BIO 1050 EXAM 4- QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
During gene flow, where do the genes flow to?
A. The genes flow into and out of the population due to migration of individuals from one
population to another.
B. The genes do not flow at all; flow is a mathematical metaphor for mean gene frequencies
being unstable and drifting from one number to another.
C. The genes flow from a locus on one chromosome to another locus on the same
chromosome.
D. The genes flow from a locus on one chromosome to a locus on another chromosome.
E. The genes flow through cyberspace. - Answers A. the genes flow into and out of the
population due to migration of individuals from one population to another
In Australia, most of the typical mammalian roles are filled by marsupial mammals. There is a
marsupial "wolf," several species of marsupial "mice," marsupial "squirrels," and marsupial
"anteaters." This example shows the importance of the study of ___________________ in
understanding evolution.
A. biogeography
B. molecular biology
C. genetic variance
D. the fossil record
E. missing links - Answers A. biogeography
The importance of exponential growth to the theory of evolution via natural selection is best
explained by which of the following?
A. Exponential growth provides for large numbers of individuals for selection to act upon.
B. In situations of exponential growth it is often true that not all that are born will live to
reproduce.
C. Exponential growth always results in maximum fitness.
D. Exponential growth allows for large amounts of variation.
,E. Exponential growth is the only stable form of population growth. - Answers B. In situations of
exponential growth it is often true that not all that are born will live to reproduce
In a particular population, over the course of several dozen generations, an adenine was
replaced by a guanine at a particular non-coding locus in the DNA base sequence. The
evolutionary mechanism responsible for this change was:
A. directional selection.
B. mutation.
C. disruptive selection.
D. genetic drift.
E. migration. - Answers B. mutation
Which of the following is an IMPORTANT difference between natural selection and genetic drift?
A. Natural selection relies on underlying genetic variation as its source, while genetic drift does
not.
B. Natural selection involves differential reproductive success in the struggle for existence in an
environment, while genetic drift does not.
C. Natural selection involves changes in allele frequencies in a population, while genetic drift
does not.
D. Natural selection is random, while genetic drift is not.
E. Natural selection is more likely to occur in small populations than is genetic drift. - Answers
B. natural selection involves differential reproductive success in the struggle for existence in an
environment, while genetic drift does not
Anatomical homology in vertebrate forelimbs is considered to be evidence for evolution
because:
A. differences among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they evolved independently.
B. such homologies do not exist in other areas of the vertebrate skeleton.
C. similarities among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they have evolved convergently.
D. similarities among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they evolved from a common ancestor.
E. the anatomy of the vertebrate forelimb is not currently under natural selection. - Answers D.
similarities among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they evolved from a common ancestor.
, You are studying a population of American robins, Turdus migratorius, in which approximately
2% of all individuals carry a recessive allele for leucistic (unusually white) coloration. The
population suddenly expands when an influx of robins arrives during spring migration, and the
frequency of the leucistic allele drops to only 1.5%. Has evolution occurred in the robin
population in your study area?
A. No, because the change in allele frequency occurred in just one generation.
B. Yes, because allele frequencies in the population have changed over time.
C. Yes, because the leucistic trait was not adaptive, and it decreased in frequency.
D. No, because natural selection did not occur.
E. No, because no mutation occurred. - Answers B. Yes, because allele frequencies in the
population have changed over time.
Prior to the 19th century, most scholars thought that the world was less than 10,000 years old.
Based on geological and radiometric evidence, however, scientists now believe the age of Planet
Earth is closer to:
A. 100,000 years old.
B. 1 million years old.
C. 50 million years old.
D. 4 billion years old.
E. 20,000 years old. - Answers D. 4 billion years old.
What is the difference between artificial selection and natural selection?
A. Artificial selection acts on morphological characteristics, whereas natural selection acts on
life history traits.
B. Artificial selection is directional, whereas natural selection is stabilizing.
C. Artificial selection leads to temporary changes, whereas natural selection leads to
permanent changes.
D. Artificial selection operates at the genetic level, whereas natural selection operates on the
whole organism.
E. Artificial selection requires human intervention, whereas natural selection does not require
human intervention. - Answers E. Artificial selection requires human intervention, whereas
natural selection does not require human intervention.
During gene flow, where do the genes flow to?
A. The genes flow into and out of the population due to migration of individuals from one
population to another.
B. The genes do not flow at all; flow is a mathematical metaphor for mean gene frequencies
being unstable and drifting from one number to another.
C. The genes flow from a locus on one chromosome to another locus on the same
chromosome.
D. The genes flow from a locus on one chromosome to a locus on another chromosome.
E. The genes flow through cyberspace. - Answers A. the genes flow into and out of the
population due to migration of individuals from one population to another
In Australia, most of the typical mammalian roles are filled by marsupial mammals. There is a
marsupial "wolf," several species of marsupial "mice," marsupial "squirrels," and marsupial
"anteaters." This example shows the importance of the study of ___________________ in
understanding evolution.
A. biogeography
B. molecular biology
C. genetic variance
D. the fossil record
E. missing links - Answers A. biogeography
The importance of exponential growth to the theory of evolution via natural selection is best
explained by which of the following?
A. Exponential growth provides for large numbers of individuals for selection to act upon.
B. In situations of exponential growth it is often true that not all that are born will live to
reproduce.
C. Exponential growth always results in maximum fitness.
D. Exponential growth allows for large amounts of variation.
,E. Exponential growth is the only stable form of population growth. - Answers B. In situations of
exponential growth it is often true that not all that are born will live to reproduce
In a particular population, over the course of several dozen generations, an adenine was
replaced by a guanine at a particular non-coding locus in the DNA base sequence. The
evolutionary mechanism responsible for this change was:
A. directional selection.
B. mutation.
C. disruptive selection.
D. genetic drift.
E. migration. - Answers B. mutation
Which of the following is an IMPORTANT difference between natural selection and genetic drift?
A. Natural selection relies on underlying genetic variation as its source, while genetic drift does
not.
B. Natural selection involves differential reproductive success in the struggle for existence in an
environment, while genetic drift does not.
C. Natural selection involves changes in allele frequencies in a population, while genetic drift
does not.
D. Natural selection is random, while genetic drift is not.
E. Natural selection is more likely to occur in small populations than is genetic drift. - Answers
B. natural selection involves differential reproductive success in the struggle for existence in an
environment, while genetic drift does not
Anatomical homology in vertebrate forelimbs is considered to be evidence for evolution
because:
A. differences among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they evolved independently.
B. such homologies do not exist in other areas of the vertebrate skeleton.
C. similarities among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they have evolved convergently.
D. similarities among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they evolved from a common ancestor.
E. the anatomy of the vertebrate forelimb is not currently under natural selection. - Answers D.
similarities among vertebrate forelimbs suggest that they evolved from a common ancestor.
, You are studying a population of American robins, Turdus migratorius, in which approximately
2% of all individuals carry a recessive allele for leucistic (unusually white) coloration. The
population suddenly expands when an influx of robins arrives during spring migration, and the
frequency of the leucistic allele drops to only 1.5%. Has evolution occurred in the robin
population in your study area?
A. No, because the change in allele frequency occurred in just one generation.
B. Yes, because allele frequencies in the population have changed over time.
C. Yes, because the leucistic trait was not adaptive, and it decreased in frequency.
D. No, because natural selection did not occur.
E. No, because no mutation occurred. - Answers B. Yes, because allele frequencies in the
population have changed over time.
Prior to the 19th century, most scholars thought that the world was less than 10,000 years old.
Based on geological and radiometric evidence, however, scientists now believe the age of Planet
Earth is closer to:
A. 100,000 years old.
B. 1 million years old.
C. 50 million years old.
D. 4 billion years old.
E. 20,000 years old. - Answers D. 4 billion years old.
What is the difference between artificial selection and natural selection?
A. Artificial selection acts on morphological characteristics, whereas natural selection acts on
life history traits.
B. Artificial selection is directional, whereas natural selection is stabilizing.
C. Artificial selection leads to temporary changes, whereas natural selection leads to
permanent changes.
D. Artificial selection operates at the genetic level, whereas natural selection operates on the
whole organism.
E. Artificial selection requires human intervention, whereas natural selection does not require
human intervention. - Answers E. Artificial selection requires human intervention, whereas
natural selection does not require human intervention.
