Biological Resistance
environmental limits
Speciation
common ancestry
natural selection/genetic drift
100
When a flu virus spreads, genetic __________ can produce different viral variants.
VARIATION
100
Which environmental factor can limit an organism's ability to survive if the temperature becomes too hot or too cold?
A. Temperature
B. Competition
C. Predation
D. Reproduction
A. Temperature
100
What is speciation?
A. The process by which an individual organism changes its traits during its lifetime.
B. The process by which a population becomes extinct.
C. The process by which new species form from existing populations.
D. The process by which organisms compete for limited resources.
C. The process by which new species form from existing populations.
100
Which of these cellular structures would be found in all living cells across all domains on earth and can indicate common ancestry?
Chloroplasts
Cilia
Mitochondria
Ribosomes
RIBOSOMES
100
There are prerequisites for natural selection to take place. Can you identify them? Check all that are correct.
What are the prerequisites for natural selection to take place? (Choose 3)
A. In a given population genetic variation must exist.
B. Variations within a population are always the result of DNA mutations.
A. In a given population genetic variation must exist.
200
Influenza viruses acquire genetic changes that produce variants, and some variants spread better among people with existing immunity. Over time, these variants may become more common, prompting scientists to review and update flu vaccine formulations.
Which explanation best accounts for why flu vaccine formulations may need to be updated?
A. Variants that spread better despite existing immunity may become more common, so vaccine formulations are reviewed and updated to better match circulating viruses.
B. Vaccines cause influenza viruses to mutate so they can escape protection.
C. Each infected person changes influenza viruses to avoid the vaccine.
D. Influenza viruses become resistant to antibiotics, so vaccines replace them.
A. Variants that spread better despite existing immunity become more common, so flu vaccines are reviewed and updated. Vaccines don't cause the viruses to mutate.
200
In a drought, sufficient water is not available for the uptake of water into trees. This directly affects the process of ____________________. Without this process, ample oxygen is not placed into the atmosphere for living things to undergo ____________________.
A. oxygen, carbon dioxide
B. carbon dioxide, oxygen
C. photosynthesis, respiration
D. respiration, photosynthesis
C. photosynthesis, respiration
200
Evolution of a new species requires several components, including all, BUT
A. Evolution of a new species requires a change in a population over time.
B. Evolution of a new species requires individual organisms to evolve during a single lifespan.
C. Evolution of a new species requires differentiation in individuals.
D. Evolution of a new species requires variations or mutations that produce new genetic traits.
B. Evolution of a new species requires individual organisms to evolve during a single lifespan.
200
A graph showing the five major extinctions throughout Earth's history is shown here. Although there have been periods of major extinction, the number of species on Earth, until very recently, is the highest it has ever been. Which statement(s) below accurately construct explanations that explain the diversity of species on Earth after mass extinctions? You may select all that apply.
A. Increasing human populations breed new species to fill the role of extinct ones.
B. Speciation causes the divergence of populations into new species that increase biodiversity.
B. Speciation causes the divergence of populations into new species that increase biodiversity.
200
In the mid-1900s, populations of peppered moths in industrial areas of England shifted from mostly light-colored moths to mostly dark-colored moths. The dark coloration made the moths less visible on soot-covered trees, protecting them from predators.
Which statement best explains the genetic change in the moth population after industrial pollution increased?
A. The number of moths with the dark-color mutation increased because a vaccine was developed to protect them.
B. The number of moths with the dark-color mutation increased because new mutations were suddenly introduced into the population.
C. The number of moths with the dark-color mutation increased because the dark coloration was selected for in polluted environments.
C. The number of moths with the dark-color mutation increased because the dark coloration was selected for in polluted environments.
300
To remove cockroaches from their apartment, a family sprayed their house with a chemical insect poison as directed on the spray bottle. Almost all of the cockroaches were killed. After two weeks, their apartment was full of cockroaches again.
What most likely happened?
A.The poison slowed the life cycle of the cockroaches.
B.Some of the cockroaches were resistant to the poison, and they reproduced.
C.The family did not use the insect poison correctly, and so the insects were not exterminated.
D.A few cockroaches survived the poison but stopped reproducing.
B.Some of the cockroaches were resistant to the poison, and they reproduced.
300
Hawks and coyotes prey on rabbits that eat grass and seeds in the North American prairie land. What likely effect would increased rainfall over several seasons have on the populations of rabbits, hawks, and coyotes?
A. All three populations would increase.
B. The rabbit population would decrease, and the hawk and coyote populations would increase.
C. The rabbit population would increase, and the hawk and coyote populations would decrease.
D. All three populations would decrease.
A. All three populations would increase.
300
Which statement is true about the speciation of the Galapagos finches?
A.The finches evolved traits to help them survive in different environments.
B. The finches had different traits that influenced the environment in which they chose to live.
C. Genetic variation occurred amongst the finches, giving some a genetic advantage in a changing environment, allowing them to better survive.
D. Members of the original population evolved in such a way that it became impossible for individuals from the two new populations to interbreed.
D. Members of the original population evolved in such a way that it became impossible for individuals from the two new populations to interbreed.
300
Which factor does NOT provide evidence of common ancestry?
A. DNA
B. embryology
C. analogous structures
D. homologous structures
C. analogous structures
300
According to Darwin's theory of natural selection, individuals who survive are most likely the ones best adapted to exist in their environment. Their survival is due to which of the following?
A. Possession of structures developed through use
B. Lack of competition within the species
C. Ability to change their genotype
D. Possession of variations that maximize fitness
D. Possession of variations that maximize fitness
400
A vaccine protects against some variants of a virus, but other variants may be less affected by the immune response. If those variants spread and reproduce more successfully, their share of the viral population may increase over generations.
Which explanation best describes how vaccination can affect the proportions of virus variants in a population?
A. Vaccines cause viruses to develop mutations that help them resist immunity.
B. Individual viruses learn to resist the immune response during infection.
C. Antibiotics treat viral infections, removing variants that are not vaccine-resistant.
D. The immune response can create selective pressure favoring variants it affects less, while the vaccine itself does not cause mutations.
D. The immune response and vaccination can favor variants they affect less, but the vaccine itself doesn't cause mutations.
400
A forest experiences a severe wildfire. After the fire, scientists observe that some plant species begin growing again, while others disappear from the area. Which explanation best predicts why some plants survive while others do not?
A. All plants have the same ability to survive fire, but some grow back faster by chance.
B. Plants that were already adapted to tolerate heat, survive underground, or regrow after fire are more likely to persist.
C. Plants that disappear from the area will automatically develop traits that allow them to survive future fires.
D. Fire increases the amount of water available to all plants, allowing every species to recover.
B. Plants that were already adapted to tolerate heat, survive underground, or regrow after fire are more likely to persist.
400
A.The ancestral finch was a ground-dwelling, seed-eating finch.
B.The ecological niches throughout the islands exert selection pressures that push specific birds in various directions.
C. In the original population of finches, variations existed.
D. NONE OF THE ABOVE
E. ALL OF THE ABOVE
E. ALL OF THE ABOVE
400
The life that exists on Earth today likely arose from a single common ancestor. Judge each statement below and select the ones that explain how natural selection has played a role in the diversity of life on Earth from that single ancestor. Select the THREE that apply.
A. Natural selection acted on phenotypes that were the result of new mutations in a population.
B. Natural selection reduced the species numbers on a global scale since individual organisms did not mutate quickly enough.
C. Natural selection maintained the fitness of populations on a global scale, which maintained species numbers at a constant level.
D. Natural selection acted on isolated populations separately, allowing for those populations to diverge over time, allowing for speciation.
E. Natural selection increased the fitness of certain populations as traits that were considered adaptations became more prevalent in the population.
A. Natural selection acted on phenotypes that were the result of new mutations in a population.
C. Natural selection maintained the fitness of populations on a global scale, which maintained species numbers at a constant level.
E. Natural selection increased the fitness of certain populations as traits that were considered adaptations became more prevalent in the population.
400
A population of beetles lives in a forest where the tree bark is becoming darker due to environmental changes. Initially, most beetles have light-colored shells, but a few have dark-colored shells. After several generations, scientists observe that the percentage of dark-colored beetles has increased significantly.
Which explanation best supports why the population changed over time?
A. Individual light-colored beetles changed their shell color to blend into the darker trees.
B. Dark-colored beetles were more likely to survive predation and reproduce, passing the inherited dark-color trait to more offspring.
C. All beetles developed darker shells because they needed protection from predators.
D. Predators caused the beetles to develop mutations that produced darker shells.
B. Dark-colored beetles were more likely to survive predation and reproduce, passing the inherited dark-color trait to more offspring.
500
A variant that is less affected by existing immunity may be more likely to __________ and __________. Over generations, that variant may become more common in the virus __________. This process can help explain why flu vaccines are reviewed and updated; vaccines do not cause viruses to mutate.
survive
reproduce
population
500
A drought causes a pond to lose most of its water. Which organism would most likely experience difficulty surviving because of this environmental change?
A. A desert lizard adapted to dry conditions
B. A cactus that stores water in its tissues
C. A freshwater fish that requires water to obtain oxygen
D. A camel adapted to conserve water
C. A freshwater fish that requires water to obtain oxygen
500
Geographic isolation of a small population from a main group may contribute to the development of new species. This speciation is more likely to happen if the members of the geographically isolated population, compared to the members of the main group, have —
A. an inability to survive environmental conditions
B. different environmental factors acting on them
C. the ability to resist genetic mutations
D. the same initial gene frequencies
B. different environmental factors acting on them
500
A. Brown bears lack the ability to swim and navigate water, which separated them from the polar bears, causing their populations to diverge.
B. Polar bears cannot live in areas of high sunlight, causing them to be found only in the northernmost regions, which caused the bear populations to diverge.
C. Ancestors to the polar bears were better suited for colder climates, while ancestors to the brown bears were better suited for slightly warmer climates, causing the bear populations to diverge.
D. Ancestors to the polar bears were better suited to eat fish and other meat while ancestors to the brown bears were better suited to eat berries and other plants, causing the bear populations to diverge.
C. Ancestors to the polar bears were better suited for colder climates, while ancestors to the brown bears were better suited for slightly warmer climates, causing the bear populations to diverge.
500
A wildlife biologist studies two isolated populations of freshwater guppies living in separate ponds. Both populations initially have the same genetic variation for tail color: 60% carry the allele for bright tails, and 40% carry the allele for dull tails.
A sudden flood randomly washes most of the guppies out of Pond 1. Only a small number survive. Several generations later, the allele for dull tails makes up 75% of the surviving population. Pond 2 does not experience a flood and maintains nearly the same allele frequencies.
Which research approach would provide the strongest evidence that genetic drift caused the change in Pond 1 rather than natural selection?
A. Compare whether dull-tailed guppies have higher reproductive success than bright-tailed guppies in Pond 1.
B. Determine whether the dull-tail allele increases the guppies' ability to find food and avoid predators.
C. Examine whether the flood changed water conditions in a way that favored guppies with dull tails.
D. Model multiple random flood events in small guppy populations and compare allele-frequency changes across trials to determine whether different outcomes occur by chance.
D. Model multiple random flood events in small guppy populations and compare allele-frequency changes across trials to determine whether different outcomes occur by chance.