Molecular evolution – divergence, clocks, gene duplication - One Line Questions

1. What is a pseudogene? — A non-functional gene copy resulting from duplication and subsequent mutation
2. Which of the following is an example of a molecular clock calibration point derived from non-fossil evidence? — A known geological event that separated populations (e.g., island formation)
3. In molecular phylogenetics, what does a longer branch length typically represent? — A greater number of molecular changes
4. A 'relaxed molecular clock' allows for: — Variable substitution rates across different branches
5. After gene duplication, one copy of the gene can potentially: — Acquire new functions through mutation and selection
6. What is neo-functionalization in the context of gene duplication? — One gene copy evolves a completely new function
7. The 'molecular clock hypothesis' is most applicable to which type of genetic change? — Accumulation of neutral mutations
8. The molecular clock concept was first proposed by: — Emile Zuckerkandl and Linus Pauling
9. The 'molecular clock hypothesis' is primarily based on the accumulation of: — Point mutations
10. Which of the following is a challenge in using molecular clocks? — All of the above
11. Sub-functionalization, following gene duplication, occurs when: — Each gene copy evolves to perform a subset of the original gene's functions
12. What is the 'COGs' database used for in molecular evolution studies? — Clustering orthologous genes
13. The concept of a 'molecular clock' is based on the assumption that: —
14. A 'molecular clock calibration point' is typically derived from: — Fossil records providing a minimum age for a lineage
15. The process of gene family expansion and contraction over evolutionary time is driven by: — Gene duplication and deletion events
16. The rate of molecular divergence can be influenced by: — All of the above
17. What does 'paralogy' refer to in molecular evolution? — Genes within the same species that arose from duplication
18. What does 'orthology' refer to in molecular evolution? — Genes in different species that evolved from a common ancestral gene by speciation
19. Gene duplication is considered a major source of: — New genetic material and evolutionary innovation
20. Which type of molecular clock is based on the assumption of a constant rate of substitution per lineage? — Strict clock
21. The concept of 'molecular parallelism' refers to: — All of the above
22. Horizontal gene transfer is a form of molecular evolution that involves: — Transfer of genetic material between unrelated organisms
23. What is the 'effective population size' (Ne) and how does it relate to molecular evolution? — It is the number of individuals contributing genes to the next generation; it influences the rate of genetic drift and fixation of mutations.
24. What role does recombination play in molecular evolution, especially concerning duplicated genes? — It can facilitate unequal crossing over, a mechanism for gene duplication.
25. Which type of sequence is often used for deep phylogenetic divergences due to its slow evolutionary rate? — Nuclear ribosomal RNA genes
26. The divergence time between two species can be estimated using molecular clocks by comparing: — Number of genetic differences in their DNA or protein sequences
27. Neutral theory of molecular evolution posits that: — Most molecular changes are selectively neutral
28. The process where a duplicated gene evolves to become non-functional is called: — Gene inactivation
29. Which type of mutation is most likely to be selectively neutral? — Synonymous substitution (silent mutation)
30. What is the primary unit of molecular evolution? — Changes in DNA or protein sequences
31. What type of molecular data is most commonly used to calibrate molecular clocks? — All of the above
32. When comparing homologous genes in two species, a higher number of non-synonymous substitutions compared to synonymous substitutions might suggest: — Positive selection
33. Which of these is NOT a factor that can affect the accuracy of molecular clock estimates? — The number of genes analyzed
34. The comparison of gene order between related species (synteny analysis) can provide insights into: — The timing of chromosomal rearrangements and gene duplication events
35. Which of the following is a limitation of the molecular clock hypothesis? — All of the above
36. What is the primary evolutionary consequence of gene duplication if both copies are maintained? — Potential for novel functions and increased complexity
37. The study of divergence between coding and non-coding DNA sequences can reveal: — Regions under different selective pressures
38. When analyzing molecular divergence, what is the significance of identifying 'hotspots' of molecular evolution? — Regions exhibiting unusually high rates of genetic change
39. Which of the following is a common method for detecting gene duplication events? — All of the above
40. Molecular divergence refers to the process of: — Accumulation of genetic differences between lineages over time
41. The rate of molecular evolution is often measured as the number of: — Substitutions per site per year
42. The study of molecular divergence patterns can reveal: — All of the above
43. What is the concept of 'molecular drive' in relation to gene families? — The coordinated change in copy number of genes within a family
44. The study of molecular evolution helps to understand: — All of the above
45. What is the concept of 'molecular drive' in the context of gene families? — The non-random, concerted evolution of repetitive DNA sequences and gene families
46. What is meant by 'molecular divergence time'? — The time since two species last shared a common ancestor
47. What is the role of selective constraints in molecular evolution? — They slow down the rate of change in functionally important regions
48. What is the significance of conserved non-coding sequences in molecular evolution? — They indicate regions under strong purifying selection
49. The process of gene duplication can occur through: — All of the above
50. What is the role of 'molecular signatures' in evolutionary studies? —
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