EVOLUTION RB

Darwin's studies of finches on the Galapagos Islands suggest that the finches' differences in beak structure were most directly due to

• acquired characteristics in the parent finches

• the size of the island where the finches live

• mating behaviors of the different finch species

• adaptations of the finches to different environments

Which concept was not included by Darwin in his theory of evolution?

• overproduction in a population

• struggle for existence

• genetic basis for variations

• survival of the fittest

In 1889, August Weismann, a German biologist, conducted an experiment attempting to produce mice without tails. He cut the tails off adult mice and then permitted them to mate. All offspring had long tails. He repeated the experiment many times, always with the same results. This experiment helped to disprove the concept of

• overproduction in a species

• inheritance of acquired characteristics

• survival of the fittest

• struggle for existence

The species of finches that Darwin found on the Galapagos Islands displayed different structural and behavioral adaptations. These adaptations differed among the species according to the birds' varying habitats. Such adaptations most likely evolved as a result of

• use and disuse

• transmission of acquired characteristics

• reproductive isolation

• geographic isolation

Variations within a species are most likely

the result of

• mutations and sexual reproduction

• synapsis and disjunction

• mitosis and asexual reproduction

• overpopulation and recombination

A gene mutation has adaptive value if it

• enables an organism to survive an

  environmental change

• results in the production of an unhealthy

  organism

• leads to the extinction of a species

• produces sterility in male members of a

  species

The blood of rhesus monkeys contains proteins similar to those found in the blood of humans. This observation suggests that rhesus monkeys and humans

• belong to the same genus

• may have a common ancestor

• have identical chromosomes

• occupy the same niche

Fossils would most likely be found in

• amber that is over 8 billion years old

• icebergs that are 500 billion years old

• sedimentary rocks that are 500 million years old

• volcanic rocks that are 50 million years old

Fossil records indicate that between 80 million and 60 million years ago the structure of the horned dinosaur frequently underwent rapid changes separated by long

periods of stability. This pattern of change best illustrates the concept of

• use and disuse

• punctuated equilibrium

• gradualism

• enzyme specificity

Which statement is most closely related to the modern theory of evolution?

• Characteristics that are acquired during life are passed to offspring by sexual reproduction.

• Evolution is the result of mutations and recombination, only.

• Organisms best adapted to a changed environment are more likely to reproduce and pass their genes to offspring.

• Asexual reproduction increases the survival of species.