Question 1

One reason Mendel could interpret his experimental results so clearly is because ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   he incorporated his spirituality into his studies
B)   he analyzed complex morphological traits
C)   several genes often control simple traits
D)   simple traits are rarely controlled by single genes
E)   a single gene often controls simple traitsF) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 2

Molecular techniques have revealed that ____ caused the loss of forelimbs in snakes.

Accepted Answer

A)   the absence of Hoxc6 and Hoxc8 genes in snake genomes
B)   selection in dinosaurian ancestors of snakes
C)   the lack of useful limbs
D)   mutations in limb buds
E)   changes in the spatial pattern of Hoxc8 gene expressionF) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 3

Based on molecular analyses, scientists now believe the domestication of the closest relatives of modern dogs began between ____ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)   800 and 1,200
B)   1,000 and 3,000
C)   4,000 and 8,000
D)   9,000 and 12,000
E)   18,800 and 32,100F) None of the above
G) All of the above

Question 4

In the book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection , ____ proposed that natural mechanisms produce and transform the diversity of life on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)   Alfred Russel Wallace
B)   Charles Lyell
C)   Charles Darwin
D)   Joseph Hooker
E)   Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel WallaceF) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 5

What is the general mechanism for the development of pesticide resistance in insects?

Accepted Answer

Pesticide resistance is natural selectio...

Question 6

Today, all biological research is undertaken with the recognition that ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   the views of evolution put forth by Charles Darwin are without error
B)   all forms of life are unique, having evolved from independent ancestors
C)   all living organisms share the same common ancestor
D)   the products of evolution are easily predicted
E)   evolution can be ignored unless the research explicitly examines evolutionary processesF) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 7

Lamarck argued that long-legged wading birds are descended from short-legged ancestors that stretched their legs to stay dry while feeding in shallow water, and consequently produced offspring with slightly longer legs. Which mechanism did he use to support this argument?

Accepted Answer

A)   principle of use and disuse
B)   theory of catastrophism
C)   inheritance of acquired characteristics
D)   natural selection
E)   evolution of vestigial structuresF) A) and B)
G) A) and D)

Question 8

The branch of biology that classifies organisms is called ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   natural history
B)   taxonomy
C)   evolution
D)   morphology
E)   paleobiologyF) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 9

Evolution of embryonic pathways probably occurs most commonly through ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   macroevolutionary mechanisms
B)   microevolutionary mechanisms
C)   protein recruitment
D)   extinction
E)   mutations during embryonic developmentF) None of the above
G) B) and D)

Question 10

Some primitive snakes, like the ball python ( Python regius ), have vestigial forelimbs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Monkeys in Africa and Asia most recently evolved from ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   a different common ancestor than monkeys in South America
B)   a shared common ancestor with monkeys in South America
C)   multiple common ancestors
D)   different common ancestors than one another
E)   a common ancestor on a neighboring islandF) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 12

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits?

Accepted Answer

A)   Biological diversity has purely physical, rather than spiritual, origins.
B)   Evolutionary change occurs in groups of organisms, rather than in individuals.
C)   Spiritual explanations account for the origin but not the diversification of individuals.
D)   Some organisms function better than others in a particular environment.
E)   Evolution is a multistage process and natural selection eliminates unsuccessful variations.F) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

Before Darwin, ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   no one had conceived of biological evolution
B)   Lamarck wrote about biological evolution, but had the mechanism wrong
C)   Malthus developed a theory of evolution
D)   Lamarck proposed the idea of natural selection, but was ignored
E)   Malthus demonstrated the progression of fossils in sedimentary rocksF) B) and C)
G) All of the above

Question 14

Gregor Mendel published his work on genetics in ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   1849
B)   1858
C)   1866
D)   1887
E)   1900F) B) and C)
G) B) and D)

Question 15

According to Lamarck's principle of use and disuse, the growth of body parts is related to____.

Accepted Answer

A)   genetic changes inherited from the parents
B)   how much a particular body part is used
C)   microevolution through natural selection
D)   spiritual influences in design
E)   biogeographic locationF) C) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 16

Recent advances in molecular techniques allowed paleobiologists to sequence DNA that was preserved in a woolly mammoth that died ____ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)   27,000
B)   4,000
C)   2,700
D)   1,000
E)   500F) B) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

Who developed the science of taxonomy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Charles Darwin
B)   Aristotle
C)   Alfred Russel Wallace
D)   Sir Isaac Newton
E)   Carolus LinnaeusF) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 18

Which idea(s)  were established well before Darwin's time?

Accepted Answer

A)   Offspring frequently resemble their parents.
B)   Offspring inherit genes from their parents.
C)   Selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals.
D)   Offspring frequently resemble their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals.
E)   Offspring frequently resemble their parents, offspring inherit genes from their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals.F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 19

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   method for estimating the age of fossils
B)   idea that organisms change over time and form new species
C)   process by which genes are passed from one generation to the next
D)   concept of gene pools and changes in allele frequencies
E)   mechanism by which populations of organisms change over timeF) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 20

The authors of the modern synthesis focused on evolutionary change within genomes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 20: The Development of Evolutionary Thought

The branch of biology that classifies organisms is called ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One reason Mendel could interpret his experimental results so clearly is because ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The authors of the modern synthesis focused on evolutionary change within genomes.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to Lamarck's principle of use and disuse, the growth of body parts is related to____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Gregor Mendel published his work on genetics in ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on molecular analyses, scientists now believe the domestication of the closest relatives of modern dogs began between ____ years ago.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Today, all biological research is undertaken with the recognition that ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Evolution of embryonic pathways probably occurs most commonly through ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the general mechanism for the development of pesticide resistance in insects?

Correct AnswerverifiedPesticide resistance is natural selectio...View AnswerShow Answer

Before Darwin, ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Molecular techniques have revealed that ____ caused the loss of forelimbs in snakes.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which idea(s) were established well before Darwin's time?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Monkeys in Africa and Asia most recently evolved from ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Recent advances in molecular techniques allowed paleobiologists to sequence DNA that was preserved in a woolly mammoth that died ____ years ago.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection , ____ proposed that natural mechanisms produce and transform the diversity of life on Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Who developed the science of taxonomy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Lamarck argued that long-legged wading birds are descended from short-legged ancestors that stretched their legs to stay dry while feeding in shallow water, and consequently produced offspring with slightly longer legs. Which mechanism did he use to support this argument?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Some primitive snakes, like the ball python ( Python regius ), have vestigial forelimbs.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Pesticide resistance is natural selectio...
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