Question 1

New characteristics can result from all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Amino acids are not added to the DNA molecule; rather, they are the building blocks of proteins that are coded for by the DNA sequence. The other three options can result in new genetic characteristics.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the relationship between genes and traits?

Accepted Answer

Both physical and psychological traits are typically determined by multiple genes. This is because most traits are influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and the interaction of multiple genes can create a wide range of possible variations in traits. While some specific physical or psychological traits may be more strongly influenced by specific genes, it is rare for a single gene to fully determine a complex trait.

Question 3

Which is the best statement of the principle of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

The principle of natural selection is about genetic variations becoming more common if they are adaptive in a particular environment. Option A is incorrect because not all traits passed on by parents are best. Option B is also not the best statement as it implies that the environment is actively selecting traits, while it is actually the passive result of organisms with more adaptive traits surviving and reproducing. Option D is not the best statement because it focuses on the elimination of non-adaptive traits instead of the promotion of adaptive ones.

Question 4

An evolutionary psychologist would agree that:

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists believe that the human mind developed as a collection of specialized modules that evolved to solve specific adaptive problems throughout our evolutionary history. This approach posits that our cognitive architecture, including language, reasoning, social cognition, and emotions, can be best understood as a set of functional adaptations shaped by natural selection. Therefore, this option is the best choice. Option B is incorrect because the human mind is not a blank slate waiting to be programmed; rather, there are specific and evolved cognitive mechanisms that shape how we perceive, process, and respond to information. Option C is incorrect because not every trait necessarily has to be adaptive to human survival, as some traits can be the result of genetic drift, mutations, or neutral evolution. Finally, option D is incorrect because while some human tendencies, such as language acquisition or fear of snakes, may have a strong innate component, not every behavior or trait can be reduced to genetic determinism.

Question 5

In the year ________ an international collaboration of researchers called the Human Genome Project and a private company,Celera Genomics,both announced that they had completed a rough draft of a map of the entire human genome.

Accepted Answer

The completion of the rough draft of the human genome map was announced in the year 2000 by the Human Genome Project and Celera Genomics.

Question 6

According to the principle of ________,the fate of genetic variations depends on the environment.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the principle that states that certain genetic variations are more likely to survive and reproduce in a particular environment, leading to a greater frequency of those variations in the next generation. Therefore, the fate of genetic variations depends on the environment in which an organism lives.

Question 7

Evolution is:

Accepted Answer

Evolution is the change in gene frequencies within a population over many generations, which can result in the development of new species or adaptations of existing ones. The idea of organisms passing on acquired characteristics to their offspring (A) was proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck but has been largely discredited by evolutionary science. Major climatic changes can certainly impact evolution (C), but they do not cause it directly. Interbreeding of closely related species (D) can result in hybridization but is not the primary mechanism of evolution.

Question 8

Identifying a single gene has been compared to searching for someone when all you know is that the person lives:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identifying a single gene has been compared...

Question 9

Linkage studies are used to help determine:

Accepted Answer

Linkage studies are used to identify the location of a gene for a particular trait by analyzing the inheritance pattern of genetic markers located near the gene. By examining the co-inheritance of the trait and the markers in families, researchers can estimate the probability that the gene is located near a particular marker.

Question 10

Natural selection ensures that:

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favors the survival and reproduction of individuals with adaptive traits which will become more common in the population over time. It does not necessarily ensure that only the very strong members of a species will survive and pass on their genes (as factors such as genetic drift and chance events can also impact survival). Additionally, natural selection does not prevent the occurrence of new mutations, which can lead to potentially new traits in the population. While natural selection acts on existing genetic variation, it does not prevent genes from spontaneously changing or mutating.

Question 11

Which of the following traits would be LEAST likely to be "selected" by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Progressive hair loss with age does not have a significant impact on an animal's ability to survive and reproduce, and therefore would not likely be selected for or against by natural selection.

Question 12

Evolutionary psychologists believe that the human mind is a:

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists believe that the human mind is made up of independent mental modules that have evolved to solve specific survival problems. These modules or "mental organs" are specialized for tasks such as language acquisition, social interaction, and mate selection. This suggests that the human mind is not a general-purpose computer but rather a collection of specialized modules that have evolved through natural selection.

Question 13

Evolutionary psychologists usually start their research by asking the following question:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evolutionary psychologists usually start their research by...

Question 14

The A,T,C,and G molecules in DNA code for the synthesis of:

Accepted Answer

The sequence of A, T, C, and G molecules in DNA forms the genetic code that determines the sequence of amino acids in proteins. Therefore, option D is the correct choice, as it is the only option that mentions proteins. Genes are segments of DNA that contain the instructions for making proteins, but by themselves, genes do not directly produce any of the listed molecules. RNA is synthesized by copying the DNA code and can play various roles in protein synthesis but is not directly coded for by the A, T, C, and G molecules.

Question 15

Because of the way our species evolved,many tendencies are either present at birth in all humans or develop rapidly during maturation.An example of one of these tendencies would be/an:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because of the way our species evolved,many...

Question 16

The process of evolution primarily affects:

Accepted Answer

The process of evolution primarily affects the ways in which genetically influenced traits and characteristics of a population may change, through natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation. It does not directly affect crossing over during the formation of a sperm or an egg, or the replication of DNA. While individual differences in physical characteristics may contribute to natural selection, they are not the primary focus of the evolutionary process.

Question 17

In Darwin's second book,The Descent of Man,he proposed another type of selection,in which members of the same sex complete for a partner of the opposite sex.This principle is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Darwin's second book,The Descent of Man,he...

Question 18

Evolution is defined as a/an:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evolution is defined as a/an:
...

Question 19

Studies that look for patterns of inheritance of genetic markers in large families in which a particular condition is common are called:

Accepted Answer

Linkage studies specifically focus on identifying patterns of inheritance in families with a common genetic condition by analyzing genetic markers. Experimental studies, psychometric studies, and naturalistic observation studies may involve different methods of data collection or analysis, but they do not necessarily focus on inheritance patterns or genetic markers.

Question 20

Over the past century and a half,Darwin's ideas have been:

Accepted Answer

Darwin's ideas have been resoundingly supported by findings in anthropology, botany, and molecular genetics over the past century and a half.

Quiz 3: Genes,evolution,and Environment