A trait that gives an organism a reproductive advantage in the current environment.
- Evolutionary adaptations are inherited characteristics that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
question
From his observations of organisms in the Galapagos islands, Darwin reasoned that ___.
answer
organisms had adapted to new environments, giving rise to new species.
- Darwin reasoned that natural selection had increased the match between the organisms and their environment.
question
Which of the following observations led to Darwin's major inferences?
answer
- Members of a population vary in their heritable traits
- Although organisms can produce huge numbers of offspring, many of these offspring do not survive.
- both are important observations that led to Darwin's major inferences.
question
Which one of the following researchers developed a theory of evolution that was very similar to Charles Darwin's?
answer
Wallace
- Wallace sent Darwin a manuscript outlining a theory of natural selection that was very similar to Darwin's.
question
A group of small fish live in a lake with a uniformly light-brown sandy bottom. Most of the fish are light brown, but about 10% are mottled. This fish species is often prey for large birds that live on the shore. A construction company dumps a load of gravel in the bottom of the lake, giving it a mottled appearance. Which of these statements presents the most accurate prediction of what will happen to this fish population?
answer
The proportion of mottled fish will increase over time.
- The mottled fish will tend to escape predation because they are camouflaged against the mottled lake bottom. The mottled fish will most likely produce more offspring.
question
Varieties of Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to the drug methicillin _____.
answer
- already existed in the population before methicillin was developed
- were strongly selected for as methicillin became widely used to treat bacterial infections
- Resistant varieties existed in the population but did not confer any advantage until the environment changed with the introduction of the drug methicillin.
question
The theory of evolution through natural selection is considered a scientific theory because _____.
answer
- it is broad enough in scope to explain many observations
- it is supported by a massive body of evidence from many disciplines
- it is general enough to provide many testable hypotheses
question
Which of the following is an example of the pattern of evolution? (Overview)
answer
the fossil record of the evolution of modern cetaceans
- The fossil record contains observable data regarding both the morphological development and biogeographical distribution of early cetaceans.
question
Charles Darwin _____.
answer
proposed natural selection as the mechanism of evolution
- Correct
Although Wallace submitted his work for publication first, Darwin's work was known to have pre-dated Wallace's work and was much more detailed; therefore, Darwin was given credit for the theory.
question
A challenge to traditional (pre-1860) ideas about species came from embryology, when it was discovered that _____.
answer
embryos of dissimilar organisms, such as sharks and humans, resemble each other
- Early in development, the similarities among all vertebrate embryos are more apparent than the differences.
question
Given a population that contains genetic variation, what is the correct sequence of the following events, under the influence of natural selection?
answer
- A change occurs in the environment
- Poorly adapated individuals have decreased survivorship
- Well-adapted individuals leave more offspring than do poorly adapated individuals
- Genetic frequencies within the population change
question
Which of the following must exist in a population before natural selection can act upon that population?
answer
genetic variation among individuals
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