One common misconception about evolution is that individual organisms evolve. It is true that natural selection acts on individuals: Each organism's traits affect its survival and reproductive success compared with those of other individuals. But the evolutionary impact of natural selection is only apparent in the changes in a population of organisms over time.
Using at least two examples, explain how the process of evolution is revealed by the imperfections of living things. Provide evidence based facts.
One common misconception about evolution is that individual organisms evolve. It is true that natural selection acts on individuals: Each organism's traits affect its survival and reproductive success compared with those of other individuals. But the evolutionary impact of natural selection is only apparent in the changes in a population of organisms over time.
Using at least two examples, explain how the process of evolution is revealed by the imperfections of living things. Provide evidence based facts.
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Which statement about evolution by natural selection isfalse?
Natural selection allows organisms with higher fitness toreproduce more successfully. |
Natural selection favors those traits that confer higherfitness in the environment. |
Natural selection is a random change in characteristics of apopulation over generations. |
Evolution by natural selection affects populations oforganisms, not individual organisms. |
An organism's fitness depends on its _____.
ability to survive and reproduce |
ability to swap genetic material with other organisms |
physical size |
ability to mutate |
population |
Consider the heavily armored stickleback fish population thatcolonized the lake. If all the individuals in that population weregenetically identical, what do you predict would happen when theycolonized the freshwater lake?
The population would increase, as it has increased foodresources. |
The population would evolve through natural selection to bebetter adapted to its environment. |
The population would decrease due to more juvenile fish beingeaten. |
No answer text provided. |
Which of the following are adaptations?
Thicker beaks on finches that allows them to eat large seeds,when large seeds are the most abundant. |
Less armor on stickleback fish in freshwater that allows themto grow faster to avoid predation. |
More armor on stickleback fish in the ocean that prevents themfrom being eaten by larger predators. |
None of the above. |
All of the above. |
Which of the following provides evidence for evolution?
All of these answers are correct |
Comparing DNA sequences between species |
Looking at the geographic distribution of similar species |
Comparing similarities in embryonic development between species |
Analyzing transitional fossils |
Which one of the following statements is true?
Natural selection works on non-heritable traits. |
Mutations only give rise to harmful traits. |
Natural selection works on variation already present in a population. |
Individuals evolve through natural selection. |
Which one of the following can create new alleles?
Genetic drift |
Natural selection |
Gene flow |
Mutation |
Which of the following is true concerning evolution?
An individual can evolve |
Genetic drift is a non-random part of natural selection |
An organism's fitness is determined by how long it survives |
Natural selection occurs through a change in allele frequency |
All living things need carbon. How does carbon enter the living portion of an ecosystem?
Atmospheric carbon dioxide taken in by photosynthesis. |
Atmospheric carbon dioxide taken in by soil bacteria. |
Elemental carbon taken in by plant roots. |
Elemental carbon taken in by cellular respiration. |
Elemental carbon taken in by cellular transpiration. |
The burning of fossil fuels:
Releases excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. |
Removes pollutants from the atmosphere. |
Was developed by scientists to combat global climate change. |
Has no effect on the carbon cycle. |
Is good for the environment |
__________ conducts water and dissolved minerals from the __________ to the ___________.
Phloem; roots; shoots |
Xylem; roots; shoots |
Phloem; shoots; roots |
Xylem; shoots; roots |
What is a disadvantage of growing traditional crops such as corn, soy or sugar cane for making biofuel?
they require lots of land and fresh water |
they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere |
they release oxygen into the atmosphere |
they release water through their stomata |
______ is the source of the oxygen gas released by a photosystem.
NADPH |
H2O |
C6H12O6 |
CO2 |
Chlorophyll |
Through what structure(s) do plants obtain most of their water?
interior cells |
stems |
leaves |
roots |
stomata |