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 zoology evolution examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Darwin's finches are an example of 

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Adaptive radiation

  3. Convergent evolution

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin observed amazing diversity among the creatures which originated from a particular geographical area and radiated to the other habitat. The diversity in the type of beaks of finches adapted to different feeding habits on the Galapagos islands is considered as an example of adaptive radiation and serves as an evidence for an origin of species by natural selection.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice zoology evolution examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Which of the following defines the relation between adaptive radiation and natural selection?

  1. Natural selection is usually the principle mechanism driving adaptive radiation.

  2. Natural selection leads to adaptation during adaptive radiation.

  3. Natural selection causes mutational changes during adaptive radiation.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Natural selection and adaptive radiation are related to each other. A progressive change in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into two or more groups to adapt to the changing environment is called an adaptive radiation. Natural selection is the adaptation of the individual towards the changing environment to survive. So, natural selection is the principal mechanism driving adaptive radiation. So, the correct option is A.
Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Which of the following has a natural selection as principle mechanism?

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Convergent evolution

  3. Genetic variation

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

Principle Mechanism:-

  • Variation. Organisms (within populations) exhibit individual variation in appearance and behavior.
  • Inheritance. Some traits are consistently passed on from parent to offspring.
  • High rate of population growth.
  • Differential survival and reproduction. 
  • Adaptive radiation:- A process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new environmental niches.  So,the correct answer is "Adaptive radiation".
Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

The animals having several adaptation and are able to adapt is given by theory of 

  1. Evolution

  2. Natural selection

  3. Variation

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Central idea of Darwinism is Natural Selection. He stated that nature selects the best-suited organisms that have a greater chance to become parents for the next generation who have adapted themselves. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Peacock females pick their mate according to the males tail. The ones with the largest and brightest tails mate more often. The given example can be related to

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Convergent evolution

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The male peacock has a lot of showy feathers.However, peacocks use their feathers to attract peahens (female peacocks). The peacocks with the showier feathers are able to attract mates, so they are the ones that have offspring, and pass on the fancy-feather genes to the next generation.

So, the correct answer is  "Natural selection".

Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

The adaptation shown by the bacterium Pseudomonas for metabolization of nylon is an example of

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Neo-Lamarckism

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pseudomonas is the genus of a bacterium. This bacterium was placed in the medium where only nylon was present. This resulted in the development of the bacterial species which was able to metabolize the nylon. The nylon was the only source of food available so, the organism adapted itself to feed on the nylon. This is an example of natural selection.

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
Fitness is an important concept in natural selection. Fitness is most properly a property of

  1. an individual

  2. a genotype

  3. a species

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

Natural selection, the process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype or genetic constitution.

So correct answer is B, a genotype

Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

The peppered moth used to be a light colour with black spots. When the atmosphere in London became filled with soot because of the Industrial Revolution, the white trees became darker and light coloured moths were eaten by birds more readily. Within months, moths became darker and lighter moths were rare. After the Industrial revolution, light coloured moths were found in greater numbers. The given example can be related to 

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Convergent evolution

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The given example is of natural selection. According to the theory of natural selection, nature supports the survival of the fittest. It means, only those individuals will survive who adapt themselves to the change in the environment. In the given case, moths changed their colour to adapt themselves according to the change in the environment. They were selected by the nature as fittest. So, the correct option is B.

Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Which of the following traits accounts for natural selection?

  1. Skeletal Adaptations

  2. Coloration

  3. Physiological traits

  4. All of the bove
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Natural selection is the one of the most accepted theory of evolution of species. According to this theory, nature supports the survival of the fittest who adapts according to the change in the environment. It was given by Darwin. He also said that a population will show change in genetic traits over many generations, that help it remain best suited to the environment. For example, skeletal adaptations of long neck in giraffe, change in colouration in peppered moth, physiological changes in humans to digest the cow's milk (lactose tolerance). So, the correct option is D.
Multiple choice zoology variation examples of natural selection selection natural selection

Which of the following statement is incorrect ?

  1. The biogenetic law stating 'Ontogeny repeats phylogeny ' was given by Von Baer.

  2. Auricular muscles in human beings are vestigial

  3. Tooth buds and gill clefts found in bird embryos are temporary embryonic structrues.

  4. Spiny and scaly anteaters show adaptive convergene
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The biogenetic law stating 'Ontogeny repeats phylogeny ' was given by Ernst Haeckel. Auricular muscles, wisdom teeth, appendix, tailbone, body hair are some vestigial organs in human beings. Embryos of some animals develop temporary non-functional embryonic structures which disappear before hatching. Tooth buds are examples of temporary embryonic structures found in bird embryos. Gill clefts are temporary embryonic structures found in embryos of land vertebrates. Spiny anteater and scaly anteater show adaptive convergence. These are not closely related but are adapted for the diet of ants, termites and other insects.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology the life cycle of animals how do animals reproduce? excretory, nervous and reproductive system structure and functions of living organisms -ii

A living organism is unexceptionalty differentiated from a nonliving structure on the basis of

  1. reproduction

  2. growth and movement

  3. interaction with environment

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

Reproduction is often considered the defining characteristic that distinguishes living organisms from non-living structures, as non-living things do not reproduce to create copies of themselves.

Multiple choice biology cell-the basic unit of life number and shape of cells unicellular and multicellular organisms cell parameters diversity and classification in animals

Which amongst the following is more complex in body plan, from evolution point of view?

  1. Bacteria

  2. Human

  3. Both have same complexity

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

If the appearance of complexity is concurrent with evolution then, human beings are more evolved and complex than bacteria. Humans are the multicellular organism with the well-developed brain. Bacteria is the primitive unicellular organism.

Multiple choice zoology classification of living beings hierarchy of classification different types of classifications introduction to classification of living organisms

Phenetic classification of organisms is based on?

  1. Observable characteristics of exiting organisms

  2. The ancestral lineage of existing organism

  3. Dendrogram based on DNA characteristics

  4. Sexual characteristics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  • Phenetics is an attempt to classify organisms based on overall similarity, usually by morphology or other observable traits, regardless of their phylogeny or evolutionary relation.
  • It includes various forms of clustering and ordination. Phenetic classification of organisms is based on measurable similarities and differences rather than genetic makeup and evolutionary descent. 
Thus, the correct answer is option A.
Multiple choice botany classification of living beings hierarchy of classification different types of classifications introduction to classification of living organisms

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
All of the following are true regarding systematics except that:

  1. it is the study of the diversity of organisms at all levels of organisation

  2. it is the specific study of identification, naming, and classification of organisms

  3. it relies on data from the fossil record, homology, and molecular data

  4. it utilises protein, DNA and RNA comparisons to determine relatedness of individuals
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms and their relationships through time, which includes taxonomy but is broader. Taxonomy is the specific study of identification, naming, and classification.

Multiple choice biology biodiversity and classification life introduction to plant kingdom classification of organisms

Linneaus classified the organisms on the basis of their

  1. Similar genetics

  2. Similar cell structures

  3. Similar habitats

  4. Both B and C

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

Linnaeus classified the organisms in two kingdoms namely, Plantae and Animalia on the basis of the difference in the forms and constituents. These differences were based on the mode of nutrition, habitat and physical appearance. Thus, the correct answer is option D.