Biology · Science General

Evolution and Biological Adaptation

1,354 Questions

Evolution and biological adaptation focus on natural selection, speciation events, and how organisms adjust to environmental changes over time. These foundational biology concepts appear frequently in general science sections of civil services and school board examinations. Use these questions to study evolutionary theories, ancestral traits, and the fossil record.

Natural selection mechanismsSpeciation event examplesBiological adaptation traitsPanspermia hypothesis conceptsFossil record analysisMate selection theories

Evolution and Biological Adaptation Questions

Multiple choice

What is the approach of Darwin vis-à-vis teleology?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question based on the passage.

PASSAGE – III:

If we apprehend the spirit of the 'Origin of Species' rightly, then nothing can be more entirely and absolutely opposed to teleology, as it is commonly understood, than the Darwinian Theory. So far from being a "teleologist in the fullest sense of the word," we would deny that he is a teleologist in the ordinary sense at all; and we should say that, apart from his merits as a naturalist, he has rendered a most remarkable service to philosophical thought by enabling the student of nature to recognise, to their fullest extent, those adaptations to purpose which are so striking in the organic world, and which teleology has done good service in keeping before our minds, without being false to the fundamental principles of a scientific conception of the universe. The apparently diverging teachings of the teleologist and of the morphologist are reconciled by the Darwinian hypothesis.

But leaving our own impressions of the 'Origin of Species,' and turning to those passages especially cited by Professor Kolliker, we cannot admit that they bear the interpretation he puts upon them. Darwin, if we read him rightly, does 'not' affirm that every detail in the structure of an animal has been created for its benefit.  His words are, "The foregoing remarks lead me to say a few words on the protest lately made by some naturalists against the utilitarian doctrine that every detail of structure has been produced for the good of its possessor. They believe that very many structures have been created for beauty in the eyes of man, or for mere variety. This doctrine, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory -- yet I fully admit that many structures are of no direct use to their possessor."

And after sundry illustrations and qualifications, he concludes, "Hence every detail of structure in every living creature (making some little allowance for the direct action of physical conditions) may be viewed either as having been of special use to some ancestral form, or as being now of special use to the descendants of this form—either directly, or indirectly, through the complex laws of growth."

But it is one thing to say, Darwinically, that every detail observed in an animal's structure is of use to it, or has been of use to its ancestors; and quite another to affirm, teleologically, that every detail of an animal's structure has been created for its benefit. On the former hypothesis, for example, the teeth of the foetal Balaena have a meaning; on the latter, none. So far as we are aware, there is not a phrase in the 'Origin of Species', inconsistent with Professor Kolliker's position that "varieties arise irrespectively of the notion of purpose, or of utility, according to general laws of nature, and may be either useful, or hurtful, or indifferent."

  1. Darwin supports teleology; but only theoretically.

  2. Darwin supports teleology by illustrations and evidence.

  3. Darwin is totally opposed to teleology.

  4. Darwin applies the concept of teleology but doesn't accept it in its entirety.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) is correct because Darwin applies the concept of teleology to his theory of evolution, but draws out fine nuances of difference.

Multiple choice

How are the diverging teachings of the teleologist and of the morphologist reconciled by the Darwinian hypothesis?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question based on the passage.

PASSAGE – III:

If we apprehend the spirit of the 'Origin of Species' rightly, then nothing can be more entirely and absolutely opposed to teleology, as it is commonly understood, than the Darwinian Theory. So far from being a "teleologist in the fullest sense of the word," we would deny that he is a teleologist in the ordinary sense at all; and we should say that, apart from his merits as a naturalist, he has rendered a most remarkable service to philosophical thought by enabling the student of nature to recognise, to their fullest extent, those adaptations to purpose which are so striking in the organic world, and which teleology has done good service in keeping before our minds, without being false to the fundamental principles of a scientific conception of the universe. The apparently diverging teachings of the teleologist and of the morphologist are reconciled by the Darwinian hypothesis.

But leaving our own impressions of the 'Origin of Species,' and turning to those passages especially cited by Professor Kolliker, we cannot admit that they bear the interpretation he puts upon them. Darwin, if we read him rightly, does 'not' affirm that every detail in the structure of an animal has been created for its benefit.  His words are, "The foregoing remarks lead me to say a few words on the protest lately made by some naturalists against the utilitarian doctrine that every detail of structure has been produced for the good of its possessor. They believe that very many structures have been created for beauty in the eyes of man, or for mere variety. This doctrine, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory -- yet I fully admit that many structures are of no direct use to their possessor."

And after sundry illustrations and qualifications, he concludes, "Hence every detail of structure in every living creature (making some little allowance for the direct action of physical conditions) may be viewed either as having been of special use to some ancestral form, or as being now of special use to the descendants of this form—either directly, or indirectly, through the complex laws of growth."

But it is one thing to say, Darwinically, that every detail observed in an animal's structure is of use to it, or has been of use to its ancestors; and quite another to affirm, teleologically, that every detail of an animal's structure has been created for its benefit. On the former hypothesis, for example, the teeth of the foetal Balaena have a meaning; on the latter, none. So far as we are aware, there is not a phrase in the 'Origin of Species', inconsistent with Professor Kolliker's position that "varieties arise irrespectively of the notion of purpose, or of utility, according to general laws of nature, and may be either useful, or hurtful, or indifferent."

  1. Darwin applies the underlying law of teleology to the structure or form of the species under study.

  2. Darwin creates a win-win situation for all by reconciling the teachings of teleologists and morphologists.

  3. Darwin applies the teachings of morphology to explain the concept of teleogists.

  4. Darwin, in his 'Origin of Species', supports the concepts of morphology and teleology.

  5. Darwin offers the concepts of morphology and teleology, while explaining his 'Theory of Evolution.'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) is correct because the underlying law of teleology is that all natural phenomena are determined by a specific purpose. Darwin applies this law to the structure of species under study.

Multiple choice

_________ is/are useful for the survival of species.

  1. Copying of DNA

  2. Variations

  3. Continuation

  4. Nutrition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Species need to reproduce one generation after the other, and also to adjust with the changing environment and other conditions to survive. Reproduction alone cannot help them to adapt. Hence, variations are very useful for survival of species. Nutrition is necessary for survival of an individual and cannot insure survival of species. Option (3), i.e. 'continuation' is not a scientific term.

Multiple choice

Continuity of species is maintained by the process known as ___________.

  1. nutrition

  2. speciation

  3. reproduction

  4. variation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Continuity of species means that generation after generation, the species continue to survive and this is ensured by reproduction. Nutrition can ensure life of an organism but cannot form a new organism. Variation and speciation are related processes of reproduction and refer to the changes that organisms develop during reproduction but they themselves cannot maintain continuity of species without reproduction.

Multiple choice

Analogus organs have

  1. common embryonic origin, but perform different functions

  2. different embryonic origin and perform different functions

  3. common embryonic origin and perform similar functions

  4. different embryonic origin, but perform similar functions

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct Answer: different embryonic origin, but perform similar functions

Multiple choice

The development of sterility in mules is because of

  1. postmating isolating mechanism

  2. premating isolating mechanism

  3. natural selection

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 The development of sterility in mules is because of postmating isolating mechanism. 

Multiple choice

The features organisms adopt to survive well in a specific environment are called

  1. Acclimatization

  2. Adaptations

  3. Sensitivity

  4. Stimuli
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The features organisms adopt to survive well in a specific environment are called Adaptations. An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation. Adaptations contribute to the fitness and survival of individuals. 

Multiple choice

Darwin's theory of natural selection involves:

  1. survival of the fittest

  2. competition

  3. over reproduction

  4. all of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin's theory of natural selection encompasses the concepts of competition, over-reproduction, and the survival of the fittest as mechanisms for evolution.

Multiple choice

Which among the following traits is a result of natural selection?

  1. Eye color

  2. Widow's peak

  3. Hitchhiker's thumb

  4. Tongue rolling

  5. Skin color
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Human skin color ranges in variety from the darkest brown to the lightest pinkish-white hues. Human skin pigmentation is the result of natural selection. Skin pigmentation in human beings evolved primarily to regulate the amount of ultraviolet radiation penetrating the skin, controlling its biochemical effects.

Multiple choice

Species is

  1. Specific unit of evolution

  2. Specific unit in the evolutionary history of a race

  3. Specific class of evolution

  4. Not related to evolution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A single evolutionary lineage of organisms within which genes can be shared, and that maintains its integrity with respect to other lineages through both time and space. At some point in the evolution of such a group, some members may diverge from the main population and evolve into a subspecies, a process that may eventually lead to the formation of a new species if isolation (geographical or ecological) is maintained. The process through which species are formed by evolution is called speciation.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the modern theory of evolution?

  1. Theory of catastrophism

  2. Theory of chemical evolution of life

  3. Theory of panspermia

  4. Theory of special creation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Theory of chemical evolution of life is the modern view on origin of life by a series of chemical reactions.