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CHAPTER 20—DEVELOPMENT OF EVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In The Origin of Species by Natural Selection, ____ proposed that natural mechanisms produce and
transform the diversity of life on Earth.
a.
Alfred Russel Wallace
b.
Charles Lyell
c.
Charles Darwin
d.
Joseph Hooker
e.
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
2. Biological evolution occurs in ____ when specific processes cause genomes of organisms to differ
from their ancestors
a.
individuals
b.
populations
c.
communities
d.
phenotypes
e.
sub-species
3. All biological research is undertaken with the explicit or implicit recognition that ____.
a.
Charles Darwin’s view of evolution put forth in The Origin is without error
b.
all forms of life are related and have evolved from ancestral forms
c.
all species share the same common ancestor
d.
the products of evolution are easily predicted
e.
the theory of evolution can be ignored unless the research is explicitly examining
evolutionary process
4. Who developed the science of taxonomy?
a.
Charles Darwin
b.
Aristotle
c.
Alfred Russel Wallace
d.
Sir Isaac Newton
e.
Carolus Linnaeus
5. Which of the following branches of biology examines the form and variety of organisms in their
natural environment?
a.
Taxonomy
b.
Natural history
c.
Comparative morphology
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d.
Biogeography
e.
Geology
6. The method that Carolus Linnaeus used for classifying organisms was
a.
geology
b.
biogeography
c.
comparative morphology
d.
homology
e.
evolutionary biology
7. Which of the following did NOT contribute to an understanding of the immutable nature of species?
a.
homologous bones
b.
vestigial structures
c.
global exploration of fauna and flora
d.
fossils
e.
genetics
8. The science of classifying organisms is called
a.
natural history
b.
taxonomy
c.
evolution
d.
morphology
e.
paleobiology
9. Lamarck’s ideas embody all of the following, EXCEPT
a.
a metaphysical perfecting principle
b.
principle of use and disuse
c.
principle of acquired characteristics
d.
principle of uniformitarianism
e.
all species change through time
10. Homologous structures were “discovered” by findings that indicated that ____.
a.
species on different continents were not similar in form
b.
different geological layers held different kinds of fossils
c.
structures of similar form and position occurred in animals of markedly different size,
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shape, and lifestyle
d.
some structures found in animals are apparently useless
e.
some kinds of animals had apparently gone extinct
11. Structures in an organism that are reduced in size, complexity or strength compared to related
organisms and have no current function are called
a.
homologous
b.
vestigial
c.
mutualistic
d.
fossil
e.
convergent
12. Pigs have feet with toes that do not touch the ground. These are examples of
a.
a vestigial structure
b.
something in the process of evolving
c.
homologous traits
d.
a deleterious mutation
e.
biological gradualism
13. The proposition that species change through time was proposed by which of the following?
a.
Charles Darwin
b.
Jean Baptiste de Lamarck
c.
Alfred Russel Wallace
d.
Charles Darwin and Jean Baptiste de Lamarck
e.
Charles Darwin, Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, and Alfred Russel Wallace
14. According to the principle of use and disuse the form of body parts in offspring ____.
a.
are inherited based on phenotypic changes that occur in parents during their lifetime
b.
are the result of how much the offspring uses a particular body part
c.
are the result of natural selection
d.
are immutable
e.
are a result of biogeographic location
15. Lamarck’s theory of evolution proposed all of the following EXCEPT
a.
Species change through time.
b.
New characteristics are passed from one generation to the next.
c.
Organisms change in response to their environment.
d.
Changes that an animal acquires during its lifetime are inherited by its offspring.
e.
Changes in species are a result of evolutionary mechanisms
16. Darwin was probably influenced most by which of the following when developing his theory of
evolution?
a.
Scala Naturea
b.
Catastrophism
c.
Uniformitarianism
d.
Taxonomy
e.
Vestigial structures
17. As a young child, you preferred to collect shells and insects, dig through the mud around a pond, and
watch birds rather than play video games. What did you have in common with Charles Darwin?
a.
an interest in history
b.
an interest in evolution
c.
an interest in natural history
d.
an interest in geology
e.
an interest in biogeography
18. The reason Darwin sailed aboard the H.M.S. Beagle was because he ____.
a.
wanted to develop his theory of evolution
b.
was invited to be the ship’s naturalist
c.
was invited to be the ship’s geologist
d.
was invited to be the captain’s dining companion
e.
was invited to be the captain’s personal physician
19. Which of the following observations did not influence Darwin’s later thoughts about evolution?
a.
The discovery of fossils that resembled extant organisms in the same region.
b.
The observation that animals from similar habitats in South America and Europe were
very different.
c.
A great variety of species exist across the globe.
d.
Species on islands differed from species on the mainland closest to the island.
e.
North American and South American species were more similar to each other than
European and African species.
20. Darwin’s voyage took place between ____.
a.
1730 and 1735
b.
1830 and 1835
c.
1853 and 1858
d.
1930 and 1938
e.
none of the choices
21. Morphological differences in European beaver and ____ contributed to Darwin’s thoughts on reasons
for species differences.
a.
South American nutria
b.
South American iguana
c.
extinct glyptodont
d.
nine banded armadillo
e.
South American beaver
22. Darwin’s observations of finches from the Galápagos included which of the following?
a.
The 13 finch species were descended from a common ancestor.
b.
The 13 finch species each had differently-shaped bills.
c.
The 13 finch species had migrated from South America.
d.
The 13 finch species had different food preferences
e.
The 13 finch species had similar DNA sequences
23. Darwin’s primary contribution to biological theory was
a.
the methods for estimating the age of fossils
b.
the concept that organisms change over time and form new species
c.
the mechanism by which mutations come about
d.
the concept of gene pools and changes in allele frequencies
e.
the mechanism by which populations of organisms change over time
24. A basic truth of inheritance that had been known well before Darwin’s time was that ____.
a.
offspring frequently resemble their parents
b.
offspring inherit genes from their parents
c.
selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals
d.
offspring frequently resemble their parents and selective breeding improves domesticated
plants and animals
e.
offspring frequently resemble their parents, offspring inherit genes from their parents, and
selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals
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25. Thomas Malthus’ influence on Darwin can best be characterized by which of the following?
a.
Darwin was convinced artificial selection could work in nature.
b.
Darwin realized species typically produce many more offspring than are needed to replace
the parent generation.
c.
Darwin was convinced the fate of humanity was dependent on artificial selection.
d.
Darwin was convinced the fate of humanity was dependent on natural selection.
e.
Darwin was convinced to publish his ideas about natural selection
26. Darwin calculated that if reproduction was not limited, a single pair of elephants could leave ____
descendants after 750 years.
a.
750
b.
15,000
c.
150,000
d.
19 million
e.
190 million
27. Darwin’s inference that individuals within a population compete for limited resources was based on
which observation(s)?
a.
Most organisms produce more than one or two offspring.
b.
Populations do not increase in size indefinitely.
c.
Food and other resources are limited for most populations.
d.
Most organisms produce more than one or two offspring and populations do not increase
in size indefinitely.
e.
Most organisms produce more than one or two offspring, populations do not increase in
size indefinitely, and food and other resources are limited for most populations.
28. An example of evolutionary divergence is best characterized by Darwin’s observation of ____.
a.
fossils along the coast of Argentina
b.
body armor similarities between armadillos and fossilized glyptodonts
c.
differences in appearance of nutria and beaver
d.
differences in bill shape and food habits of finches
e.
the great variety of form of species
29. What was the major stumbling block for the acceptance of natural selection as a mechanism for
evolution when proposed by Darwin?
a.
strong evidence for inheritance of acquired traits
b.
lack of a fossil record
c.
lack of a plausible theory of heredity
d.
lack of evidence for artificial selection
e.
lack of observational and experimental data
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30. Before Darwin
a.
no one had conceived of biological evolution
b.
Lamarck wrote about biological evolution, but had the mechanism wrong.
c.
Malthus developed a theory of evolution.
d.
Lamarck had the idea of natural selection, but was ignored.
e.
Malthus demonstrated the progression of fossils in the rocks.
31. Which of the following was something that Charles Darwin did NOT study during his long career?
a.
the classification of barnacles
b.
the pollination of orchids
c.
the response of plants to light
d.
the genetic basis of traits
e.
insectivorous plants
32. Upon Darwin’s return from his voyage he spent time doing which of the following?
a.
breeding dogs
b.
breeding pigeons
c.
breeding barnacles
d.
breeding goldfish
e.
breeding garden peas
33. The perceived fundamental conflict between Darwin’s and Mendel’s theories was that ____.
a.
Mendel’s theory was based on experimentation while Darwin’s was based on observation
b.
Mendel’s experiments were based on simple traits while Darwin’s evidence was based on
complex characteristics
c.
Mendel’s experiments were unbiased, while Darwin set out to prove evolution by natural
selection
d.
Mendel’s experiments were based on peas while Darwin used a variety of examples
e.
Darwin was a scientist while Mendel was a monk
34. The specific discipline that linked Mendel’s and Darwin’s work was ____.
a.
population biology
b.
paleontology
c.
population genetics
d.
biogeography
e.
modern synthesis
35. Which of the following matches between evolutionary evidence and biological disciplines is NOT
correct?
a.
Pesticide resistance: Historical biogeography
b.
Forelimbs or all four legged vertebrates are homologous: Comparative morphology
c.
Short tails of African and Asian monkeys: Historical biogeography
d.
Gill pouches in embryos of four-limbed vertebrates: Comparative embryology
e.
Species on oceanic islands often closely resemble species on the nearby mainland:
Comparative embryology
36. Extinction is an example of a ____.
a.
microevolutionary change
b.
macroevolutionary change
c.
natural selection
d.
Mendelian genetics
e.
“hopeful monster”
37. Archaeopteryx is an important link between
a.
mammals and birds
b.
lizards and birds
c.
dinosaurs and birds
d.
crocodiles and birds
e.
non-flying birds and flying birds
38. The modern synthesis is based on all of the following EXCEPT
a.
linking microevolution and macroevolution
b.
linking Darwinism with Mendelism
c.
a focus on population genetics
d.
linking population growth with variation to explain natural selection
e.
interpreting data from a wide variety of biological disciplines in an evolutionary
framework
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39. When we are able to recognize clearly defined families, orders, phyla, etc., it is due primarily to the
macroevolutionary factor of
a.
extinction
b.
adaptation
c.
mutation
d.
natural selection
e.
continental drift
40. Which of the following is a correct interpretation of the wings of bats and the wings of birds?
a.
they are homologous because the common ancestor of bats and birds had wings
b.
they are not homologous because their similar internal bone structure evolved
independently as an adaptation for flight
c.
they are homologous because they are adapted for the same function
d.
they are homologous because they have similar internal bone structure inherited
from a common ancestor
e.
they are not homologous because wings evolved from different ancestral organs in
birds and bats
41. Woolly mammoths were determined to be more closely related to Asian elephants than to African
elephants on the basis of
a.
DNA sequencing of nuclear genes
b.
anatomical evidence
c.
embryological evidence
d.
mitochondrial DNA sequences
e.
cytochrome c amino acid sequences
42. What percentage of the species that have ever lived have become extinct?
a.
1 percent
b.
9 percent
c.
50 percent
d.
75 percent
e.
99 percent
43. New genetic variations sometimes become more common within populations because ____.
a.
most parts of the genome are non-coding and are available for selection
b.
proteins can be “recruited” for advantageous function
c.
proteins for which they code are advantageous and selected
d.
adaptation occurs rapidly in the few species that have survived through time
e.
mutations are able to select against genetic variations that had disadvantageous function
44. Evolution of embryonic pathways probably occurs most commonly though ____.
a.
macroevolutionary mechanisms
b.
microevolutionary mechanisms
c.
protein recruitment
d.
extinction
e.
mutations during embryonic development
45. For evolution to become the theory that underpins all of the biological sciences, which of the following
had to occur?
a.
Darwin had to write The Origin.
b.
Lamarck’s theory of biological evolution had to be disproved.
c.
Darwin had to prove that finches in the Galápagos were descended from a common
ancestor.
d.
Mendel had to discover genes.
e.
Research in many fields had to provide evidence for evolution.
46. To know that the 13 finch species that inhabit the Galápagos are descended from a common ancestor,
biologists had to rely on ____.
a.
Darwin’s notebooks describing his observations
b.
comparative molecular biology
c.
comparative embryology
d.
Mendelian genetics
e.
modern historical biogeography and Darwin’s observations
Select the Exception
47. Four of the five people below influenced Darwin’s writing of the book On the Origin of Species by
Means of Natural Selection. Select the exception.
a.
Mendel
b.
Wallace
c.
Lyell
d.
Malthus
e.
Lamarck
48. Four of the five indicate that evolution by natural selection is a plausible mechanism leading to the
diversity of species that have and do exist. Select the exception.
a.
artificial selection
b.
Darwin’s finches
c.
insect resistance to pesticides
d.
a parent’s traits developed through life are passed on to offspring via natural selection
e.
biogeographical patterns in species
49. Evolution by natural selection, as conceived by Darwin, is based on all of the following EXCEPT
a.
excess growth of populations
b.
limitation of resources in the environment
c.
Mendel’s experiments with peas
d.
variation within populations
e.
some individuals have hereditary characteristics that allow them to survive and reproduce
more than others
MATCHING
Match each of the following concepts with the correct person
a.
Vestigial structures
b.
Population grows faster than agricultural capacity
c.
Inheritance of acquired characteristics
d.
Gradualism
e.
Inheritance of discrete genetic units
f.
Uniformitarianism
g.
Evolution by natural selection
50. Charles Darwin
51. Charles Lyell
52. Jean Baptiste de Lamarck
53. Alfred Russel Wallace
54. George-Louis de Buffon
55. James Hutton
56. Gregor Mendel
57. Thomas Malthus
Classification
Use the seven disciplines listed below for the following question(s).
a.
population genetics
b.
taxonomy
c.
historical biogeography
d.
comparative morphology
e.
comparative embryology
f.
comparative molecular biology
g.
paleobiology
58. Using fossil evidence is important in this discipline.
59. Classifying organisms is done by practitioners of this discipline.
60. In this discipline genetics and mathematics are combined to predict how selection and other processes
such as non-random reproduction affect a population’s genetic changes through time.
61. A practitioner of this discipline might observe that species on oceanic islands often closely resemble
species on the nearest mainland.
62. If you observe that the arms of humans and wings of birds are constructed similarly, you would be
practicing this discipline.
63. Practitioners of this discipline are responsible for the finding that cytochrome c is found within the
mitochondria of all eukaryotic organisms.
64. Evidence that fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds go through similar stages of development was
found by practitioners of this discipline.
65. Ambiguous conclusions about phylogenetic relationship derived from comparative morphology can
now generally be clarified by this discipline
66. The most solid evidence that organisms have changed over time comes from this discipline
67. The effects of continental drift on biodiversity are studied in this discipline
Choice
Based on the figure, place the appropriate species with the number of amino acids that differ from the
human sequence a-g.
68. Domestic dog
69. Rhesus monkey
70. Turtle
71. Rattlesnake
72. Chimpanzee
73. Yeast
74. Domestic chicken
SHORT ANSWER
75. What are the products of evolution?
76. Explain how observing artificial selection provides an inference for natural selection.
77. Explain how similarity in amino acid sequences among species indicates shared ancestry.
78. What is the general generic mechanism for insect resistance to pesticides?
79. How did evolutionary changes cause the loss of forelimbs in snakes?
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OTHER
80. Imagine you are tracing the history of biological evolution. Arrange the following historical figures in
order of when their contribution influenced thoughts on the subject (directly or indirectly). Write the
letter of the earliest next to 1, the letter of the most recent next to 8.
A.
Lamarck
B.
Wallace
C.
Futuyma
D.
Mendel
E.
Buffon
F.
Aristotle
G.
Lyell
H.
Malthus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1.
F
2.
E
3.
A
4.
H
5.
G
6.
B
7.
D
8.
C
ANS:
MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE
If the statement is true, answer “T“. If the statement is false, answer “F” and make it correct by
changing the underlined word(s) and writing the correct word(s) in the answer blank(s).
81. Darwin’s finches illustrate evolution by speciation.
82. “Mutationism” suggested that evolution occurred gradually through time.
83. Macroevolution describes large scale patterns in the history of life.
84. Insecticide resistance is an example of artificial selection.
85. The concept of orthogenesis proposed evolution was goal oriented.
86. Evolution has been shown to be goal oriented.
87. The process by which Darwin came to the idea of evolution by natural selection was quick and based
on little evidence.
88. There are still many unanswered questions about evolution.
89. The direct result of natural selection is a new species
90. The genes that determine the development of limbs in lizards as opposed to snakes are called hox
genes.
ESSAY
91. Discuss the links between Darwin’s observations and inferences. Are some inferences more logical
than others? Is there evidence for all of the inferences?
92. You are a farmer that grows corn. You are offered a genetically modified variety of corn that is 100
percent resistant to corn borers. You have to decide what proportion of your field you should plant in
resistant corn versus a variety that is susceptible to corn borers. Explain why you might choose one of
the following proportions of resistant to susceptible: 100:0, 90:10, 75:25, or 50:50.