BIO 148 EXAM 2 REVIEW QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 2026
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Evolution
causes changes in individuals (No, evolution changes the genetic makeup of
populations) - ANSWERS-Individuals don't evolve/ change
-Some have more surviving offspring so, the POPULATION changes in favor of the
traits of the surviving offspring
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Adaptations
occur in response to a need of an organism (No, mutations that create new alleles are
random) - ANSWERS-Evolution is not goal- directed
-Mutations are random and don't occur to solve problems
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Evolution
always results in more complex organisms (No, traits are often lost over time (ex: tails,
legs, teeth)) - ANSWERS-Organisms become more complex as evolution progresses
-Complex traits are lost if they aren't adaptive
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Large
phenotypic changes require lots of change at the genetic level (No, small changes in
switches can have large phenotypic effects) - ANSWERS-Large phenotypic changes do
not require large genetic changes
-Single nucleotide change can have large effect
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Natural
selection is a random process (No, the mutations that create new alleles are random,
but if the new allele helps individuals survive and reproduce, it will become more
prevalent in the population (non-random!) - ANSWERS-Natural selection is not a
random process
-Individuals with certain characteristics have higher fitness
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Natural
selection results in perfect organisms. (No, there are multiple constraints on natural
selection: genetic, historical, etc. Many traits are non-adaptive. Many adaptations have
fitness costs, such as bipedalism in humans) - ANSWERS-Evolution doesn't result in
perfect organisms
-Nonadaptive traits based on evolutionary history
-Genetic constraints: genes aren't present in genome
-Historical constraints: traits evolve from existing traits
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 2026
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Evolution
causes changes in individuals (No, evolution changes the genetic makeup of
populations) - ANSWERS-Individuals don't evolve/ change
-Some have more surviving offspring so, the POPULATION changes in favor of the
traits of the surviving offspring
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Adaptations
occur in response to a need of an organism (No, mutations that create new alleles are
random) - ANSWERS-Evolution is not goal- directed
-Mutations are random and don't occur to solve problems
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Evolution
always results in more complex organisms (No, traits are often lost over time (ex: tails,
legs, teeth)) - ANSWERS-Organisms become more complex as evolution progresses
-Complex traits are lost if they aren't adaptive
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Large
phenotypic changes require lots of change at the genetic level (No, small changes in
switches can have large phenotypic effects) - ANSWERS-Large phenotypic changes do
not require large genetic changes
-Single nucleotide change can have large effect
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Natural
selection is a random process (No, the mutations that create new alleles are random,
but if the new allele helps individuals survive and reproduce, it will become more
prevalent in the population (non-random!) - ANSWERS-Natural selection is not a
random process
-Individuals with certain characteristics have higher fitness
Explain the faulty logic behind common misconceptions about evolution: Natural
selection results in perfect organisms. (No, there are multiple constraints on natural
selection: genetic, historical, etc. Many traits are non-adaptive. Many adaptations have
fitness costs, such as bipedalism in humans) - ANSWERS-Evolution doesn't result in
perfect organisms
-Nonadaptive traits based on evolutionary history
-Genetic constraints: genes aren't present in genome
-Historical constraints: traits evolve from existing traits
