Evolutionary biology is the fascinating study of how life on Earth has changed and adapted over millions of years. In this blog post, we delve into 20 multiple-choice questions on Evolution, each accompanied by an answer and explanation, to help beginners get a grip on the core concepts and principles.
1. What is the process by which new species are formed?
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Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise. It occurs when populations are isolated by geographic or reproductive barriers and undergo genetic divergence.
2. Who is known as the Father of Evolution?
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Charles Darwin is often referred to as the Father of Evolution due to his groundbreaking work on natural selection and his book "On the Origin of Species."
3. Which term describes the remnants of organs or structures that had a function in an early ancestor?
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Vestigial structures are remnants of organs or parts that had a function in an early ancestor but have since lost their original function through evolution.
4. Which of the following provides evidence for evolution?
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Fossil records, comparative anatomy, biogeography, and many other fields provide evidence supporting the theory of evolution.
5. What is the role of mutations in evolution?
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Mutations introduce new genetic variations, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful. This genetic diversity is essential for populations to adapt to changing environments.
6. Which scientist developed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics?
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Lamarck proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, suggesting that traits developed during an organism’s lifetime could be passed on to its offspring.
7. What is Genetic Drift?
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Genetic drift refers to random fluctuations in the frequencies of alleles in a population due to chance events.
8. What is Adaptive Radiation?
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Adaptive radiation is an evolutionary process where organisms rapidly diversify into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.
9. Which of the following is an example of coevolution?
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Coevolution occurs when two or more species influence each other's evolutionary pathways. Examples include predator-prey relationships, interactions between flowering plants and their pollinators, and the relationship between parasites and their hosts.
10. Which era is known as the Age of Mammals?
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The Cenozoic era is often referred to as the Age of Mammals because it is characterized by the dominance of mammals on Earth.
11. What is the founder effect?
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The founder effect is a form of genetic drift that occurs when a new colony is established by a few individuals, leading to a reduction in genetic variation.
12. What do analogous structures indicate?
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Analogous structures are those that perform similar functions but are not derived from a common ancestor, indicating convergent evolution.
13. What is the purpose of camouflage in evolution?
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Camouflage is an evolutionary adaptation that helps organisms blend in with their surroundings to avoid detection by predators.
14. Which scientist proposed the theory of punctuated equilibrium?
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Stephen Jay Gould, along with Niles Eldredge, proposed the theory of punctuated equilibrium, suggesting that evolutionary change occurs in rapid bursts, separated by long periods of stability.
15. Which type of selection favors individuals with extreme phenotypes?
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Disruptive selection favors individuals at both extremes of the phenotypic range, leading to a bimodal distribution of trait values.
16. What is homology?
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Homology refers to similarity in traits or DNA sequences between species due to shared ancestry.
17. What is the biological species concept based on?
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The biological species concept defines species based on reproductive isolation, meaning that members of a species can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring, but cannot do so with members of other species.
18. What does the fossil record show?
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The fossil record provides evidence of both the appearance of new species and the extinction of species over geological time.
19. What is sympatric speciation?
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Sympatric speciation occurs when new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region.
20. Which of the following is a driving force for microevolution?
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Microevolution is driven by several forces, including mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection, all contributing to changes in the allele frequencies within a population.