea star,the mussel population would crowd out other species and take over their territory.The sea star could be called a(n) ____.

Some genetic mutations occur from exposure to external agents called ____,such as radioactivity,ultraviolet radiation from the sun,and certain natural and human-made chemicals.

____ is a technology that enables scientists to make new sequences of DNA and to use such genetic information to design and create new cells,tissues,organisms,and devices,and to redesign natural biological systems.

Scientists use ____ to alter an organism's genetic material by adding,deleting,or changing segments of its DNA to produce desirable traits or to eliminate undesirable ones.

The process by which members of isolated populations become so different in genetic makeup that they cannot produce live,fertile offspring if they are rejoined is best described as ____.

The ability of one or more organisms in a population to tolerate a chemical such as a pesticide or antibiotic designed to kill it and to reproduce more rapidly than the members of the population that do not have such genetic traits is called ____.

A species that can live in many different places and eat a variety of foods could be described as ____.

When environmental conditions change dramatically or rapidly,a population of a species faces three possible futures: adapt to the new conditions through natural selection,migrate (if possible) to another area with more favorable conditions,or ____.

Traits that can be passed from one generation to the next are called ____ traits.

Artificial selection can be achieved by ____.

Which organism would best be described as a specialist species?

____ is the most common cause of speciation.

Humans have used ____ to change the genetic characteristics of populations to generate individuals with desired traits.