BIO 345 COGBOOKS MODULE 1 & 2 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Uniformitarianism allows evolutionary biology to be an experimental science. Which of the
following is an example of uniformitarianism? - Answers -Present observations of erosion on a
streambank demonstrate how a canyon was formed.
The two major themes of On the Origin of Species are: - Answers -descent with modification
and a variational theory of change.
Many types of antibiotics that were highly effective a few decades ago are not nearly as
effective in the present. Which explanation below best fits Darwin's theory of natural selection? -
Answers -Bacteria have evolved resistance to antibiotics, driven by natural selection.
Which hypothesis is least likely to explain the rapid evolution of morphological diversity during
the Cambrian explosion? - Answers -A mass extinction opened up ecological niche space,
allowing an evolutionary radiation of animals.
Refer to the figure showing the phylogenetic tree from Charles Darwin's On the Origin of
Species. Based on the figure, which statement is false? - Answers -Darwin recognized
hybridization as an important means of genetic change.
A monophyletic group (also called a clade) is defined as: - Answers -the set of species derived
from one common ancestor.
Creationists criticize the idea of natural selection as a circular argument, or tautology, claiming
"The fittest are those that survive, and survival is how fitness is defined." Why is our definition of
natural selection not tautological? - Answers -Natural selection is measured by contribution to
the next generation, not simply survival of an individual organism.
Not all traits are adaptations. Which statement may also explain the evolution of a particular
trait? - Answers -All of the above
Which term is defined as any consistent difference in fitness among phenotypically different
classes of biological entities as a consequence of competition for mates? - Answers -Sexual
selection
Sickle cell disease results from a nonsynonymous point mutation of the HBB gene, producing
an altered beta chain of hemoglobin. Beta thalassemia is caused by a mutation to the same
gene, but instead of an altered beta chain, the final protein is absent or incomplete. Which of
these mutations is the most probable cause of beta thalassemia in a patient without a family
history of the disease? - Answers -A nonsynonymous point mutation resulting in a premature
stop codon
Which pair of sequences represents a synonymous mutation? - Answers -GCU → GCA
Which inference is not supported by the data shown in the graph? - Answers -Mutations
yielding new stop codons have little effect on fitness.
ANSWERS
Uniformitarianism allows evolutionary biology to be an experimental science. Which of the
following is an example of uniformitarianism? - Answers -Present observations of erosion on a
streambank demonstrate how a canyon was formed.
The two major themes of On the Origin of Species are: - Answers -descent with modification
and a variational theory of change.
Many types of antibiotics that were highly effective a few decades ago are not nearly as
effective in the present. Which explanation below best fits Darwin's theory of natural selection? -
Answers -Bacteria have evolved resistance to antibiotics, driven by natural selection.
Which hypothesis is least likely to explain the rapid evolution of morphological diversity during
the Cambrian explosion? - Answers -A mass extinction opened up ecological niche space,
allowing an evolutionary radiation of animals.
Refer to the figure showing the phylogenetic tree from Charles Darwin's On the Origin of
Species. Based on the figure, which statement is false? - Answers -Darwin recognized
hybridization as an important means of genetic change.
A monophyletic group (also called a clade) is defined as: - Answers -the set of species derived
from one common ancestor.
Creationists criticize the idea of natural selection as a circular argument, or tautology, claiming
"The fittest are those that survive, and survival is how fitness is defined." Why is our definition of
natural selection not tautological? - Answers -Natural selection is measured by contribution to
the next generation, not simply survival of an individual organism.
Not all traits are adaptations. Which statement may also explain the evolution of a particular
trait? - Answers -All of the above
Which term is defined as any consistent difference in fitness among phenotypically different
classes of biological entities as a consequence of competition for mates? - Answers -Sexual
selection
Sickle cell disease results from a nonsynonymous point mutation of the HBB gene, producing
an altered beta chain of hemoglobin. Beta thalassemia is caused by a mutation to the same
gene, but instead of an altered beta chain, the final protein is absent or incomplete. Which of
these mutations is the most probable cause of beta thalassemia in a patient without a family
history of the disease? - Answers -A nonsynonymous point mutation resulting in a premature
stop codon
Which pair of sequences represents a synonymous mutation? - Answers -GCU → GCA
Which inference is not supported by the data shown in the graph? - Answers -Mutations
yielding new stop codons have little effect on fitness.
