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 zoology origin of life and organic evolution neo darwinism mechanism of evolution other theories of evolution

Haeckel's recapitulation theory/biogenetic law states

  1. Ontogeny repeats phylogeny

  2. High rate of reproduction

  3. Alternation of generations

  4. Inheritance of acquired characters
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

From the biogenetic law or embryological parallelism often communicated utilizing Ernst Haeckel's expression "ontogeny restates phylogeny"is an authentic speculation that the advancement of the developing life of a creature, from preparation to incubation or bring forth (ontogeny), experiences stages taking after or speaking to progressive stages in the advancement of the creature's remote precursors (phylogeny).

So, the correct option is 'Ontogeny repeats phylogeny'.

Multiple choice biology micro organisms non cellular organism : virus world of virus bacteria - introduction, shape and structure

The latest view for the origin of viruses is?

  1. They have arisen from nucleic acid and proteins found in primitive soup

  2. They arose from bacteria as a result of the loss of the cell, ribosome etc

  3. They arose from some bacteria, which has developed a nucleus only

  4. They are modified plasmids, which are in-fact the fragments of the nucleic acids of host
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The current scientific consensus suggests that viruses may have originated from primitive nucleic acid and protein molecules that evolved to become self-replicating entities.

Multiple choice bio-chemistry cell-the basic unit of life introduction to cell discovery and cell theory cell discovery cell discovery and cell theory cell as structural and functional unit

Which of the following is he chief reason to indicate that proto - cell was probably a fermenter?

  1. Fermentation provides the most amount of energy

  2. Atmosphere didn't have any oxygen

  3. It didn't have any enzymes

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

The photocell was probably a fermenter living on the preformed organic molecules in the organic soup. The primitive atmosphere was a reducing atmosphere with no free oxygen gas. So, the correct option is "Atmosphere didn't have any oxygen".

Multiple choice botany taxonomy and systematic botany taxonomy and systematics systematics of living world kingdom plantae plant taxonomy classification of biodiversity

Concept of phylogeny was proposed by

  1. John Ray

  2. Lamarck

  3. Ernest Haeckel

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

Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection to explain the process of evolution. Natural selection refers to unequal ability of individuals to survive and reproduce based on suitability of their inherited characters to prevailing environmental conditions; option D is incorrect. According to inheritance of acquired characters, a theory given by Lamarck, individual acquire characters under influence of needs as posed as changing environmental conditions; these characters are inherited. He explained evolution the long-necked giraffes from short-necked giraffes on the basis of his theory; option B is incorrect. John Ray proposed the typological species which is defined as a group of organisms that are morphologically similar irrespective of their breeding compatibility. It determines species as a static entity which can interbreed within their limit of variations and hence, is also termed as static concept; option A is incorrect. Haeckel coined the term phylogeny to refer study of ancestral relationship, lineages and that of evolutionary history of a taxonomic group; he built the first genealogical tree of life and proposed the biogenetic law which states that ontogeny repeats phylogeny. Here, ontogeny refers to life history of an individual and phylogeny is the history of evolution of the individual; option C is correct. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice botany taxonomy and systematic botany taxonomy and systematics systematics of living world kingdom plantae plant taxonomy classification of biodiversity

________ systems of classification were based on natural affinities among the organisms.

  1. Artificial

  2. Natural

  3. Phylogenetic

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

Natural system of classification takes into consideration comparable study of number of characters so as to bring out natural similarities and dissimilarities and hence natural relationships among the organisms. They include morphological characters, anatomical characters, cytological characters, physiology, ontogeny or development, reproduction, cytochemistry and biochemistry, experimental taxonomy, etc. So, the correct answer is 'Natural'.

Multiple choice botany taxonomy and systematic botany taxonomy and systematics systematics of living world kingdom plantae plant taxonomy classification of biodiversity

A cladogram conveys information about ancestors and descendants of an organism

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Cladogram is a diagrammatic representation of the hypothetical relationships between various animals in a phylogeny.  It helps to derive information regarding the common ancestors and descendants of an organism.
So, the correct answer is, 'True'.
Multiple choice botany taxonomy and systematic botany taxonomy and systematics systematics of living world kingdom plantae plant taxonomy classification of biodiversity

______ classification systems were based on evolutionary relationships between various organisms. 

  1. Natural

  2. Artificial

  3. Phylogenetic

  4. Both (a) and (b)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Classification based on evolutionary relationships of organisms is called phylogenetic system of classification.

Multiple choice biology control and coordination in living organisms control of blood glucose endocrine system and hormone hormones in human reproduction testes and ovary parts of the brain kidney

Which one of the following is homologous to pituitary gland of vertebrates?

  1. Muller's organ of Amphioxus

  2. Subneural gland of Ascidian

  3. Both A and B

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

The pharynx of amphioxus is perforated by over 100-150 pharyngeal gill slits or stigmata, which are used to strain food particles out of the water. In cephalochordates, a vestibule lies in front of the pharynx that is guarded by the oral cirri. The vestibule contains ciliated tracts of wheeler organ or muller's organs, an excretory organ (Hatschek's nephridium), and a shallow groove (Hatschek's pit) that is probably homologous to the adenohypophysis in vertebrates. In ascidian or sea-squirts, the tunicate has very simple nervous systems, which could be represented as ganglion below the sub neutral gland, which was thought to produce substances similar to hypophyseal substances. 

So, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology evolution of life darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Which of the following is not a concept of Lamarckism or theory of inheritance of acquired characters?

  1. Effect of environment and new needs

  2. Survival of the fittest

  3. Internal vital force

  4. Inheritance of acquired character
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Survival of the fittest was the phrase given to describe natural selection and it was explained and developed by Charles Darwin. The phrase was given by Herbert Spencer.

Multiple choice zoology evolution of life darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

What was the basic principle of Lamarckism?

  1. Inheritance of acquired characters

  2. Natural selection

  3. Survival of the fittest

  4. Variations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The 'theory of use and disuse' of Lamarck, advocated the idea that animals acquired characteristics after using certain physical traits constantly. For example, he believed that the reason why necks of giraffes were long, was because they stretched to reach leaves on high trees
So, the correct answer is 'Inheritance of acquired characters'
Multiple choice zoology evolution of life darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Which of the following evidences do not famous the Lamarckian concept of inheritance of acquired characters?

  1. Lack of pigment in cave dwelling animals

  2. Melanisation in peppered moth

  3. Absence of limbs in snakes

  4. Elongation of giraffes neck
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Lamarckism was the theory given by the monk who was one of the brilliant scientists use the first natural ways to put forward a general theory of evolution according to his theory there is some internal force of life that tend to increase the size of organism and according to his loss, the necessity in animals causes them to produce structures.
  •  Lamarck's most famous law was the effect of use and disuse of organs that according to long neck of Giraffe was the result of continuous stretching of the neck to obtain food and as snakes did not use their Limbs so they became rudimentary and moth to develop melanin to get protected so the correct option is lake of pigment in cave-dwelling animals.
Multiple choice zoology evolution of life darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Which of the following is not a concept of Lamarck?

  1. Environmental pressure cause variation.

  2. Rate and survival of organism is different due to variation.

  3. Inheritance of acquired character.

  4. If an organ is used constantly, it will continuously increase its size.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Lamarckism never explains about variation in due course of time and survival of organism. It explains about the characteristics acquired by animals as a result of continuous use of the physical trait.

Multiple choice zoology evolution of life darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

State whether the following statement is true or false. If false rewrite the correct form of the statement by changing the last word.
The theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics was proposed by Darwin.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics was proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, not Charles Darwin. Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection. Therefore, the statement is false.