Genetics and Evolution - One Line Questions

1. How many codons are there in the genetic code, and how many specify amino acids? — 61 codons specify amino acids; 3 are stop codons
2. What is the genetic code, which specifies the correspondence between DNA/RNA nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences? — A set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is translated into proteins
3. What is the term for the gradual change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations? — Evolution
4. Speciation that occurs when populations of the same species become reproductively isolated while inhabiting the same geographic region is called: — Sympatric speciation
5. DNA is a double helix molecule composed of repeating units called: — Nucleotides
6. Which type of structure is a remnant of an organ or structure that had a function in an ancestral species but has little or no function in the current species (e.g., the human appendix)? — Vestigial structure
7. Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry are called: — Homologous structures
8. The study of the geographic distribution of species over time is called: — Biogeography
9. Who is widely recognized as the 'Father of Genetics' for his groundbreaking work with pea plants? — Gregor Mendel
10. What is the basic unit of heredity that is passed from parents to offspring? — Gene
11. What are the different versions of a gene called? — Alleles
12. What is the term for a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed? — Population
13. What is the evolutionary process whereby two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution? — Coevolution
14. What is the term for the process by which a single species evolves into two or more species, often due to geographic isolation? — Allopatric speciation
15. The rapid diversification of a single lineage into many new species, each adapted to a different ecological niche, is known as: — Adaptive radiation
16. The process by which unrelated species independently evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures is known as: — Convergent evolution
17. Which allele's trait is only expressed when two copies are present in the genotype? — Recessive allele
18. The 'Hardy-Weinberg principle' describes a theoretical population that is: — Not evolving
19. What is the random change in the frequency of alleles in a population from one generation to the next, particularly significant in small populations? — Genetic drift
20. The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring is called: — Natural selection
21. The movement of genes into and out of a population through migration of individuals is called: — Gene flow
22. The process where organisms with traits better suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to their offspring, is: — Natural selection
23. Which term describes the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by genotype and environmental influences? — Phenotype
24. Evidence for evolution can be found in the fossil record, comparative anatomy, embryology, and: — Biochemistry and molecular biology
25. Which concept describes the idea that evolution occurs in relatively short bursts of rapid change, interspersed with long periods of stability? — Punctuated equilibrium
26. Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection? — Charles Darwin
27. If an individual has two identical alleles for a particular gene, they are said to be: — Homozygous
28. Structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins, such as the wings of birds and insects, are called: — Analogous structures
29. When an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene, they are said to be: — Heterozygous
30. Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic reproductive isolation mechanism? — Habitat isolation
31. The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution is known as: — Speciation
32. What is the term for the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism? — Genome
33. A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based upon similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics is a: — Cladogram
34. The biological definition of a species typically relies on the ability of individuals to: — Interbreed and produce fertile offspring
35. The process of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth is called: — Mitosis
36. Which type of cell division produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) and involves a reduction in chromosome number? — Meiosis
37. What is the term for a trait that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment? — Adaptation
38. What mechanism of evolution involves the selection of traits by humans, as seen in the breeding of domestic animals and plants? — Artificial selection
39. Which of the following is NOT a condition required for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? — Gene flow
40. The study of the changes in organisms over geological time, as revealed by fossils, is called: — Paleontology
41. The process by which an organism's traits are determined by its genetic makeup is known as: — Genotype
42. The evolutionary history of a species or group of species is called its: — Phylogeny
43. In simple Mendelian inheritance, which allele masks the expression of another allele? — Dominant allele
44. A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence is known as a: — Mutation
45. The process of creating an RNA molecule from a DNA template is called: — Transcription
46. What is the structure within a cell that contains the genetic material (DNA)? — Chromosome
47. What is the theory that explains the diversity of life on Earth through descent with modification from common ancestors? — Theory of Natural Selection
48. The synthesis of DNA from a DNA template is called: — Replication
49. The process of synthesizing a protein from an mRNA template is called: — Translation
50. Which of the following is often referred to as the 'universal start codon' and also codes for the amino acid methionine? — AUG
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