Theory of Evolution/Classification Review Game

Darwin’s theory of evolution offers a scientific explanation for which of the following?

• how genetic information is inherited

• changes in species over time

• human effects on biodiversity

• the age of Earth

A volcano erupted and destroyed all of the yellow flowers on an island, leaving only purple flowers remaining on the island. Which of the following best explains the most likely consequence of this disturbance? 

• This is an example of gene flow, so the purple flowers will mix their genes with yellow flowers that migrated from another island.

• This is an example of genetic drift, specifically the founder’s effect, so the purple flowers will leave the island and move to another island.

• This is an example of genetic drift, specifically the bottleneck effect, so only the allele frequency for purple flowers will be available in the gene pool on the island because of the disturbance event.

• This is an example of sexual selection, so the purple flowers will choose to mate with the yellow flowers only because they look better.

There are two populations of wolves living on either side of a mountain. The mountain gets destroyed by an earthquake and the two population of wolves combine and form one population of wolves. Which answer correctly explains the evolutionary mechanism that would happen?

• Natural Selection because the wolves will only mate with wolves from their own original populations.

• Genetic Drift because the destroyed mountain will lead to migration.

• Mutations because the earthquake will cause the DNA to change to adapt to the new environment.

• Gene Flow because there will be a transfer of genes across populations.

Two species of fish are introduced to the same lake. Over time, only one species survives. According to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, what should characterize the surviving species?

• greater genetic variation

• more abundant food supply

• a better ability to survive and reproduce in the lake

• a better ability to withstand seasonal changes in the lake

The forelimbs are an example of which of the following?

• analogous structures

• vestigial structures

• homologous structures

• convergent structures

Carlos is studying a population of rabbits in the neighborhood that surrounds his home. He observes a variety of fur colors among the rabbits, including gray, white, and brown. The rabbit fur also has a variety of markings, including spots and bands.

Carlos argues that natural selection will occur on the rabbit population. It will result in a change in the distribution of fur colors and markings. Which observation would provide the STRONGEST evidence in support of Edwin’s argument?

• Neighborhood plants can support a large increase in the rabbit population.

• Fur color and markings do not affect the running speed of a rabbit.

• A new predator tends to hunt more white rabbits than gray or brown rabbits.

Which of the following best describes how mutations are related to evolution and speciation?

• Mutations only happen when they are needed, which ensures a species survival.

• Mutations occur when they are needed, which gives species a better chance to survive.

• Mutations decrease genetic variation, which allows evolution to predict which traits are needed.

• Mutations increase genetic variation, which gives natural selection a chance to select for traits that are beneficial in a specific environment.

A snake does not have legs. Nevertheless, it has tiny hip-like bones in its midsection where legs could reasonably attach. The bones have no function. How do the hip bones of a snake provide evidence for the evolution of snakes?

• The hip bones are vestigial structures that show evolutionary descent from an ancestor that had legs.

• The hip bones are analogous structures with the leg bones of other animals, and show how they all evolved from a common ancestor.

• The hip bones are vestigial structures that show that snakes, worms, and other legless animals evolved by adaptive radiation.

• The hip bones are homologous structures with the vertebrae and other bones of the snake, and show the sequence in which the vertebrate skeleton evolved.

Single-celled bacteria and multicellular animals differ from one another in a wide variety of ways. How does molecular biology provide evidence for the evolutionary relationship between these two large groups of organisms?

• Differences in the use of DNA, RNA, and the genetic code show that the groups lacked a common ancestor.

• The identical use of DNA, RNA, and the genetic code show that the groups evolved from an ancient common ancestor.

• Differences in the use of DNA, RNA, and the genetic code show that the groups evolved at different rates in different environments.

• The identical use of DNA, RNA, and the genetic code show that the groups evolved in a pattern of coevolution.

Which of the following best explains the significance of the Miller-Urey experiment in explaining the origin of life on Earth?

• It showed that any raw material could produce the compounds necessary for life to exist on early Earth.

• It showed that life must have started somewhere else since organic compounds come from living things.

• It showed how biological molecules can be formed from the very simple molecules that were available on Earth.

• It showed how lightning can cause organic matter to decompose into amino acids, which were the first molecules on early Earth.