Biology · Science General

Evolution and Biological Adaptation

1,288 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 biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

The correct explanation for the descent of all organisms through evolution from a common ancestor is given by the fact that

  1. There is much evidence for the occurrence of convergent evolution

  2. It is widely accepted that natural selection leads to evolution

  3. Despite the diversity of organisms on Earth, all share the same genetic code

  4. All populations experience mutation and natural selection

  5. Selection acts on individuals, but only populations evolve
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Option 'C' is correct.
The genetic code is universal. This means that the same amino acid is present in all organisms. There are about 20 amino acids and 64 codons.
Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

Which of the following is associated with the theory of evolution based on the study of the genetic makeup of species at the DNA level?

  1. Biogeography

  2. Natural selection

  3. Comparative anatomy

  4. Comparative embryology

  5. Molecular biology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Describing the process of evolution in terms of past and present geographic distribution of species is termed as biogeography. Evolutionary theories based on comparative study of the structural details of features found in different but related organisms reveals the process of evolution in terms of basic similarities and differences among them. These are termed as comparative anatomy. Comparative embryology defines the process of evolution in terms of basic similarities and differences in embryological development.  Natural selection is the evolutionary force that favors the mutation conferring “fitness” to organisms thereby leading to the evolution of fittest species. Evolutionary theories based on similarities and differences in DNA sequences of different but related species defines their evolution in terms of molecular biology. Thus, the correct answer is option E.

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

Different species of organisms share a common ancestry based on

  1. The amino acid sequence of their cytochrome C

  2. Their ability to synthesize hemoglobin

  3. The percentage of their body weight that is fat

  4. The percentage of their body surface that is used in gas exchange

  5. The mechanism of their mode of locomotion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cytochrome C is a highly conserved protein found in the mitochondria of many organisms. Comparing the amino acid sequence of cytochrome C is a standard method for determining evolutionary relationships and common ancestry.

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

One goal of phylogenetic systematics is to make classification of organisms more objective and consistent with evolutionary history. Select the incorrect statement regarding this important area of study.

  1. The two main analytical approaches to the study of phylogenetic systematics are phenetics and cladistics

  2. Phenetic analysis compares as many characters as possible without distinguishing between homologous and analogous characters

  3. Cladistic analysis classifies organisms according to the order in time that branches arose along a dichotomous phylogenetic tree

  4. Cladistic analysis relies on analogous characters among organisms while ignoring novel homologies unique to the various organisms on a branch

  5. The most accurate phylogenetic trees are those in which molecular data agree with other forms of evidence for phylogenetic relationships (such as morphology, fossil records, and biochemical analysis)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cladistic analysis focuses on shared derived characters (synapomorphies) to build phylogenetic trees. It explicitly distinguishes between homologous and analogous characters, making option D the incorrect statement.

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

The more recently two species shared a common ancestor

  1. The greater their morphological differences will be.

  2. The less their DNA sequences will match.

  3. The more their DNA sequences will match.

  4. The more variation there will be in their amino acid sequences.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

If two species have evolved from a recent ancestor, there will be a greater DNA match between the two newly formed species and also the ancestor.

So, the correct answer is 'The more their DNA sequences will match'

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

In order to compare the evolutionary relationships among species, the scientists used cytochrome-c protein. A study on cytochrome-c protein revealed one difference between humans and rhesus monkeys and ten differences between humans and kangaroos. What can be concluded from this study?

  1. Humans and kangaroos have the same proteins coded in their genes.

  2. Humans and kangaroos share a more recent ancestor than humans and rhesus monkeys.

  3. Humans are not closely related to either kangaroos or rhesus monkeys.

  4. Humans and rhesus monkeys share a more recent ancestor than human and kangaroos.

  5. Rhesus monkeys and kangaroos share a more recent ancestor than humans and rhesus monkeys.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Organisms that share more amino acid sequence homology for commonly occurring proteins are supposed to be diverged from each other recently and share more recent ancestors. Since cytochrome c protein of human and rhesus monkey exhibit single difference while those of human and kangaroos exhibit ten differences, human and rhesus monkey are supposed to share more recent ancestors than human and kangaroos. Thus, the correct answer is D.

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

Which of the of the following would be least useful in constructing a phylogeny or cladogram?

  1. DNA comparisons

  2. Environment comparisons

  3. Morphology comparisons

  4. Protein comparisons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Phylogeny is related to how an organism has originated, this could be done using comparison of DNA, morphology and proteins as proteins are formed from the DNA. However environment does not influence a phylogenetic tree or cladogram
So, the correct answer is 'Environment comparisons'
Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

 Which one cannot determine phylogenetic relationships?

  1. Physiology

  2. Biogeography

  3. Morphology

  4. Embryology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Different organism show similarities in physiology and biochemistry thus proved that all animals have evolved from same common ancestor determining phylogenetic relationships.

So, the correct option is 'Physiological'.

Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

Which of the following relies on molecular biology methods to provide evidence for demonstrating relationships among species? 

  1. Analysis of habitats to determine if differences in habitat could lead to speciation

  2. Analysis of embryonic structures such as gill arches to determine evolutionary relationships

  3. Analysis of vertebrate skeletons to determine common structures

  4. Analysis of cytochrome C proteins in various species

  5. Analysis of relationships between predators and prey to determine if coevolution occurs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Molecular biology methods relies on biochemical evidences for depicting common ancestry. For example, cytochrome C. It is a respiratory pigment found in all eukaryotic cells, which is a part of electron transport system. Cytochrome-C accepts hydrogen ions in all eukaryotic cells. The cytochrome-C molecule of human and chimpanzee is identical whereas Neurospora differ from human's cytochrome-C by the position of 44/104 amino acid.
So, the correct answer is 'Analysis of cytochrome C proteins in various species'.
Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

Read the passage and answer the following question.
Cytochrome-c is a protein that scientists often use to compare the evolutionary relationships among species. There is one difference in the cytochrome-c sequence between humans and rhesus monkeys. There are ten differences between human and kangaroos.
What can infer about the relationship between these species?

  1. Humans and kangaroos have the same proteins coded in their genes

  2. Humans and kangaroos share a more recent ancestor than humans and rhesus monkeys

  3. Humans are not closely related to either kangaroos or rhesus monkeys.

  4. Humans and rhesus monkeys share a more recent ancestor than humans and kangaroos

  5. Rhesus monkeys and kangaroos share a more recent ancestor than humans and rhesus monkeys.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The rhesus monkey and humans have the most similar amino acids in the haemoglobin protein. This shows that they share a more recent common ancestor than the other organisms do.
Multiple choice biology selection and evolution phylogeny cladistics speciation

Appearance of teeth in the embryo of a bird proves that 

  1. Ontogeny repeats phylogeny

  2. Evolution has taken place

  3. Birds have evolved from reptiles

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Even though birds lost teeth as physical structures between 60 and 80 million years ago, several studies have shown that those tissues within birds that would normally produce teeth still retain the potential to do so. For example, in 1821, Geoffrey St. Hilaire was the first scientist to publish the observation that some bird embryos exhibited evidence of tooth formation, but his contemporaries considered his work flawed.  

So, the correct answer is  "Ontogeny repeats phylogeny".

Multiple choice zoology the paths traversed by life evidences for evolution - taxonomy, molecular biology and cytology evidences of evolution evidences of biological evolution

Which of the following is not an example of a macro evolutionary process?

  1. One lion species splits to form two lion species over geological time.

  2. The same trait evolves independently in two different taxa (e.g. wings in birds and in insects).

  3. As a result of their activities, humans drive Dodos (a bird species) extinct.

  4. Over a short period of time, the frequency of a single gene declines from 10 to 8%.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Macroevolution refers to large-scale evolutionary changes above the species level. A change in gene frequency within a population (microevolution) is a classic example of population genetics, not macroevolution.

Multiple choice zoology the paths traversed by life evidences for evolution - taxonomy, molecular biology and cytology evidences of evolution evidences of biological evolution

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given .
DNA nucleotide differences between organisms

  1. indicate that evolution occurs

  2. indicate how closely related organisms are

  3. explain why there are phenotypic differences

  4. all of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
At the most basic level, living organisms share:
  • The same genetic material (DNA)
  • The same, or highly similar, genetic codes
  • The same basic process of gene expression (transcription and translation)
  • The same molecular building blocks, such as amino acids.
These shared features suggest that all living things are descended from a common ancestor and that this ancestor had DNA as its genetic material, used the genetic code, and expressed its genes by transcription and translation. Present-day organisms all share these features because they were "inherited" from the ancestor (and because any big changes in this basic machinery would have broken the basic functionality of cells). 
However, not all nucleotide or their sequence in DNA is the same among organisms. Rather this difference is what makes them different from each other. These sequences are expressed to result in different phenotypes. Also, closely related organisms show less difference among their nucleotides. These organisms gradually diverged from each other resulting in a new species at some point in time. 
So, the correct option is 'All of these'.
Multiple choice zoology evolution evidences for evolution - taxonomy, molecular biology and cytology evidences of evolution evidences of biological evolution

Microscopic colloidal droplets synthesised abiotically in the ancient seas are called as__________.

  1. Coacervates

  2. Precells

  3. Protobionts

  4. Eobionts
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A-  Coacervate can be defined as an aggregate of macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acid often surrounded by the cell membranes and forms a stable colloid with properties that resemble living matter. According to Russian biochemist Aleksandr Oparin in the hot primitive seas, organic molecules would gather in small drops, similar to the actual cells. These small drops bunddled up in water molecules are called “coacervates”.