Evolution: A Comprehensive Guide for Biology MSc Students

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a primary mechanism responsible for driving evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

Ontogeny

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Genetic drift

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a natural mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Mutation

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT considered scientific evidence for evolution?

Accepted Answer

Intelligent design

Answer

Fossil record

Answer

Molecular biology

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Question 4

Which of the following is a random process that can change allele frequency but is not considered a mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Mutation

Question 5

In evolutionary biology, what is the primary mechanism that shapes the genetic makeup of populations over time?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Mutation

Question 6

Which process involves selective breeding by humans?

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection

Answer

Directional selection

Answer

Stabilizing selection

Answer

Disruptive selection

Question 7

Which mechanism of evolution leads to random changes in the frequency of alleles within a population?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Mutation

Question 8

In evolutionary biology, which molecular technique is used to determine the genetic relatedness between organisms?

Accepted Answer

DNA fingerprinting

Answer

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Southern blotting

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a natural mechanism driving evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Extinction

Question 10

In the theory of evolution by natural selection, what factor drives the adaptation and diversification of species?

Accepted Answer

Differential survival and reproduction of organisms with advantageous traits.

Answer

Accumulation of random mutations over generations.

Answer

Inheritance of acquired characteristics.

Answer

Direct shaping of traits by the environment.

Question 11

Which of the following is an adaptation that has evolved through natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A bird's beak that is shaped for cracking nuts

Answer

A gene that is only active in the liver

Answer

A change in the color of an organism's fur

Answer

A change in the population size of a species over time

Question 12

Which of the following is not a scientifically accepted mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Lamarckism

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Natural selection

Question 13

Which of the following is not a scientifically accepted mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Lamarckism

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Question 14

In Darwin's theory of natural selection, which concept is central?

Accepted Answer

Survival of the fittest

Answer

Inheritance of acquired traits

Answer

Spontaneous generation of life

Answer

Immutability of species

Question 15

Which of the following is **not** a primary mechanism of evolution that leads to heritable changes in a population?

Accepted Answer

Epigenetics

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Question 16

Which evolutionary mechanism deviates from the principles of modern evolutionary theory?

Accepted Answer

Lamarckism proposes the inheritance of acquired traits.

Answer

Natural selection drives adaptation within environments.

Answer

Genetic drift causes random allele frequency changes.

Answer

Gene flow enables genetic exchange between populations.

Question 17

Which of the following is not a mechanism that drives evolution?

Accepted Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Natural selection

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a scientifically accepted form of evidence supporting the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Creationism

Answer

Fossil record

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Answer

Molecular biology

Question 19

Which type of natural selection favors individuals with extreme variations in traits?

Accepted Answer

Disruptive selection

Answer

Stabilizing selection

Answer

Directional selection

Question 20

What makes fossils a valuable tool for studying evolution?

Accepted Answer

Fossils provide tangible evidence of life's historical development and shared ancestry.

Answer

Fossils are evenly distributed across all geological layers, regardless of age.

Answer

Fossils are only useful for studying animals, as plant remains are not well-preserved in the fossil record.

Question 21

Two organisms, A and B, share a common ancestor. What best describes their evolutionary relationship?

Accepted Answer

A and B share genetic similarities and unique genetic traits.

Answer

A and B belong to different species due to distinct genetic differences.

Answer

A and B have identical genetic sequences because of their shared ancestor.

Answer

A and B may not be related despite sharing a common ancestor.

Question 22

Which of these is NOT a naturally occurring mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Question 23

Which type of evidence offers the most direct and comprehensive account of evolutionary changes over time?

Accepted Answer

Fossil record

Answer

Molecular biology

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Question 24

In molecular biology, which technique is used to determine the genetic similarity between different species?

Accepted Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Microscopy

Answer

Cell culturing

Question 25

Which of the following is not considered a vestigial structure in humans?

Accepted Answer

Biceps femoris muscle

Answer

Wisdom teeth

Answer

Appendix

Question 26

According to the principle of common ancestry, what characteristic do two organisms that share a common ancestor possess?

Accepted Answer

Homologous structures with similar functions

Answer

Identical genetic makeup

Answer

Recent divergence from their common ancestor

Answer

Closely related and similar characteristics

Question 27

Which mechanism of protein evolution modifies protein structure and function without altering the amino acid sequence?

Accepted Answer

Alternative splicing

Answer

Point mutations

Answer

Nonsense mutations

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a natural mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Mutation

Question 29

Which mechanism is NOT considered a driving force behind evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

The inheritance of acquired characteristics

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Non-random mating

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a scientifically accepted type of evidence for the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Philosophical arguments

Answer

The fossil record

Answer

Molecular biology

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Question 31

Which of the following processes does NOT directly contribute to evolutionary change through natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Random changes in allele frequencies due to genetic drift

Answer

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous traits

Answer

Selection against individuals with disadvantageous traits

Question 32

How does natural selection contribute to the development of adaptations in populations?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favors individuals with traits that enhance their survival and reproduction in their environment.

Answer

Natural selection creates new traits that are immediately inherited.

Answer

Adaptations are always beneficial and never have any drawbacks.

Answer

Adaptations are solely determined by the environment and are not influenced by genetic variation.

Question 33

Which mechanism of evolution is not recognized by modern evolutionary theory?

Accepted Answer

Lamarckism

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Mutation

Question 34

Which of the following is a limitation of using molecular data in evolutionary studies?

Accepted Answer

It can be used to create new species.

Answer

It can provide information about the relatedness of species.

Answer

It can be used to study the evolution of genes and proteins.

Answer

It can be used to identify the genetic basis of traits.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a type of evidence used to support the scientific theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Creationism

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Answer

Fossil record

Answer

Molecular biology

Question 36

In a bird population, individuals with longer beaks have a higher survival rate during droughts. Which evolutionary force is most likely driving this pattern?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Non-random mating

Question 37

Which fossil pattern strongly supports the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Transitional fossils showing features of both ancestral and descendant species

Answer

Absence of fossils in certain rock layers

Answer

Fossils found in different geographic regions

Answer

Fossils with unique traits not seen in modern organisms

Question 38

Which of the following are true about sexual selection?

Accepted Answer

It can lead to both intraspecific and interspecific competition.

Accepted Answer

It can result in elaborate behavioral patterns, such as courtship rituals.

Answer

It drives the evolution of traits that enhance an individual's survival.

Answer

It always favors male individuals.

Question 39

In natural selection, which individuals have a higher chance of survival and passing on their traits?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with favorable traits

Answer

Individuals with unfavorable traits

Answer

Individuals with a large body size

Answer

Individuals with numerous offspring

Question 40

What is the scientific term for the study of genetic variation within populations?

Accepted Answer

Population genetics

Answer

Molecular biology

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Answer

Phylogenetics

Question 41

What is the term for the gradual change in the genetic makeup of a population over time?

Accepted Answer

Microevolution

Answer

Macroevolution

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Question 42

What is the name of the process that results in the introduction of novel traits into a population?

Accepted Answer

Mutation

Answer

Recombination

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Genetic drift

Question 43

Which type of anatomical evidence for evolution demonstrates similarities in structures due to shared ancestry?

Accepted Answer

Homologous structures

Answer

Analogous structures

Answer

Vestigial structures

Answer

Both homologous and vestigial structures

Question 44

Which method is commonly used to estimate the time of divergence between species using molecular data?

Accepted Answer

Molecular clock

Answer

Alignment score

Answer

Phylogenetics

Answer

Fossil record

Question 45

Which major criticism of punctuated equilibrium theory suggests that it lacks support from fossil evidence?

Accepted Answer

It is not supported by fossil evidence

Answer

It does not account for the role of natural selection

Answer

It overemphasizes the importance of geological events

Answer

It fails to explain the gradual evolution of complex traits

Question 46

Who is widely regarded as the 'father of evolution'?

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

Gregor Mendel

Answer

Alfred Russel Wallace

Answer

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Question 47

Which of the following is excluded from the mechanisms of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Genetic engineering

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Mutation

Question 48

Which factor exerts the greatest influence on the rate of speciation?

Accepted Answer

Selection pressure

Answer

Population size

Answer

Genetic variation

Answer

Time since population foundation

Question 49

According to the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which of the following is a key prediction?

Accepted Answer

The fossil record alternates between long periods of stasis and short periods of rapid change.

Answer

Speciation occurs at a gradual, steady pace over many generations.

Answer

Speciation occurs sporadically in bursts of rapid change.

Answer

The fossil record displays a gradual progression of forms with no gaps.

Question 50

How does genomics contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Genomics enables comprehensive analysis of genetic variation and evolutionary relationships among species.

Answer

Genomics is limited in its applications due to high cost and technical complexity.

Answer

Genomics is only applicable to model organisms and cannot be used to study non-model species.

Answer

Genomics focuses solely on DNA sequencing and does not provide insights into gene expression and regulation.

Question 51

How does population size influence the strength and effectiveness of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Larger populations enhance the power and effectiveness of natural selection.

Answer

Smaller populations increase the strength of natural selection.

Answer

Population size has no impact on the effectiveness of natural selection.

Answer

Natural selection operates equally effectively in populations of all sizes.

Question 52

Define adaptive radiation and provide specific examples to illustrate your explanation.

Accepted Answer

Adaptive radiation is the diversification of a group of organisms from a common ancestor into distinct ecological niches.

Answer

Adaptive radiation is the process by which a single species becomes genetically stable over time.

Answer

Adaptive radiation occurs when two distinct species interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Answer

Adaptive radiation is the extinction of a species due to competition with a better-adapted species.

Question 53

Which of the following is not considered a fundamental mechanism driving evolution?

Accepted Answer

Use and disuse of traits

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Question 54

Which of the following techniques enables researchers to determine the DNA sequence of different species?

Accepted Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Southern blotting

Question 55

Which key difference distinguishes punctuated equilibrium from gradualism in evolutionary theory?

Accepted Answer

The pattern of evolutionary change

Answer

The rate of evolutionary change

Answer

The significance of natural selection

Answer

The impact of genetic drift

Question 56

In evolutionary biology, fitness refers primarily to:

Accepted Answer

An individual's capacity for survival and reproduction within its environment

Answer

An individual's physical strength and size

Answer

An individual's cognitive abilities and intelligence

Answer

An individual's social status and dominance within a group

Question 57

Which of the following is the best example of adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of different species of finches on the Galapagos Islands

Answer

The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria

Answer

The evolution of bipedalism in hominids

Answer

The evolution of photosynthesis in plants

Question 58

Which of the following is not considered a mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Lamarckism

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Gene flow

Question 59

Which of the following is not a valid form of evidence supporting the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Intelligent design

Answer

Fossil record

Answer

Comparative anatomy

Answer

Molecular biology

Question 60

What is the term used to describe the evolutionary divergence of two or more populations of a species?

Accepted Answer

Speciation

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Adaptation

Answer

Mutation

Question 61

Which type of natural selection favors individuals with extreme phenotypes?

Accepted Answer

Disruptive selection

Answer

Directional selection

Answer

Stabilizing selection

Answer

Artificial selection

Question 62

Who is credited with first proposing the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

Alfred Russel Wallace

Answer

Gregor Mendel

Answer

James Hutton

Question 63

How should ethical considerations be balanced against the potential benefits when applying evolutionary principles in medicine, agriculture, and conservation?

Accepted Answer

Ethical implications should be carefully considered and weighed against potential benefits.

Answer

Ethical implications are irrelevant in these fields.

Answer

Ethical considerations should be ignored to maximize benefits.

Question 64

Which of the following is not considered a scientifically accepted mechanism of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Intelligent design

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Gene flow

Answer

Genetic drift