BIOLOGY 1108 LATEST 2026 CORE EXAM MANUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔The peppered moth provides a well-known example of natural selection. The light-
colored form of the moth was predominant in England before the industrial revolution. In
the mid-19th Century, a dark-colored form appeared. The difference is produced by a
dominant allele of 1 gene. By about 1900, about 90% of the moths around industrial
areas were dark-colored, whereas light-colored moths were still abundant elsewhere.
Apparently, birds could readily find the light moths against the soot-darkened
background in industrial areas and therefore were eating more light moths. Recently,
use of cleaner fuels has greatly reduced soot in the landscape, and the dark-colored
moths have been disappearing. Should the two forms of moths be considered separate
species? - ✔✔no
✔✔It is thought that polar bears originated from a population of brown bears that
became geographically isolated during a glaciation event that occurred about 150,000
years ago. The origin of polar bears was the result of... - ✔✔allopatric speciation
✔✔How does the level of genetic variation in humans typically compare to other
species? - ✔✔lower than other species
✔✔Where did Homo sapiens evolve? - ✔✔Africa
✔✔Cultural traits are transmitted horizontally and vertically through learning. Which of
the examples below shows the horizontal transmission of culture? - ✔✔A teenager
teaches her brother how to text.
✔✔Why do we think that male Neanderthals mated with female non-African ancestral
Homo sapiens? - ✔✔because Neanderthal nuclear DNA sequences are present in the
human gene pool, and Neanderthal mtDNA sequences are not. (we get mtDNA from
only our mother)
✔✔Define neoteny. - ✔✔retention of juvenile characteristics in an adult
✔✔Why do mitochondria and chloroplasts have relatively small genomes? - ✔✔Over
time, much of their nucleic acid has migrated to the host cell nucleus
✔✔How old are the earliest fossils of eukaryotes as defined by the superkingdoms? -
✔✔1.8 billion years
✔✔What causes amoeboid feeding cells of cellular slime molds to aggregate into a
large multi-cellular 'slug'? - ✔✔starvation
, ✔✔Why is photosynthesis widely but discontinuously distributed throughout the
eukaryotic tree? - ✔✔photosynthesis was acquired multiple times through
endosymbiosis
✔✔Which of the following enabled complex life cycles and programs of multicellular
development? - ✔✔complex patterns of gene regulation
✔✔A marine biologist discovers a new species of green algae, which under the
microscope appears to be multinuclear. Which of the following is likely true of this
algae? - ✔✔it is coenocytic
✔✔In simple multicellularity: - ✔✔most cells retain a full range of functions
✔✔The majority of prokaryote DNA is arranged in: - ✔✔a single circular chromosome
✔✔Some slime molds make structures called plasmodia which: - ✔✔contain many
nuclei in one large cell
✔✔Chloroplasts have outer and an inner membranes that separate the stroma and
thylakoids from the cytoplasm. What is believed to be the origin of the outer membrane
of the chloroplast? - ✔✔it is the remnant of the ancient host cell's plasma membrane
following endocytosis of the cyanobacteria
✔✔For the light reaction to occur, and electron donor ___ and an ultimate acceptor ___
are needed. - ✔✔water; NADP+
✔✔Which molecule is oxidized in the photosynthetic reaction? - ✔✔H20
✔✔In terms of the evolution of photosynthesis, which process happened first? -
✔✔horizontal gene transfer
✔✔What is the most abundant protein on Earth? - ✔✔Rubisco
✔✔What is the initial carbon input in the Calvin cycle? - ✔✔CO2
✔✔If water molecules suddenly stopped forming hydrogen bonds with one another, how
would water transport in vascular plants change, if at all? - ✔✔It would stop, as water
transport relies on H2O molecules being connected by hydrogen bonds.
✔✔Which of the following are produced by roots in order to increase surface area,
allowing for greater access to nutrients in the soil? - ✔✔root hairs
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔The peppered moth provides a well-known example of natural selection. The light-
colored form of the moth was predominant in England before the industrial revolution. In
the mid-19th Century, a dark-colored form appeared. The difference is produced by a
dominant allele of 1 gene. By about 1900, about 90% of the moths around industrial
areas were dark-colored, whereas light-colored moths were still abundant elsewhere.
Apparently, birds could readily find the light moths against the soot-darkened
background in industrial areas and therefore were eating more light moths. Recently,
use of cleaner fuels has greatly reduced soot in the landscape, and the dark-colored
moths have been disappearing. Should the two forms of moths be considered separate
species? - ✔✔no
✔✔It is thought that polar bears originated from a population of brown bears that
became geographically isolated during a glaciation event that occurred about 150,000
years ago. The origin of polar bears was the result of... - ✔✔allopatric speciation
✔✔How does the level of genetic variation in humans typically compare to other
species? - ✔✔lower than other species
✔✔Where did Homo sapiens evolve? - ✔✔Africa
✔✔Cultural traits are transmitted horizontally and vertically through learning. Which of
the examples below shows the horizontal transmission of culture? - ✔✔A teenager
teaches her brother how to text.
✔✔Why do we think that male Neanderthals mated with female non-African ancestral
Homo sapiens? - ✔✔because Neanderthal nuclear DNA sequences are present in the
human gene pool, and Neanderthal mtDNA sequences are not. (we get mtDNA from
only our mother)
✔✔Define neoteny. - ✔✔retention of juvenile characteristics in an adult
✔✔Why do mitochondria and chloroplasts have relatively small genomes? - ✔✔Over
time, much of their nucleic acid has migrated to the host cell nucleus
✔✔How old are the earliest fossils of eukaryotes as defined by the superkingdoms? -
✔✔1.8 billion years
✔✔What causes amoeboid feeding cells of cellular slime molds to aggregate into a
large multi-cellular 'slug'? - ✔✔starvation
, ✔✔Why is photosynthesis widely but discontinuously distributed throughout the
eukaryotic tree? - ✔✔photosynthesis was acquired multiple times through
endosymbiosis
✔✔Which of the following enabled complex life cycles and programs of multicellular
development? - ✔✔complex patterns of gene regulation
✔✔A marine biologist discovers a new species of green algae, which under the
microscope appears to be multinuclear. Which of the following is likely true of this
algae? - ✔✔it is coenocytic
✔✔In simple multicellularity: - ✔✔most cells retain a full range of functions
✔✔The majority of prokaryote DNA is arranged in: - ✔✔a single circular chromosome
✔✔Some slime molds make structures called plasmodia which: - ✔✔contain many
nuclei in one large cell
✔✔Chloroplasts have outer and an inner membranes that separate the stroma and
thylakoids from the cytoplasm. What is believed to be the origin of the outer membrane
of the chloroplast? - ✔✔it is the remnant of the ancient host cell's plasma membrane
following endocytosis of the cyanobacteria
✔✔For the light reaction to occur, and electron donor ___ and an ultimate acceptor ___
are needed. - ✔✔water; NADP+
✔✔Which molecule is oxidized in the photosynthetic reaction? - ✔✔H20
✔✔In terms of the evolution of photosynthesis, which process happened first? -
✔✔horizontal gene transfer
✔✔What is the most abundant protein on Earth? - ✔✔Rubisco
✔✔What is the initial carbon input in the Calvin cycle? - ✔✔CO2
✔✔If water molecules suddenly stopped forming hydrogen bonds with one another, how
would water transport in vascular plants change, if at all? - ✔✔It would stop, as water
transport relies on H2O molecules being connected by hydrogen bonds.
✔✔Which of the following are produced by roots in order to increase surface area,
allowing for greater access to nutrients in the soil? - ✔✔root hairs
