Question 1

What variable force is most important to adaptation over time?

Accepted Answer

Random mutation is the most important variable force to adaptation over time because it introduces new genetic variation that may be advantageous in certain environments. Founder's effect, genetic drift, and gene flow can also play a role in shaping population genetics, but they are not necessarily as consistent or impactful as random mutation.

Question 2

A person's hair color is determined by at least two genes. Hair color is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Polygenetic inheritance refers to traits that are influenced by the interaction of multiple genes, which is the case for hair color. Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an individual, while genome refers to the complete set of DNA within an organism. DNA is the genetic material that carries the instructions for traits, but hair color is not solely determined by one gene.

Question 3

Adaptation can best be described as:

Accepted Answer

Adaptation refers to the process by which organisms make beneficial adjustments to their environment in order to better survive and reproduce. This can include physical, behavioral, or physiological changes, and may be the result of both genetic and environmental factors. Unlike option A, adaptation is not necessarily limited to a specific genetic anomaly, and it does not refer to dominant traits in the gene pool, as described in option B. Option D refers to the introduction of new alleles to a population but does not necessarily relate to adaptation.

Question 4

If a young man has Type A blood, this is his:

Accepted Answer

Type A blood is a characteristic that can be observed and expressed physically (in the form of blood type) and is therefore a phenotype. DNA and genome refer to the genetic material and the entire set of genetic instructions in an organism, while genotype specifically refers to the genetic makeup of an individual, which may or may not be expressed as a phenotype.

Question 5

What is the evolutionary force that has kept populations from developing into separate species?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow is the movement of individuals from one population to another. This exchange of genetic material helps prevent populations from developing differences that would lead to the formation of separate species. Gene flow increases genetic diversity and keeps populations interconnected, reducing the chances of divergence. The other options (founder's effect, mutation, and random genetic drift) can all contribute to speciation by introducing changes in the genetic makeup of populations.

Question 6

Interbreeding allows for

Accepted Answer

Interbreeding allows for gene flow, which is the transfer of genetic variation from one population to another. This can lead to increased genetic diversity and can prevent genetic isolation between populations. Genetic drift and founder's effect are both mechanisms of evolution that can occur in populations, but they do not directly result from interbreeding. Guanine is one of the four nucleotide bases found in DNA.

Question 7

A small group of people with several colorblind individuals move from the mainland move to a previously uninhabited, secluded island. Two hundred years
Later 5% of the people of the island have colorblindness. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is a clear example of founder effects, where a small group of individuals with a particular trait (colorblindness) established a new population on a previously uninhabited island. Over time, this trait became more prevalent in the population due to the founder effect. Population bottleneck and gene flow are not applicable in this scenario as there was not a dramatic reduction in the population size, nor was there significant gene movement between populations. Mutation is also not applicable in this scenario, as the emergence of colorblindness in the original population is not due to a genetic mutation, but rather to the genetic makeup of the founding individuals.

Question 8

The chimp's genome is estimated to be _______________ % larger than the human's.

Accepted Answer

The chimp's genome is estimated to be about 10% larger than the human's genome.

Question 9

Chimpanzees and humans share what percentage of DNA similarity?

Accepted Answer

Chimpanzees and humans share approximately 98% DNA similarity. Therefore, option D is correct. Options A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not reflect the accurate percentage of DNA similarity between chimpanzees and humans.

Question 10

Founder's Effect is a type of:

Accepted Answer

Founder's Effect occurs when a small group of individuals separate from a larger population and establish a new population in a new location. This small group only carries a fraction of the genetic diversity of the larger population, which can lead to a genetic drift. Genetic drift refers to the random fluctuations of allele frequencies in small populations due to chance events. Therefore, the best choice is genetic drift (option B). Gene flow refers to the transfer of genes between populations, whereas natural selection and environmental selection refer to the process of evolution that acts on the variation in a population.

Question 11

If a young woman has blue eyes, this is her:

Accepted Answer

The phenotype refers to an individual's physical characteristics, which can include traits such as eye color. In this case, the blue eyes are a visible trait and therefore part of the individual's phenotype. DNA and genome refer to an individual's genetic makeup, while genotype specifically refers to the genetic information for a particular trait. However, none of these options directly refer to the visible physical characteristics of an individual, which is why C) phenotype is the best choice.

Question 12

Chance fluctuations of allele frequencies in the gene pool of a population are evidences of:

Accepted Answer

Chance fluctuations of allele frequencies in a population's gene pool are an indication of genetic drift. Genetic drift is the random fluctuation of allele frequencies in a population due to chance events. This leads to the loss of genetic variation over time and can result in the fixation of certain alleles within the population.

Question 13

All of the following are evolutionary forces except:

Accepted Answer

Genetic cloning is a biotechnological technique and not a natural evolutionary force. The other options (genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation) are all natural evolutionary forces.

Question 14

A painful disease in which oxygen-carrying red blood cells change into abnormal shapes is called:

Accepted Answer

Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder in which the red blood cells take on a crescent or sickle shape instead of the normal round shape. This abnormal shape can cause the cells to get stuck in small blood vessels, leading to pain, organ damage, and other complications. It is a painful disease caused by abnormal red blood cells.

Question 15

The average rate of mutation per million is:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The average rate of mutation per million...

Question 16

An example of polygenetic inheritance is:

Accepted Answer

Skin color is determined by multiple genes working together, making it an example of polygenetic inheritance. Blood type is determined by a single gene, weight is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and sex is determined by just two chromosomes.

Question 17

Since Type O Blood is co-dominant, a woman with Type O blood knows that OO is her:

Accepted Answer

Type O blood is a recessive trait, so a woman with Type O blood can have either OO or Oi as her genotype. Therefore, she knows that OO is her genotype, not her DNA, genome, or phenotype.

Question 18

The main structural protein for skin, bones, and teeth is:

Accepted Answer

Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides strength and elasticity to various tissues, including skin, bones, and teeth. Thymine, adenine, and guanine are nucleotide bases found in DNA, but do not contribute to the structure of skin, bones, or teeth.

Question 19

In evolutionary terms, what kind of force is mutation?

Accepted Answer

Mutation is considered a positive force in evolution because it generates genetic variation that can be selected for in a changing environment. It is through mutation that new traits and adaptations can arise, leading to the evolution of new species over time. While not all mutations are beneficial, the ones that confer a survival advantage will tend to be favored by natural selection, leading to their increased frequency in a population.

Question 20

Can some physical traits be dominant, while others are recessive?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some physical traits can be dominant while others are recessive. This is due to the presence of dominant and recessive alleles in genes. For example, brown eyes may be dominant while blue eyes are recessive.

Quiz 2: Biology and Evolution