Question 1

The virulence of a pathogen is not fixed, meaning that

Accepted Answer

A)  pathogens can't evolve to become more virulent. 
B)  pathogens can evolve to become more or less virulent. 
C)  all species of pathogens do not have the same virulence. 
D)  virulence can vary among species but not within a species. 
A)  pathogens can't evolve to become more virulent. 
B)  pathogens can evolve to become more or less virulent. 
C)  all species of pathogens do not have the same virulence. 
D)  virulence can vary among species but not within a species.

Question 2

A drug called AZT was the first to be used against HIV. Although it initially worked, resistance developed quickly, and eventually the drug was no longer effective. Drug therapies used today, which often combine several different drugs that target different phases of the HIV life cycle into a cocktail, are much more effective over the long term than a single drug used in isolation. Please provide an evolutionary explanation for why newer therapies work better.

Accepted Answer

The evolutionary explanation for why new

Question 3

Imagine that in the future we discover a set of genes that is largely responsible for causing aging in humans. Also, imagine that we can alter these genes in some way so that we live longer. Considering antagonistic pleiotropy, why might this be a concern?

Accepted Answer

Antagonistic pleiotropy is a biological

Question 4

Mutations occur across the genome at random, but tumors form when a mutation occurs in genes that control

Accepted Answer

A)  the production of antibodies. 
B)  the rate of cell division. 
C)  the regulation of hormones. 
D)  the storage of energy. 
A)  the production of antibodies. 
B)  the rate of cell division. 
C)  the regulation of hormones. 
D)  the storage of energy.

Question 5

Selection within pathogen hosts typically favors ________; selection across hosts favors ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  more virulent strains; less virulent strains 
B)  less virulent strains; more virulent strains 
C)  less virulent strains; less virulent strains 
D)  more virulent strains; more virulent strains 
A)  more virulent strains; less virulent strains 
B)  less virulent strains; more virulent strains 
C)  less virulent strains; less virulent strains 
D)  more virulent strains; more virulent strains

Question 6

In the future, an increase in emerging pathogens from animal sources is

Accepted Answer

A)  an inevitable consequences of evolution. 
B)  likely to decrease as scientists find ways to combat viruses. 
C)  likely to increase as humans intrude farther into wild regions. 
D)  not a likely threat because scientists have eliminated viruses like SARS. 
A)  an inevitable consequences of evolution. 
B)  likely to decrease as scientists find ways to combat viruses. 
C)  likely to increase as humans intrude farther into wild regions. 
D)  not a likely threat because scientists have eliminated viruses like SARS.

Question 7

Sequencing genomes of the Lassa virus to test hypotheses about its spread is an example of the application of

Accepted Answer

A)  evolutionary medicine. 
B)  medical biology. 
C)  genetics. 
D)  phylogenies. 
A)  evolutionary medicine. 
B)  medical biology. 
C)  genetics. 
D)  phylogenies.

Question 8

Describe how knowing the ancestry and genetic makeup of an individual could help doctors diagnose and treat them.

Accepted Answer

Knowing the ancestry and genetic makeup

Question 9

The process of creating conditions in which viruses evolve reduced virulence is

Accepted Answer

A)  attenuation. 
B)  resistance development. 
C)  serial passage. 
D)  vaccination. 
A)  attenuation. 
B)  resistance development. 
C)  serial passage. 
D)  vaccination.

Question 10

What does the flu virus use the protein hemagglutinin for?

Accepted Answer

A)  to weaken the membrane of the host cell 
B)  to aid in copying the flu genome 
C)  to latch onto acids on the host cell 
D)  to recruit the host cell's genetic machinery 
A)  to weaken the membrane of the host cell 
B)  to aid in copying the flu genome 
C)  to latch onto acids on the host cell 
D)  to recruit the host cell's genetic machinery

Question 11

Considering the evolution of antibiotic resistance, why is it important that patients finish their full cycle of antibiotic treatment?

Accepted Answer

It is important for patients to finish t

Question 12

After studying the phylogeny of the Lassa virus, scientists discovered that viruses from different regions were not closely related to each other. This supports the hypothesis that

Accepted Answer

A)  the virus was spreading from person to person. 
B)  the virus jumped from rats to people recently. 
C)  the virus was jumping repeatedly from rats to people. 
D)  there were no genetic patterns to the transmission of the virus. 
A)  the virus was spreading from person to person. 
B)  the virus jumped from rats to people recently. 
C)  the virus was jumping repeatedly from rats to people. 
D)  there were no genetic patterns to the transmission of the virus.

Question 13

Explain, from an evolutionary perspective, why diseases such as smallpox and measles had such a devastating impact on populations indigenous to the New World.

Accepted Answer

From an evolutionary perspective, diseas

Question 14

We take a number of measures to decrease the spread of viruses from one person to another (for example, vaccines). Over time, what effect might these efforts have on the evolution of virulence in pathogens?

Accepted Answer

The measures taken to decrease the sprea

Question 15

Which statement best describes antagonistic pleiotropy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Certain diseases have low frequencies in young people, but the frequencies increase as people age. 
B)  There are many genes that work together to control aging and thus many opportunities for mutations. 
C)  Some diseases have low frequencies in geographic populations with high frequencies of certain mutations. 
D)  Mutations contributing to aging can increase in frequency if those same mutations promote fitness earlier in life. 
A)  Certain diseases have low frequencies in young people, but the frequencies increase as people age. 
B)  There are many genes that work together to control aging and thus many opportunities for mutations. 
C)  Some diseases have low frequencies in geographic populations with high frequencies of certain mutations. 
D)  Mutations contributing to aging can increase in frequency if those same mutations promote fitness earlier in life.

Question 16

The weakened viruses contained in live-virus vaccines can

Accepted Answer

A)  trigger an immune response. 
B)  evolve into a new strain of virus. 
C)  be ineffective at providing immunity. 
D)  cause the same symptoms as the normal virus. 
A)  trigger an immune response. 
B)  evolve into a new strain of virus. 
C)  be ineffective at providing immunity. 
D)  cause the same symptoms as the normal virus.

Question 17

The argument that susceptibility to diabetes and obesity rose as people adapted to different climates provides an alternative to which idea?

Accepted Answer

A)  antagonistic pleiotropy 
B)  hygiene hypothesis 
C)  Old Friends hypothesis 
D)  thrifty genotype hypothesis 
A)  antagonistic pleiotropy 
B)  hygiene hypothesis 
C)  Old Friends hypothesis 
D)  thrifty genotype hypothesis

Question 18

What fraction of the world's population got sick with the flu in 1918?

Accepted Answer

A)  1/100 
B)  1/10 
C)  1/3 
D)  1/2 
A)  1/100 
B)  1/10 
C)  1/3 
D)  1/2

Question 19

Understanding how selection affects virulence has led public health officials to use which of the following actions to reduce the transmission of pathogens?

Accepted Answer

A)  providing clean drinking water 
B)  encouraging hand washing 
C)  vaccinating a large portion of the population 
D)  all of the above 
A)  providing clean drinking water 
B)  encouraging hand washing 
C)  vaccinating a large portion of the population 
D)  all of the above

Question 20

Which of the following viruses has/have jumped to humans from another species?

Accepted Answer

A)  HIV 
B)  SARS 
C)  influenza 
D)  all of the above 
A)  HIV 
B)  SARS 
C)  influenza 
D)  all of the above

The virulence of a pathogen is not fixed, meaning that

Imagine that in the future we discover a set of genes that is largely responsible for causing aging in humans. Also, imagine that we can alter these genes in some way so that we live longer. Considering antagonistic pleiotropy, why might this be a concern?

Mutations occur across the genome at random, but tumors form when a mutation occurs in genes that control

Selection within pathogen hosts typically favors ; selection across hosts favors .

In the future, an increase in emerging pathogens from animal sources is

Sequencing genomes of the Lassa virus to test hypotheses about its spread is an example of the application of

Describe how knowing the ancestry and genetic makeup of an individual could help doctors diagnose and treat them.

The process of creating conditions in which viruses evolve reduced virulence is

What does the flu virus use the protein hemagglutinin for?

Considering the evolution of antibiotic resistance, why is it important that patients finish their full cycle of antibiotic treatment?

After studying the phylogeny of the Lassa virus, scientists discovered that viruses from different regions were not closely related to each other. This supports the hypothesis that

Explain, from an evolutionary perspective, why diseases such as smallpox and measles had such a devastating impact on populations indigenous to the New World.

We take a number of measures to decrease the spread of viruses from one person to another (for example, vaccines). Over time, what effect might these efforts have on the evolution of virulence in pathogens?

Which statement best describes antagonistic pleiotropy?

The weakened viruses contained in live-virus vaccines can

The argument that susceptibility to diabetes and obesity rose as people adapted to different climates provides an alternative to which idea?

What fraction of the world's population got sick with the flu in 1918?

Understanding how selection affects virulence has led public health officials to use which of the following actions to reduce the transmission of pathogens?

Which of the following viruses has/have jumped to humans from another species?

The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

From Natural Philosophy to Darwin: a Brief History of Evolutionary Ideas

What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

Raw Material: Heritable Variation Among Individuals

The Ways of Change: Drift and Selection

Beyond Alleles: Quantitative Genetics and the Evolution of Phenotypes

The History in Our Genes

From Genes to Traits: the Evolution of Genetic Networks and Development

Natural Selection: Empirical Studies in the Wild

Sex: Causes and Consequences

After Conception: the Evolution of Life History and Parental Care

The Origin of Species

Macroevolution: the Long Run

Intimate Partnerships: How Species Adapt to Each Other

Brains and Behavior

Human Evolution: a New Kind of Ape

Filters

Exam 18: Evolutionary Medicine

The virulence of a pathogen is not fixed, meaning that

Imagine that in the future we discover a set of genes that is largely responsible for causing aging in humans. Also, imagine that we can alter these genes in some way so that we live longer. Considering antagonistic pleiotropy, why might this be a concern?

Mutations occur across the genome at random, but tumors form when a mutation occurs in genes that control

Selection within pathogen hosts typically favors ________; selection across hosts favors ________.

In the future, an increase in emerging pathogens from animal sources is

Sequencing genomes of the Lassa virus to test hypotheses about its spread is an example of the application of

Describe how knowing the ancestry and genetic makeup of an individual could help doctors diagnose and treat them.

The process of creating conditions in which viruses evolve reduced virulence is

What does the flu virus use the protein hemagglutinin for?

Considering the evolution of antibiotic resistance, why is it important that patients finish their full cycle of antibiotic treatment?

After studying the phylogeny of the Lassa virus, scientists discovered that viruses from different regions were not closely related to each other. This supports the hypothesis that

Explain, from an evolutionary perspective, why diseases such as smallpox and measles had such a devastating impact on populations indigenous to the New World.

We take a number of measures to decrease the spread of viruses from one person to another (for example, vaccines). Over time, what effect might these efforts have on the evolution of virulence in pathogens?

Which statement best describes antagonistic pleiotropy?

The weakened viruses contained in live-virus vaccines can

The argument that susceptibility to diabetes and obesity rose as people adapted to different climates provides an alternative to which idea?

What fraction of the world's population got sick with the flu in 1918?

Understanding how selection affects virulence has led public health officials to use which of the following actions to reduce the transmission of pathogens?

Which of the following viruses has/have jumped to humans from another species?

The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

From Natural Philosophy to Darwin: a Brief History of Evolutionary Ideas

What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

Raw Material: Heritable Variation Among Individuals

The Ways of Change: Drift and Selection

Beyond Alleles: Quantitative Genetics and the Evolution of Phenotypes

The History in Our Genes

From Genes to Traits: the Evolution of Genetic Networks and Development

Natural Selection: Empirical Studies in the Wild

Sex: Causes and Consequences

After Conception: the Evolution of Life History and Parental Care

The Origin of Species

Macroevolution: the Long Run

Intimate Partnerships: How Species Adapt to Each Other

Brains and Behavior

Human Evolution: a New Kind of Ape

Filters

Selection within pathogen hosts typically favors ; selection across hosts favors .