Question 1

Molecular techniques have revealed that ____ caused the loss of forelimbs in snakes.

Accepted Answer

A)  the absence of Hoxc6 and Hoxc8 genes in snake genomes 
B)  selection in dinosaurian ancestors of snakes 
C)  the lack of useful limbs 
D)  mutations in limb buds 
E)  changes in the spatial pattern of Hoxc8 gene expression 
A)  the absence of Hoxc6 and Hoxc8 genes in snake genomes 
B)  selection in dinosaurian ancestors of snakes 
C)  the lack of useful limbs 
D)  mutations in limb buds 
E)  changes in the spatial pattern of Hoxc8 gene expression

Question 2

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  method for estimating the age of fossils 
B)  idea that organisms change over time and form new species 
C)  process by which genes are passed from one generation to the next 
D)  concept of gene pools and changes in allele frequencies 
E)  mechanism by which populations of organisms change over time 
A)  method for estimating the age of fossils 
B)  idea that organisms change over time and form new species 
C)  process by which genes are passed from one generation to the next 
D)  concept of gene pools and changes in allele frequencies 
E)  mechanism by which populations of organisms change over time

Question 3

The authors of the modern synthesis focused on evolutionary change within genomes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Before Darwin, ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  no one had conceived of biological evolution 
B)  Lamarck wrote about biological evolution, but had the mechanism wrong 
C)  Malthus developed a theory of evolution 
D)  Lamarck proposed the idea of natural selection, but was ignored 
E)  Malthus demonstrated the progression of fossils in sedimentary rocks 
A)  no one had conceived of biological evolution 
B)  Lamarck wrote about biological evolution, but had the mechanism wrong 
C)  Malthus developed a theory of evolution 
D)  Lamarck proposed the idea of natural selection, but was ignored 
E)  Malthus demonstrated the progression of fossils in sedimentary rocks

Question 5

According to Lamarck's principle of use and disuse, the growth of body parts is related to____.

Accepted Answer

A)  genetic changes inherited from the parents 
B)  how much a particular body part is used 
C)  microevolution through natural selection 
D)  spiritual influences in design 
E)  biogeographic location 
A)  genetic changes inherited from the parents 
B)  how much a particular body part is used 
C)  microevolution through natural selection 
D)  spiritual influences in design 
E)  biogeographic location

Question 6

In the book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection , ____ proposed that natural mechanisms produce and transform the diversity of life on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  Alfred Russel Wallace 
B)  Charles Lyell 
C)  Charles Darwin 
D)  Joseph Hooker 
E)  Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace 
A)  Alfred Russel Wallace 
B)  Charles Lyell 
C)  Charles Darwin 
D)  Joseph Hooker 
E)  Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace

Question 7

Gregor Mendel published his work on genetics in ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  1849 
B)  1858 
C)  1866 
D)  1887 
E)  1900 
A)  1849 
B)  1858 
C)  1866 
D)  1887 
E)  1900

Question 8

Lamarck argued that long-legged wading birds are descended from short-legged ancestors that stretched their legs to stay dry while feeding in shallow water, and consequently produced offspring with slightly longer legs. Which mechanism did he use to support this argument?

Accepted Answer

A)  principle of use and disuse 
B)  theory of catastrophism 
C)  inheritance of acquired characteristics 
D)  natural selection 
E)  evolution of vestigial structures 
A)  principle of use and disuse 
B)  theory of catastrophism 
C)  inheritance of acquired characteristics 
D)  natural selection 
E)  evolution of vestigial structures

Question 9

What is the general mechanism for the development of pesticide resistance in insects?

Accepted Answer

Pesticide resistance is natural selectio

Question 10

One reason Mendel could interpret his experimental results so clearly is because ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  he incorporated his spirituality into his studies 
B)  he analyzed complex morphological traits 
C)  several genes often control simple traits 
D)  simple traits are rarely controlled by single genes 
E)  a single gene often controls simple traits 
A)  he incorporated his spirituality into his studies 
B)  he analyzed complex morphological traits 
C)  several genes often control simple traits 
D)  simple traits are rarely controlled by single genes 
E)  a single gene often controls simple traits

Question 11

Monkeys in Africa and Asia most recently evolved from ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  a different common ancestor than monkeys in South America 
B)  a shared common ancestor with monkeys in South America 
C)  multiple common ancestors 
D)  different common ancestors than one another 
E)  a common ancestor on a neighboring island 
A)  a different common ancestor than monkeys in South America 
B)  a shared common ancestor with monkeys in South America 
C)  multiple common ancestors 
D)  different common ancestors than one another 
E)  a common ancestor on a neighboring island

Question 12

Based on molecular analyses, scientists now believe the domestication of the closest relatives of modern dogs began between ____ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  800 and 1,200 
B)  1,000 and 3,000 
C)  4,000 and 8,000 
D)  9,000 and 12,000 
E)  18,800 and 32,100 
A)  800 and 1,200 
B)  1,000 and 3,000 
C)  4,000 and 8,000 
D)  9,000 and 12,000 
E)  18,800 and 32,100

Question 13

Recent advances in molecular techniques allowed paleobiologists to sequence DNA that was preserved in a woolly mammoth that died ____ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  27,000 
B)  4,000 
C)  2,700 
D)  1,000 
E)  500 
A)  27,000 
B)  4,000 
C)  2,700 
D)  1,000 
E)  500

Question 14

Which idea(s) were established well before Darwin's time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents. 
B)  Offspring inherit genes from their parents. 
C)  Selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
D)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
E)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents, offspring inherit genes from their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
A)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents. 
B)  Offspring inherit genes from their parents. 
C)  Selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
D)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
E)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents, offspring inherit genes from their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals.

Question 15

Today, all biological research is undertaken with the recognition that ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  the views of evolution put forth by Charles Darwin are without error 
B)  all forms of life are unique, having evolved from independent ancestors 
C)  all living organisms share the same common ancestor 
D)  the products of evolution are easily predicted 
E)  evolution can be ignored unless the research explicitly examines evolutionary processes 
A)  the views of evolution put forth by Charles Darwin are without error 
B)  all forms of life are unique, having evolved from independent ancestors 
C)  all living organisms share the same common ancestor 
D)  the products of evolution are easily predicted 
E)  evolution can be ignored unless the research explicitly examines evolutionary processes

Question 16

The branch of biology that classifies organisms is called ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  natural history 
B)  taxonomy 
C)  evolution 
D)  morphology 
E)  paleobiology 
A)  natural history 
B)  taxonomy 
C)  evolution 
D)  morphology 
E)  paleobiology

Question 17

Some primitive snakes, like the ball python ( Python regius ), have vestigial forelimbs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits?

Accepted Answer

A)  Biological diversity has purely physical, rather than spiritual, origins. 
B)  Evolutionary change occurs in groups of organisms, rather than in individuals. 
C)  Spiritual explanations account for the origin but not the diversification of individuals. 
D)  Some organisms function better than others in a particular environment. 
E)  Evolution is a multistage process and natural selection eliminates unsuccessful variations. 
A)  Biological diversity has purely physical, rather than spiritual, origins. 
B)  Evolutionary change occurs in groups of organisms, rather than in individuals. 
C)  Spiritual explanations account for the origin but not the diversification of individuals. 
D)  Some organisms function better than others in a particular environment. 
E)  Evolution is a multistage process and natural selection eliminates unsuccessful variations.

Question 19

Evolution of embryonic pathways probably occurs most commonly through ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  macroevolutionary mechanisms 
B)  microevolutionary mechanisms 
C)  protein recruitment 
D)  extinction 
E)  mutations during embryonic development 
A)  macroevolutionary mechanisms 
B)  microevolutionary mechanisms 
C)  protein recruitment 
D)  extinction 
E)  mutations during embryonic development

Question 20

Who developed the science of taxonomy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Charles Darwin 
B)  Aristotle 
C)  Alfred Russel Wallace 
D)  Sir Isaac Newton 
E)  Carolus Linnaeus 
A)  Charles Darwin 
B)  Aristotle 
C)  Alfred Russel Wallace 
D)  Sir Isaac Newton 
E)  Carolus Linnaeus

Exam 20: The Development of Evolutionary Thought

Molecular techniques have revealed that ____ caused the loss of forelimbs in snakes.

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____.

The authors of the modern synthesis focused on evolutionary change within genomes.

Before Darwin, ____.

According to Lamarck's principle of use and disuse, the growth of body parts is related to____.

In the book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection , ____ proposed that natural mechanisms produce and transform the diversity of life on Earth.

Gregor Mendel published his work on genetics in ____.

Lamarck argued that long-legged wading birds are descended from short-legged ancestors that stretched their legs to stay dry while feeding in shallow water, and consequently produced offspring with slightly longer legs. Which mechanism did he use to support this argument?

What is the general mechanism for the development of pesticide resistance in insects?

One reason Mendel could interpret his experimental results so clearly is because ____.

Monkeys in Africa and Asia most recently evolved from ____.

Based on molecular analyses, scientists now believe the domestication of the closest relatives of modern dogs began between ____ years ago.

Recent advances in molecular techniques allowed paleobiologists to sequence DNA that was preserved in a woolly mammoth that died ____ years ago.

Which idea(s) were established well before Darwin's time?

Today, all biological research is undertaken with the recognition that ____.

The branch of biology that classifies organisms is called ____.

Some primitive snakes, like the ball python ( Python regius ), have vestigial forelimbs.

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits?

Evolution of embryonic pathways probably occurs most commonly through ____.

Who developed the science of taxonomy?

Introduction to Biological Concepts and Research

Life, Chemistry, and Water

Biological Molecules: the Carbon Compounds of Life

Cells

Membranes and Transport

Energy, Enzymes, and Biological Reactions

Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

Cell Division and Mitosis

Meiosis: the Cellular Basis of Sexual Reproduction

Mendel, Genes, and Inheritance

Genes, Chromosomes, and Human Genetics

Dna Structure, Replication, and Organization

Gene Expression: From Dna to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Bacterial and Viral Genetics

Dna Technology: Making and Using Genetically Altered Organisms, and Other Applications

Genomes and Proteomes

Microevolution: Genetic Changes Within Populations

Speciation

Paleobiology and Macroevolution

Systematic Biology: Phylogeny and Classification

The Origin of Life

Prokaryotes and Viruses

Protists

Seedless Plants

Seed Plants

Fungi

Animal Phylogeny, Acoelomates, and Protostomes

Deuterostomes: Vertebrates and Their Closest Relatives

The Plant Body

Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition

Reproduction and Development in Flowering Plants

Plant Signals and Responses to the Environment

Introduction to Animal Organization and Physiology

Information Flow and the Neuron

Nervous Systems

Sensory Systems

The Endocrine System

Muscles, Bones, and Body Movements

The Circulatory System

Defenses Against Disease

Gas Exchange: the Respiratory System

Digestive Systems and Animal Nutrition

Regulating the Internal Environment: Osmoregulation, Excretion, and Thermoregulation

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Population Interactions and Community Ecology

Ecosystems

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Animal Behavior

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