Genetics and Evolution - Question Bank
1. The rapid diversification of a single lineage into many new species, each adapted to a different ecological niche, is known as:
2. Speciation that occurs when populations of the same species become reproductively isolated while inhabiting the same geographic region is called:
3. What is the term for the process by which a single species evolves into two or more species, often due to geographic isolation?
4. Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic reproductive isolation mechanism?
5. The study of the geographic distribution of species over time is called:
6. What mechanism of evolution involves the selection of traits by humans, as seen in the breeding of domestic animals and plants?
7. The biological definition of a species typically relies on the ability of individuals to:
8. A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based upon similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics is a:
9. The evolutionary history of a species or group of species is called its:
10. What is the evolutionary process whereby two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution?
11. The process by which unrelated species independently evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures is known as:
12. Which concept describes the idea that evolution occurs in relatively short bursts of rapid change, interspersed with long periods of stability?
13. The study of the changes in organisms over geological time, as revealed by fossils, is called:
14. What is the term for the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism?
15. Which of the following is often referred to as the 'universal start codon' and also codes for the amino acid methionine?
16. How many codons are there in the genetic code, and how many specify amino acids?
17. What is the genetic code, which specifies the correspondence between DNA/RNA nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences?
18. The process of synthesizing a protein from an mRNA template is called:
19. The process of creating an RNA molecule from a DNA template is called:
20. The synthesis of DNA from a DNA template is called:
21. What is the term for a trait that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment?
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:
23. Which of the following is NOT a condition required for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
24. The 'Hardy-Weinberg principle' describes a theoretical population that is:
25. What is the term for a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed?
26. The movement of genes into and out of a population through migration of individuals is called:
27. What is the random change in the frequency of alleles in a population from one generation to the next, particularly significant in small populations?
28. The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution is known as:
29. 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)?
30. Structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins, such as the wings of birds and insects, are called:
31. Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry are called:
32. Evidence for evolution can be found in the fossil record, comparative anatomy, embryology, and:
33. What is the term for the gradual change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations?
34. The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring is called:
35. Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
36. What is the theory that explains the diversity of life on Earth through descent with modification from common ancestors?
37. A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence is known as a:
38. Which type of cell division produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) and involves a reduction in chromosome number?
39. 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:
40. DNA is a double helix molecule composed of repeating units called:
41. What is the structure within a cell that contains the genetic material (DNA)?
42. Which allele's trait is only expressed when two copies are present in the genotype?
43. In simple Mendelian inheritance, which allele masks the expression of another allele?
44. When an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene, they are said to be:
45. If an individual has two identical alleles for a particular gene, they are said to be:
46. Which term describes the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by genotype and environmental influences?
47. The process by which an organism's traits are determined by its genetic makeup is known as:
48. What are the different versions of a gene called?
49. Who is widely recognized as the 'Father of Genetics' for his groundbreaking work with pea plants?
50. What is the basic unit of heredity that is passed from parents to offspring?