Jordan Journal Of Biological Sciences Quiz

The correct answer is that humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor. This is the most likely explanation for the similarity in DNA sequences between the two species. Through the process of evolution, humans and chimpanzees diverged from a common ancestor, leading to the similarities in their genetic makeup.

The fact that birds have the same bones in their wings as whales have in their flippers suggests that they share a common ancestor. This is because the presence of similar bone structures in different species indicates a common evolutionary origin. Therefore, it can be inferred that both birds and whales evolved from a common ancestor that had this bone structure, and over time, these structures were modified and adapted for different functions in each species.

If a random sample of crickets from the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where the crickets have been silenced due to the presence of the parasitic fly, is moved to another island that lacks the fly, it is reasonable to expect that the gene(s) responsible for silencing the crickets will mutate. This means that the crickets on the new island will have a chance to regain the ability to sing. If the random sample contains one or more crickets that still have the ability to sing ("singers"), the singing behavior may become very common in the population on the new island.

Variation in the genetic make-up of individuals in a population is essential for evolution to occur. This variation allows for the possibility of different traits and characteristics to be passed on to future generations through natural selection. Without genetic variation, there would be no diversity in the population, and no opportunity for advantageous traits to emerge and be favored by natural selection. Therefore, the presence of genetic variation is a fundamental requirement for the process of evolution.

Older individuals are more likely to give warning calls because they have already had the opportunity to reproduce and produce offspring. By giving a warning call, they are sacrificing potential future opportunities to produce offspring, as there is a risk involved. However, younger individuals have more reproductive years ahead of them and therefore have a higher chance of producing offspring in the future. This explains why older individuals are more likely to utter such calls than younger ones. Additionally, males are more likely to give the calls than females because they have the potential to protect multiple females and their collective young, resulting in a higher potential benefit for them.

During a particularly arid period in the 1970s on an island in the Galapagos, a species of finch experienced a change in the size of their beaks. The explanation for this change is that larger-beaked individuals were more successful at harvesting the limited food resources available. This means that individuals with larger beaks had an advantage in obtaining enough food to survive and reproduce, leading to a higher proportion of offspring with larger beaks. Over time, this resulted in a shift in the average beak size of the population.

The answer suggests that the finches on San Cristobal Island have less diversity in their mitochondrial DNA compared to their finch ancestors in the Americas. This is because the question states that one or perhaps two individuals of one species originally colonized the island, indicating a small founding population. Over time, the descendants of this small population have diversified into multiple species, but the initial lack of genetic diversity would result in less diversity in their mitochondrial DNA compared to the larger and more diverse population of finch ancestors in the Americas.

The given answer suggests that the supporters of "Intelligent Design" theory argue that certain structures are too complex to have evolved gradually over time. They believe that the earlier and simpler stages of these structures would not have functioned properly and been adaptive, therefore making it impossible for them to have evolved. This argument is similar to the one made by William Paley in the 19th century, known as "Natural Theology". The answer implies that this argument is used to cast doubt on evolutionary theory by suggesting that the complexity of certain structures is evidence of intelligent design rather than evolution.

The correct answer is that the bones in the penguin's paddles are homologous with the bones in the paddles of the whales, but the paddles themselves are not. This means that although the bones in the paddles of both penguins and whales have a similar evolutionary origin, the overall structure and appearance of the paddles are different. This suggests that the development of paddles in penguins and whales occurred independently, resulting in convergent evolution.

The wings of a bird and the arms of an orangutan are likely examples of homologous organs or structures because they have a similar underlying structure and evolutionary origin. Both the wings of a bird and the arms of an orangutan are derived from a common ancestor and have adapted for different functions in their respective species. This similarity suggests that they share a common ancestry and have undergone divergent evolution.

Linnaeus based his classification system on morphology and anatomy. This means that he categorized organisms based on their physical characteristics and structural similarities. By observing and comparing the external and internal features of different species, Linnaeus was able to group them into different taxonomic categories. This approach allowed for a systematic organization of species, making it easier to study and understand the diversity of life. It was not until later that concepts such as evolutionary history, genetic similarity, and molecular homologies became important factors in classification systems.

The smaller population in the 60s was exposed to more intense natural selection than the larger populations in the 30s and therefore some alleles which previously existed were selected out of the gene pool. With a smaller number of individuals, genetic drift would be expected to increase and that could account for the fall in genetic diversity.

The study suggests that the bright coloration of snakes makes them more noticeable to visually-orienting predators. This conclusion is based on the finding that the artificial snakes with warningly colored patterns, resembling coral snakes, were more likely to be molested compared to the uniformly brown snakes. This indicates that predators are more likely to attack snakes with bright coloration, potentially because they associate it with venomous and dangerous species like coral snakes. Therefore, the bright coloration serves as a warning signal to visually-orienting predators, helping them avoid attacking venomous snakes.

The correct answer is "Discouraging the reproduction of those deemed to be genetically inferior." This answer refers to one form of "social Darwinism" in the early twentieth century. Social Darwinism was a belief system that applied the principles of Darwinian evolution to society, suggesting that some individuals or groups were biologically inferior and should not reproduce in order to improve the overall genetic quality of the population. This belief led to eugenics programs and policies that aimed to prevent the reproduction of those considered to be genetically inferior.

Naked mole rat colonies are known for living in extensive networks of subterranean tunnels. This behavior is a key aspect of their social structure and survival strategy. The other statements, while interesting, are not accurate descriptions of naked mole rats. For instance, both male and female naked mole rats are diploid, and the queen is primarily responsible for reproduction, while other females may assist in various colony duties.

The sugar gliders in modern Australia and flying squirrels in North America have similar phenotypes and adaptations because they evolved separately in different continents but occupied similar ecological niches. Over time, they both developed adaptations that allowed them to move in similar ways, such as the flaps of skin that permit flying and gliding. This convergence of adaptations is a result of their independent evolutionary courses and the similar environmental pressures they faced. Additionally, the introduction of the sugar glider to Australia by humans further contributed to their phenotypic similarities.

The correct answer is suggesting that male Australian red-backed spiders allowing themselves to be eaten by their mates is beneficial to the males because it increases the number of eggs they can fertilize. This explanation aligns with the concept of sperm competition, where the male's goal is to maximize the number of his own offspring. By sacrificing themselves, the males ensure that they have a higher chance of fertilizing more eggs, thus increasing their reproductive success. The other options discuss the potential benefits of reducing the likelihood of females mating with other males and reducing competition for food, but they do not directly address the male's reproductive success.

The given answer states that 2 of the statements mentioned in the passage are true. The passage mentions that flightless birds known as ratites are an ancient group and that their flightlessness can be explained by convergent evolution. It also mentions that the ancestors of these birds can be traced back to the landmass of Gondwana and that African ostriches are the most distinct due to their isolation. Therefore, statements A, B, and C in the passage are all true, making the answer "A, B, and C are all true."

The passage states that over time, the effectiveness of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug diminishes because the virus population evolves to become drug resistant (Dx). This suggests that the frequency of Dx would increase. Additionally, the passage mentions that an increase in dosage temporarily gives relief, implying that the virus population adapts to higher dosages as well. Therefore, one would expect that the frequency of Dx would increase and the frequency of drug-sensitive viral particles (Ds) would decrease.

Darwin was familiar with and contributed to his theory by studying the modification of populations of animals and plants through selective breeding. This process, known as domestication, involves intentionally selecting certain traits in animals and plants to breed for future generations. Darwin observed that similar processes of artificial selection by humans could also occur in nature through natural selection, leading to the evolution of species over time. This understanding of selective breeding and its role in shaping populations was a crucial component of Darwin's theory of evolution.

The observation that the number of HIV resistant to 3TC is greater than zero suggests that there is a small proportion of the viral particles that have a genetic type which is not affected by the drug. This means that even before the appearance of HIV in human populations, there were individuals who had a characteristic that pre-adapted them to survive upon exposure to the virus. This finding indicates that some individuals in the population were already resistant to the drug, possibly due to genetic factors or previous exposure to similar drugs.

This answer is correct because it aligns with the principle of common descent, which states that organisms with similar characteristics likely share a common ancestor. This is a fundamental concept in modern evolutionary theory and is supported by evidence from comparative anatomy, genetics, and the fossil record. By examining the similarities and differences in traits among different species, scientists can infer their evolutionary relationships and construct phylogenetic trees.

Darwin is credited with promoting an approach to biology where theories can be proposed without the need for an exhaustive background of observations. This means that Darwin encouraged scientists to develop theories based on limited observations and then gather more evidence to support or refute those theories. This approach allowed for the advancement of scientific knowledge and the formulation of new hypotheses without being constrained by the need for extensive prior observations.

The correct answer is Terrestrial because the immediate ancestors of all mammals were terrestrial. This answer is the most compelling because it suggests that mammals originated on land and later adapted to different habitats such as arboreal, aerial, and aquatic. It also aligns with the fact that most modern mammals are terrestrial, further supporting the idea that their immediate ancestors were also terrestrial.

The adjustment made to the phenotypes of the trees are not heritable means that the changes in the physical characteristics of the bonsai trees are not passed on to future generations. This suggests that the changes made to the trees are not due to genetic alterations, but rather through external factors such as pruning and shaping techniques employed by Japanese gardeners. Therefore, the bonsai trees do not undergo genetic evolution, but rather represent the result of artificial selection and cultivation techniques.

The correct answer is that the orchid may have evolved to resemble the mantis in order to give the mantis protection from predators. This is because the question mentions that one hypothesis for the plant-insect resemblance is that the mantis gains protection from detection by potential predators. Therefore, it is likely that the orchid evolved to mimic the appearance of the mantis to provide camouflage and protection for the mantis.

The given correct answer states that none of the above statements are correct. This means that none of the three statements provided adequately explain the theory and its acceptance. It suggests that there may be other reasons for the theory's general acceptance and lack of approval by evolutionary biologists. The answer implies that further information or alternative explanations are needed to understand the theory and its reception accurately.

The explanation suggests that if the chromosome rearrangements in the mouse populations have not affected the genes, then the changes in the populations can be attributed to genetic drift. Genetic drift refers to the random changes in gene frequencies in a population over time, which can occur due to chance events rather than natural selection. Since the phenotypically similar mice in the western and eastern populations have different chromosome fusions, it is unlikely that they can successfully mate in the lab, indicating that natural selection has favored different alleles in the two regions. Therefore, the most plausible explanation for the changes in the populations is genetic drift rather than natural selection.