Chapter 01: An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

Chapter 01: An Overview of Evolutionary Biology

MULTIPLE CHOICE

• Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution resulted in a ________ because it changed the way we

understand how all living things came to be and how they function.a.paradigm shiftc.physical theory b.null hypothesisd.static discovery

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0 OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory of

evolution. MSC: Remembering

• Darwin realized that the often exquisite fit of species to their environment is primarily the result of

a.paradigm shifts.c.supernatural events.b.natural selection.d.empirical research.

ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.0 OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory of

evolution. MSC: Remembering

• In describing the importance of Darwin’s theory of evolution, Theodosius Dobzhansky argued that

a.nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.b.this theory of evolution changes the way we think of Earth in the universe.c.evolution can now be used to control our destiny.d.we no longer need to invoke the supernatural for any cause.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0 OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory of

evolution. MSC: Remembering

• Darwin’s theory of evolution provided explanations for all of the following EXCEPT

a.the diversity of life on the planet.b.why the vast majority of species are extinct.c.why Earth is not the center of the universe.d.the similarities and differences among species.

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0 OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory of

evolution. MSC: Understanding

• What is evolutionary biology?

a.a description of the fossil record b.the field of science that deals with matter and its motion through space and time c.the study of interactions among organisms and their environment d.the study of the origin, maintenance, and diversity of life

ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Remembering

• To understand the evolution of a species, we need to know about its ancestors and what changes have

occurred along the way. Darwin called this process a.natural selection.c.genetics.b.descent with modification. d.changes in fitness.

Test Bank for Evolution 3e Carl Bergstrom, Lee Alan Dugatkin (Chapter 1-20) (For Complete File, Download link at the end of this File) 1 / 4

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Remembering

• Which of the following best summarizes the process of evolution by natural selection?
• Most mutations have harmful effects and therefore increase in frequency over time.
• Mutations that do not affect the fitness of individuals are selected to decrease in frequency

over time.

• Natural selection results in mutations that disrupt finely tuned processes.
• Mutations that improve the fitness of individuals will tend to increase in frequency over

time.

ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Understanding

• Which process is demonstrated in the figure shown?

• artificial selection c. genetics
• natural selection d. paradigm shift

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of crops

and livestock. MSC: Understanding

• In what way are natural selection and artificial selection similar?
• Both result in increased frequency of beneficial traits.
• Both rely on human intervention to prevent deleterious mutations from increasing in

frequency.

• Both have been occurring for the past 3.5 billion years.
• Neither are able to produce dramatic changes in traits.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of crops

and livestock. MSC: Analyzing

• In what way is artificial selection different from natural selection?
• Artificial selection cannot result in changes in traits.
• Artificial selection relies on humans choosing which traits are beneficial.
• Artificial selection is only applied to plants.
• Artificial selection results in organisms that cannot survive and reproduce.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of crops

and livestock. MSC: Analyzing

• Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?
• selection for pests resistant to pesticides
• selection for weeds that can grow in the presence of herbicides applied by farmers
• selection for cows that produce more milk
• selection for insects that transmit disease more efficiently

ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 2 / 4

OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of crops

and livestock. MSC: Applying

• Looking at the figure, predict what will happen if a new antibiotic to the food poisoning bacteria

Campylobacter jejuni is developed and prescribed heavily by physicians, beginning this year.

• Campylobacter jejuni will be effectively treated for the next two to three decades.
• Campylobacter jejuni will be effectively treated for the next two to five years.
• The new antibiotic will make all former antibiotics for treating Campylobacter jejuni

obsolete.

• The new antibiotic will never work to treat Campylobacter jejuni.

ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.c. Explain how evolutionary biology informs our understanding of antibiotic resistance.

MSC: Applying

• Antibiotic resistance evolves quickly because
• antibiotics impose strong selection for resistance.
• antibiotics cause new mutations in bacteria that result in antibiotic resistance.
• natural selection causes evolution to slow down.
• bacterial infections should not be treated with antibiotics.

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.c. Explain how evolutionary biology informs our understanding of antibiotic resistance.

MSC: Understanding

• Why do physicians often prescribe antibiotics in combination?
• to decrease the rate at which antibiotic resistance evolves and spreads
• to prevent common side effects to the patient
• to increase the likelihood that resistance mutations will arise in the bacteria
• in case an infection is caused by both bacteria and viruses

ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.c. Explain how evolutionary biology informs our understanding of antibiotic resistance.

MSC: Understanding

• A branching tree showing historical relationships among species is known as a(n)
• species network. c. phylogenetic tree.
• natural selection tree. d. extinction chart.

ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.d. Explain how a phylogenetic perspective can change how scientists address the challenges

of conservation biology. MSC: Remembering

16. 3 / 4

Each tip of the phylogenetic tree shown represents

• extinction. c. living or extant taxon.
• domain. d. speciation event.

ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1.d. Explain how a phylogenetic perspective can change how scientists address the challenges

of conservation biology. MSC: Remembering

• According to the phylogenetic tree shown, fungi are most closely related to which of the following?
• / 4