Unit C — Adaptation and Evolution

1. Meiosis results in the production of
two diploid daughter cells.
four diploid daughter cells.
two haploid daughter cells.
four haploid daughter cells.

2. Which pair of bases does NOT represent a complementary base pair?
thymine — adenine.
adenine — guanine.
guanine — cytosine.
cytosine — guanine.

3. The process of replication ensures that daughter cells will have exact copies of
chromosomes without any mutations.
all the genetic information for the organism.
suitable segments of DNA required for cell survival.
the genetic information to be used by those particular cells.

4. When during the cell cycle does replication occur?
Just before prophase.
S period of interphase.
G1 period of interphase.
G2 period of interphase.

5. The theory of natural selection was developed by
Darwin.
Mendel.
Lamarck.
Linnaeus.

6. The evolution of a species could be MOST ACCURATELY documented by the
observation of a set of mutations.
change in the size of a physical feature.
change in the frequency of alleles in the gene pool.
occurrence of genotype that doesn’t change, though the corresponding phenotype may.

7. Which of the following is TRUE of homologous structures?
They have the same types of tissues and the same functions.
They have different types of tissues and may have different functions.
They have different types of tissues but may have the same functions.
They have the same types of tissues, but may have different functions.

8. Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY to form a fossil?

Skin.
Teeth.
Shells.
Bones.

9. The fact that embryos of different animals appear similar during various stages of their development suggests that they are
evolving.
mutating.
genetically related.
analogous to one another.

10. Industrial melanism is an example of
artificial selection.
disruptive selection.
stabilizing selection.
accidental selection.

11. Which is NOT an example of artificial selection?
Bird watching.
Breeding race horses.
Raising purebred dogs.
Protecting endangered species.

12. The phenomenon of the accumulation of toxins in the tissues of organisms is known as
extinction.
natural selection.
disruptive selection.
biological magnification.

13. Variations of a specific gene are known as
alleles.
mutations.
genotypes.
phenotypes.

14. A bimodal distribution of phenotypes in any given population could naturally appear through
artificial selection.
disruptive selection.
stabilizing selection.
directional selection.

15. Which of the following is NOT a necessary component of the process of natural selection?
extinction.
selective pressure.
phenotypic variation.
reproductive success.

16. Evolution due to genetic drift is MOST LIKELY to occur in a
large population due to selective pressures.
small population due to selective pressures.
large population without the influence of selective pressures.
small population without the influence of selective pressures.

17.A rare allele may become common in a small population in a relatively short period of time due to
genetic drift.
adaptive radiation.
divergent evolution.
convergent evolution.

18. Individuals without the specializations required to survive in a changing environment
die.
adapt.
evolve.
mutate.

19. The idea that fossils are direct evidence of previously living organisms is consistent with
Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Lamarck’s theory of evolution.
Both of these theories of evolution.
Neither of these theories of evolution.

20. The ability of an organism to pass on its genes to its offspring is part of the definition of
fitness.
radiation.
evolution.
adaptation.