The Evolution Of Altruism Quiz! Trivia

1. Which of the following is a process in evolution?

Mutation

Natural selection

Genetic drift

All of the above

Mutation, natural selection and genetic drift are all processes in evolution.

Explanation

Mutation, natural selection and genetic drift are all processes in evolution.

2. Which of the following is NOT true about mutations?

Mutations cause new traits to emerge.

Mutations change the DNA sequence of a cell´s genome.

Most mutations have positive effects for the organism

Mutations can cause errors in protein sequence.

Although some mutations have positive effects for the organism most mutations are neutral or harmful.

Explanation

Although some mutations have positive effects for the organism most mutations are neutral or harmful.

3. How many siblings must an organism save, if it loses its own life, for it to be a fair deal in evolutionary terms?

1

2

4

8

1 identical twin
2 siblings
4 nephews
8 cousins

Explanation

1 identical twin
2 siblings
4 nephews
8 cousins

4. Before the industrial revolution in England, there was a forest, which had a population of moths that were mainly white, with a few black moths. After the industrial revolution, there were mainly black moths and just a few white. This change in the moth population can best be explained by?

Mutation

Natural selection

Genetic drift

All of the above

Before the industrial revolution, the trees were mainly white, creating camouflage for the white moths. After the revolution, the trees got darker and created a camouflage for the dark moths. Camouflaged individuals are less likely to be eaten by a predator, thus likely to survive and reproduce.

Explanation

Before the industrial revolution, the trees were mainly white, creating camouflage for the white moths. After the revolution, the trees got darker and created a camouflage for the dark moths. Camouflaged individuals are less likely to be eaten by a predator, thus likely to survive and reproduce.

5. A specific 32 base pair deletion in human CCR5 confers HIV resistance to homozygotes and delays AIDS onset in heterozygotes. This is an example of ...

... beneficial mutation

... natural selection

... genetic drift

... none of the above

This specific 32 base pair deletion in human CCR5 confers HIV resistance to homozygotes and delays AIDS onset in heterozygotes. This suggests that the mutation provides an advantage to individuals by increasing their resistance to HIV infection and delaying the progression of AIDS. Therefore, it can be classified as a beneficial mutation.

Explanation

This specific 32 base pair deletion in human CCR5 confers HIV resistance to homozygotes and delays AIDS onset in heterozygotes. This suggests that the mutation provides an advantage to individuals by increasing their resistance to HIV infection and delaying the progression of AIDS. Therefore, it can be classified as a beneficial mutation.

6. Which of the following processes in evolution is NON-random?

Mutation

Natural selection

Genetic drift

All of the above

Mutation and genetic drift are both random processes in evolution, but natural selection is non-random.

Explanation

Mutation and genetic drift are both random processes in evolution, but natural selection is non-random.

7. Vampire bats share blood ...

... randomly

... only with relatives

... selectively with bats whom they have received from

... rarely

Vampire bats share blood selectively with bats whom they have received from. This means that they have a preference for sharing blood with individuals they have previously received blood from. This behavior helps to establish and maintain social bonds within the bat colony. By selectively sharing blood with familiar individuals, vampire bats can strengthen relationships and increase the likelihood of receiving blood in return when they are in need. This selective sharing also reduces the risk of transmitting diseases or parasites to unfamiliar bats.

Explanation

Vampire bats share blood selectively with bats whom they have received from. This means that they have a preference for sharing blood with individuals they have previously received blood from. This behavior helps to establish and maintain social bonds within the bat colony. By selectively sharing blood with familiar individuals, vampire bats can strengthen relationships and increase the likelihood of receiving blood in return when they are in need. This selective sharing also reduces the risk of transmitting diseases or parasites to unfamiliar bats.

8. What is true about genetic drift?

Gene variants may disappear completely

Effect is larger in small population than in large populations

Random non-selective change in gene frequency over time

All of the above

All of the above is true about genetic drift.

Explanation

All of the above is true about genetic drift.

9. In 1814, fifteen colonists went to live on the Island Tristan Da Cunha. By the 1960s there were 240 of them all descendants of the first fifteen. One of them carried (but was not affected by) a rare recessive mutation, retinitis pigmentosa. In the 1960s four people have had it and at least nine were carriers. This is an example of ...

... mutation

... natural selection

... genetic drift

... all of the above

This scenario is an example of genetic drift. Genetic drift refers to the random changes in gene frequencies in a population over time, due to chance events rather than natural selection. In this case, the rare recessive mutation for retinitis pigmentosa was carried by one individual who was not affected by it. Over time, the frequency of this mutation increased in the population through random chance events, rather than being influenced by natural selection.

Explanation

This scenario is an example of genetic drift. Genetic drift refers to the random changes in gene frequencies in a population over time, due to chance events rather than natural selection. In this case, the rare recessive mutation for retinitis pigmentosa was carried by one individual who was not affected by it. Over time, the frequency of this mutation increased in the population through random chance events, rather than being influenced by natural selection.

10. Biological altruism is when an organism puts itself at risk to help another organism. What of the following is true about altruistic behavior? Altruistic behavior...

... contradicts the theory of evolution

... can be explained by kin selection

... can be explained by reciprocal altruism

... B and C are correct

It might seem intuitive that altruistic behaviour causes problems for the theory of evolution but actually brings further support for the theory of evolution.

Explanation

It might seem intuitive that altruistic behaviour causes problems for the theory of evolution but actually brings further support for the theory of evolution.

11. Which of the following is the best example of kin selection?

Alarm call of birds

Alarm signal of the Beldin ground squirrel

Blood sharing in vampire bats

Cleaning symbioses

The alarm signal of the Beldin ground squirrel is the best example of kin selection because it involves an individual sacrificing its own safety by giving a warning call to alert other members of its family or group to the presence of a predator. By doing so, the individual increases the survival chances of its close relatives who share a high percentage of their genes. This behavior benefits the genetic fitness of the individual's kin, promoting the transmission of their shared genes to future generations.

Explanation

The alarm signal of the Beldin ground squirrel is the best example of kin selection because it involves an individual sacrificing its own safety by giving a warning call to alert other members of its family or group to the presence of a predator. By doing so, the individual increases the survival chances of its close relatives who share a high percentage of their genes. This behavior benefits the genetic fitness of the individual's kin, promoting the transmission of their shared genes to future generations.

12. Cleaning symbioses can be explained by ...

... kin selection

... reciprocal altruism

... both A and B

... neither A nor B

Cleaning symbioses can not be explained by kin selection since it involves members of different species. Both the cleaner and the host benefit from the symbioses so it counts as reciprocal altruism.

Explanation

Cleaning symbioses can not be explained by kin selection since it involves members of different species. Both the cleaner and the host benefit from the symbioses so it counts as reciprocal altruism.

13. The prisoner´s dilemma is a great example of benefits of ...

... selfish behaviour

... kin selection

... reciprocal altruism

... rational choice

In Prisoner´s dilemma the total benefit of players is the greatest if they cooperate.

Explanation

In Prisoner´s dilemma the total benefit of players is the greatest if they cooperate.

14. The use of antibiotics to fight bacteria might result in a population of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics, because

... individuals in the bacteria population become resistant to antibiotics

... antibiotics might not effect a part of the bacteria population

... antibiotics cause mutations in the DNA structure of the bacteria

... antibiotics killed all the bacteria and new alien bacteria population arrived

Some members of the bacteria population may be resistant to antibiotics and will, therefore, survive the "attack". These members will then reproduce and the new population will be resistant to antibiotics. This is a process of natural selection.

Explanation

Some members of the bacteria population may be resistant to antibiotics and will, therefore, survive the "attack". These members will then reproduce and the new population will be resistant to antibiotics. This is a process of natural selection.