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 universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Which of the following can be said as the "Theory of Darwin"

  1. Survival of the fittest and struggle for existence

  2. Weak and strong always maintain a fixed proportion

  3. Different species do not arise by genetic mutation

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Darwin believed that life thrives and multiplies by the principle of natural selection.
The theory of natural selection had the following postulates: 

1) Increased reproduction- He said that each and every organism or species tend to reproduce to the maximum to let its species live and multiply. 
2) The arithmetic growth of food and availability of space.
3) Survival of the fittest- Darwin’s theory of natural selection thus believes that those who can survive till the end are the ones that nature selects.
4) Variations- Due to this struggle for food and space, each organism or species tend to get an advantage over the other.
5) Struggle for existence - with a rapidly multiplying population, there is an increased demand for both space and food. The organism or species that is able to fight its own species or the other species or the environment itself lives. 

So option A is the correct answer and B and  C are not related to the Theory of darwin.
Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Why, according to our reading, did Darwin take so long to publish the Origin of Species?

  1. Darwin wanted to share his theory as quickly as possible once he returned from his voyage on the Beagle.

  2. It took twenty years for Darwin to develop a theory.

  3. Darwin suffered from a number of illnesses.

  4. Darwin was concerned about the reaction of others to the implications of his theory.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin delayed publishing 'On the Origin of Species' for many years because he was acutely aware of the controversial nature of his theory and the potential social and religious backlash.

Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

In Galapogos island, Darwin found different varieties of Finches, originated from a common ancestor. The original variety of the Finches ws ____________.

  1. Insectivorous

  2. Vegetarian

  3. Seed eating

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

Darwin's finches are believed to have originated from a common ancestor that was an insectivorous ground-dwelling bird from the mainland.

Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Read the following statements:

(i) Coelacanths can be considered as ancestors of modern day frogs and salamanders.

(ii) Darwin's finches are examples of adaptive radiation.

(iii) Adaptive radiation refers to evolution of different species from a common ancestor.

(iv) Flippers of penguins and dolphins are examples of divergent evolution.

How many of the above statements are wrong?

  1. Two

  2. One

  3. Three

  4. Four
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Darwin's theory of natural selection is objected, because it (A) (B) (C) (D) Ans:112 B

  1. stresses upon slow and small variations

  2. explains the adaption of certain inherited characters

  3. stresses on interspecific competition

  4. explains that natural calamities take a heavy annual toll of lives
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin's theory of natural selection was criticized because it could not explain the origin of variations or the mechanism of inheritance. Option B correctly identifies this limitation regarding inherited characters.

Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
Charles Darwins book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, was first published in

  1. 1779

  2. 1831

  3. 1859

  4. 1901
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

On the Origin of Species, published on 24 November 1859, is a work of scientific literature by Charles Darwin which is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology.

So the correct option is C, 1859.

Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
The evolutionary importance of ...............  was apparent to Darwin, but not to Linnaeus.

  1. cladistics

  2. radiometric dating

  3. variation

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

Lamarck is best known for his "Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics", that is If an organism changes during life in order to adapt to its environment, those changes are passed on to its offspring. But according to Darwin, variation helps the species to survive in unfavourable condition environment.

So the correct option is C, variation.

Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
Which of the following labels best fits Darwin ?

  1. Mendelian

  2. Gradualist

  3. Population geneticist

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

The definition of gradualism is the slow and gradual changes that happen within an organism or society to make a better environmental fit for animals and humans. Gradualist label fit for Darwin theory.

So the correct option is B, Gradualist.

Multiple choice zoology universe and organic evolution darwin's theory of evolution process of evolution lamarckism

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given .
A biogeographical evidence in favour of organic evolution is provided by

  1. Archaeopteryx

  2. modern horse

  3. Darwins finches

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

Organic evolution is the events involved in the evolutionary development of a species. It means that all life descended from other life, although features may have changed dramatically along the way. Organic evolution involves modifications to existing species, not the development of new ones. Darwin's finch is an example, which all evolved from a common species. Gradually these 13 species got modified and adapted to their particular niche and feeding habit within Galapagos island.

So, the correct option is 'Darwin's finches'.

Multiple choice classification of pteridophytes kingdom plantae plant kingdom biology

Selaginella has a tendency to form seed, called seed habit, because it follows 

  1. Retention of megaspore permanently inside the megasporangium

  2. Heterospory

  3. Both above characters

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

Selaginella is a genus of primitive vascular plants in the family Selaginellaceae. Selaginella has a tendency to form seed because the retention and germination of single megaspore within megasporangium to form a female gametophyte led to the phenomenon of seed habit, a characteristic feature of spermatophytes.

So, the correct answer is 'Retention of megaspore permanently inside the megasporangium'.

Multiple choice classification of pteridophytes kingdom plantae plant kingdom biology

Evolution of seed habit first started in

  1. Selaginella like ancestral pteridophytes

  2. Psilotum like ancestral pteridophytes

  3. Gymnosperms

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

In majority of the pteridophytes, all the spores are of similar kinds, such plants are called as homosporous. Genera like Selaginella and Salvinia which produce two kinds of spores, macro (large) and micro (small) spores, are known as heterosporous. The megaspores and microspores germinate and give rise to female and male gametophytes, respectively. The female, gametophytes in these plants are retained on the parent sporophytes for variable periods. The development of the zygotes into young embryos take place within the female gametophytes. This event is a precursor to the seed habit considered an important step in evolution.

Multiple choice

Natural Selection is the _______ evolution.

  1. opposite of

  2. precursor to

  3. same thing as

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

Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring; it is the primary mechanism through which evolution occurs.