NUMS MDCAT (Military Medical) Biology Evolution — Set 2

NUMS MDCAT (Military Medical) Biology Evolution — Set 2

1. Question 1

   Q1. In a population of peas, a genetic variation affects flower color. What is the term for the different forms of this gene?

   • A) Alleles
   • B) Genotypes
   • C) Phenotypes
   • D) Haplotypes

   Answer: Alleles

   Explanation: Alleles are different forms of a gene, unlike genotypes or phenotypes.

2. Question 2

   Q2. In a population of humans, a genetic disorder is more common in a particular ethnic group. What is the term for this phenomenon?

   • A) Genetic drift
   • B) Founder effect
   • C) Population bottleneck
   • D) Genetic predisposition

   Answer: Genetic predisposition

   Explanation: Genetic predisposition explains higher incidence of a disorder in a group, not genetic drift.

3. Question 3

   Q3. A fossil record shows a sudden appearance of complex life forms. What theory explains this pattern?

   • A) Punctuated equilibrium
   • B) Gradualism
   • C) Cambrian explosion
   • D) Mass extinction

   Answer: Cambrian explosion

   Explanation: Cambrian explosion theory explains sudden appearance of complex life, unlike gradualism.

4. Question 4

   Q4. In a species of plants, a genetic variation affects leaf shape. What is the term for the study of the relationship between genes and traits?

   • A) Genomics
   • B) Proteomics
   • C) Genetics
   • D) Phenomics

   Answer: Genetics

   Explanation: Genetics studies the relationship between genes and traits, unlike genomics.

5. Question 5

   Q5. In a population of bacteria, a genetic mutation leads to antibiotic resistance. What is the term for the process by which this trait is lost over time?

   • A) Genetic drift
   • B) Natural selection
   • C) Gene flow
   • D) Purifying selection

   Answer: Purifying selection

   Explanation: Purifying selection acts against deleterious mutations, including lost antibiotic resistance.

6. Question 6

   Q6. In a population of humans, a genetic disorder is more common in a particular age group. What is the term for this phenomenon?

   • A) Genetic predisposition
   • B) Age-related disease
   • C) Gene-environment interaction
   • D) Epigenetic inheritance

   Answer: Age-related disease

   Explanation: Age-related disease explains higher incidence in a particular age group, not genetic predisposition.

7. Question 7

   Q7. A fossil record shows a pattern of co-evolution between two species. What is the term for this phenomenon?

   • A) Symbiotic evolution
   • B) Co-evolution
   • C) Mutualism
   • D) Commensalism

   Answer: Co-evolution

   Explanation: Co-evolution explains the pattern of reciprocal evolution between two species.

8. Question 8

   Q8. In a species of plants, a genetic variation affects flower scent. What is the term for the study of the relationship between genes and environmental factors?

   • A) Genomics
   • B) Proteomics
   • C) Epigenetics
   • D) Ecogenetics

   Answer: Ecogenetics

   Explanation: Ecogenetics studies the relationship between genes and environmental factors, unlike genomics.

9. Question 9

   Q9. A fossil record shows a pattern of evolutionary stasis in a particular species. What is the term for this phenomenon?

   • A) Punctuated equilibrium
   • B) Gradualism
   • C) Stasis
   • D) Evolutionary stability

   Answer: Stasis

   Explanation: Stasis explains the lack of evolutionary change in a species over time.

10. Question 10

    Q10. In a species of plants, a genetic variation affects root depth. What is the term for the study of the relationship between genes and developmental processes?

    • A) Genomics
    • B) Proteomics
    • C) Genetics
    • D) Evodevo

    Answer: Evodevo

    Explanation: Evodevo studies the relationship between genes and developmental processes, unlike genomics.

11. Question 11

    Q11. Humans have a high frequency of the sickle cell allele in areas with high malaria prevalence. What is the likely reason?

    • A) Genetic drift
    • B) Natural selection
    • C) Mutation
    • D) Gene flow

    Answer: Natural selection

    Explanation: Natural selection favors sickle cell trait

12. Question 12

    Q12. The Galapagos finches are an example of what type of evolutionary adaptation?

    • A) Convergent evolution
    • B) Divergent evolution
    • C) Adaptive radiation
    • D) Co-evolution

    Answer: Adaptive radiation

    Explanation: Adaptive radiation is the evolution of multiple species from one, finches are a classic example.

13. Question 13

    Q13. The peppered moth is an example of what type of evolutionary change?

    • A) Genetic drift
    • B) Natural selection
    • C) Gene flow
    • D) Mutation

    Answer: Natural selection

    Explanation: Natural selection drove the change in moth color, others are random or genetic changes.

14. Question 14

    Q14. What is the term for the movement of genes from one population to another?

    • A) Gene flow
    • B) Genetic drift
    • C) Mutation
    • D) Natural selection

    Answer: Gene flow

    Explanation: Gene flow is the movement of genes, others are changes within a population.

15. Question 15

    Q15. The process by which a population becomes fixed for a particular allele is known as

    • A) Genetic drift
    • B) Gene flow
    • C) Mutation
    • D) Natural selection

    Answer: Genetic drift

    Explanation: Genetic drift leads to fixation, others introduce new genes or select for existing ones.

16. Question 16

    Q16. The fossil record shows that horses have evolved from small, multi-toed forest dwellers to large, single-toed grassland dwellers. What type of evolution is this an example of?

    • A) Convergent evolution
    • B) Divergent evolution
    • C) Anagenesis
    • D) Co-evolution

    Answer: Anagenesis

    Explanation: Anagenesis is the evolution of a single species over time, horse evolution is a classic example.

17. Question 17

    Q17. The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an example of what type of evolutionary change?

    • A) Natural selection
    • B) Genetic drift
    • C) Gene flow
    • D) Mutation

    Answer: Natural selection

    Explanation: Natural selection favors resistant bacteria, others are random or genetic changes.

18. Question 18

    Q18. What is the term for the evolution of a new species from an existing one, resulting in a distinct species?

    • A) Speciation
    • B) Adaptive radiation
    • C) Convergent evolution
    • D) Divergent evolution

    Answer: Speciation

    Explanation: Speciation is the formation of a new species, others are types of evolutionary change.

19. Question 19

    Q19. The similarity between the forelimbs of vertebrates is an example of what type of homology?

    • A) Analogous
    • B) Homologous
    • C) Convergent
    • D) Divergent

    Answer: Homologous

    Explanation: Homologous structures have a common ancestor, others are similar but unrelated.

20. Question 20

    Q20. The concept of 'survival of the fittest' was first introduced by

    • A) Charles Darwin
    • B) Herbert Spencer
    • C) Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
    • D) Gregor Mendel

    Answer: Herbert Spencer

    Explanation: Herbert Spencer coined the phrase 'survival of the fittest', Darwin popularized it.