Biology

Genetics and Evolutionary Biology

1,156 Questions

Genetics and evolutionary biology explain how traits are passed from parents to offspring and how species change over time. Key concepts include genetic drift, inbreeding, and heredity. This topic is fundamental for the biology section of many competitive tests.

Heredity and traitsGenetic variations and driftInbreeding conceptsEvolutionary mechanisms

Genetics and Evolutionary Biology Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. The offsprings formed as a result of sexual reproduction show more variations because genetic material comes from two parents of the same species. b. Reproduction is essential for living organisms in order to continue the species forever. c. Fertilisation is necessary in asexual reproduction.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false.

Multiple choice

Random amplified polymorphic DNA is a technique for

  1. the cross linkage of antigens by antibodies

  2. revealing intra-specific variation and diversity between species

  3. selection of somaclones that are resistant to herbicides

  4. reduction or elimination of the expression of individual genes

  5. transferring geometric shapes on a mask to the surface of a silicon wafer.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is a method that reveals intra-specific variation and diversity between species.

Multiple choice

Choose the primary purpose of the passage from the given options?

Very early in the study of genetics biologists began to pay particular attention to the aberrations now known as mutations; this investigation was initiated by de Vries at the turn of the century and brilliantly developed by Morgan and his school from 1910 on. A gene, by definition, is a living particle that reproduces itself, and nearly always it does so exactly. But occasionally, probably under the influence of some outside agent, it forms an imperfect copy of itself. It this altered gene is able to reproduce itself in its new form, the results is a mutation, which is evidenced in permanent change in some trait of the organism.

  1. Mutation is the antithesis of heredity.

  2. Mutation is detrimental to the reproduction of gene.

  3. Mutation occurs when genes do not reproduce itself.

  4. Mutation brings about a noxious change in the trait of an organism.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

“Mutation” means change, alteration. Under the influence of some external agent, genes while reproducing develop some defect, which causes altered gene or mutation in the gene. Thus, mutation is antithesis of heredity, as heredity insures the basic continuity and coherence of the organic form whereas mutation creates a diversity of genes. Hence, (1) is the answer. Option (4) is not correct as mutation brings about a change in the trait of an organism, which might not be harmful.

Multiple choice

What does the author mean by term 'Mutation'?

Very early in the study of genetics biologists began to pay particular attention to the aberrations now known as mutations; this investigation was initiated by de Vries at the turn of the century and brilliantly developed by Morgan and his school from 1910 on. A gene, by definition, is a living particle that reproduces itself, and nearly always it does so exactly. But occasionally, probably under the influence of some outside agent, it forms an imperfect copy of itself. It this altered gene is able to reproduce itself in its new form, the results is a mutation, which is evidenced in permanent change in some trait of the organism.

  1. Alternation of consonants

  2. Absence of monotony

  3. A fluctuation

  4. Deviation

  5. Sudden variation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

In the light of above discussion, option (5) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Length changes occur in microsatellite mutation due to which of the following?

  1. Ectopic recombination

  2. Replication slippage

  3. Retrotransposition

  4. Whole genome duplication
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The proposed cause of length changes in satellite mutation is replication slippage. It is caused by mismatches between DNA strands while being replicated during meiosis. Replication slippage can produce duplication of short genetic sequences.

Multiple choice

The experimental material of TH Morgan was

  1. pisum sativum

  2. drosophila melanogaster

  3. oenothera lamarckiana

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

Drosophila melanogaster was the experimental material of TH Morgan.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is not true with respect to variation?

  1. All variations in a species have equal chance of survival.

  2. Change in genetic compositions results in variation.

  3. Selection of variants by environmental factors forms the basis of evolutionary process.

  4. Variation is minimum in sexual reproduction.

  5. NA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

All variations do not have equal chance of survival.