Evolution test 2

Natural Selection is a principle of evolution that propounds the survival of the most fit individuals within a species.

Coined by Charles Darwin, the term implies that only those individuals who are best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce, while those less fit perish.

This principle was alternatively referred to as "Survival of the fittest" by Herbert Spencer.

Hence, amongst the provided options, B - "Survival of the fittest" best defines Natural Selection, making it the correct answer.

While Charles Darwin introduced the concept of Natural Selection, the term "Survival of the fittest" was actually coined by Herbert Spencer.

These two concepts essentially capture the same idea: that those individuals within a species who are most suited to their environment will survive and reproduce, while those less suited will perish.

So, among the given options, option A - "Herbert Spencer" is the correct answer.

Evolutionists generally favor the Theory of Natural Selection, which was proposed by Charles Darwin.

This theory suggests that the best-adapted individuals survive and reproduce, while the less fit perish, driving evolution as advantageous traits become more common in the population over generations.

Thus, option D - "Theory of Natural Selection" is the most accurate answer.

Homologous organs share a common ancestry, while analogous organs serve the same function but have different evolutionary origins. Vestigial organs are remnants of structures that had important functions in ancestral species but are no longer necessary in current species.

The wings of bats, birds, and insects, despite performing similar functions, have different structures and developmental paths, making them analogous organs.

Therefore, the correct answer is B - "Analogous organs".

The idea of creationism, which posits that life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, was advocated by Aristotle, not by Linnaeus, Lamarck, or Cuvier.

Therefore, among the choices provided, option D - "None of the above" is the correct answer.

Darwin's concept of natural selection and Herbert Spencer's notion of survival of the fittest both state that the most advantageous individuals survive and reproduce, while the less suited are eliminated by nature.

Therefore, the most fitting description of this statement is found in both options A - "Survival of the fittest" and B - "Natural selection", making D - "Both A and B" the correct answer.

Darwin's theory of evolution was based on a myriad of evidence, including geographical distribution and fossil records.

Geographical distribution provides evidence for common descent, while the fossil record documents the existence of extinct species that are transitional forms between current species.

The phrase 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' reflects the Recapitulation theory or Biogenetic law. This concept proposes that the development of an organism expresses all the intermediate forms of its ancestors throughout evolution.

'Neo-Darwinism', on the other hand, is a modern extension of Darwin's theory of evolution that integrates genetics.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is D - "Both A and B".

Analogous organs are those that perform similar functions but have different evolutionary origins and structures.

Homologous organs, in contrast, share a common ancestry but may perform different functions, while 'progressive' and 'retrogressive' describe the direction of evolution and not the type of organs.

Therefore, the correct answer is B - "Analogous organs".

Vestigial structures are remnants of organs or structures that had a function in an early ancestor but no longer serve a purpose in the modern organism.

The human tailbone, or coccyx, is an example of a vestigial structure. It's what remains of the tail that other primates still use for balance and communication.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is A - "Human tailbone".

Speciation refers to the process through which new biological species arise. It involves several steps: isolation of a population, divergence of traits, and reproductive isolation.

Creationism, on the other hand, is a belief that life and the universe originated from specific acts of divine creation, not through evolutionary processes.

Hence, the correct answer to this question is B - "Speciation".

The Theory of Acquired Characters posits that traits or modifications obtained over an organism's lifetime can be passed on to its progeny. This concept, however, has been largely discredited in contemporary scientific understanding.

The correct answer to this question, therefore, is B - "Theory of acquired characters".

Darwin's theory acknowledges several limiting factors constraining an organism's survival and reproduction. These constraints include availability of food, potential mates, and space.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is D - "All of the above".

Evolution is the process that has shaped life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to the enormous diversity that we observe today.

While mutations, reproduction, and behavior patterns can play roles within this process, the term that encompasses these transformations is evolution.

When competition occurs between members of the same species, it is referred to as intraspecific competition.

Interspecific competition, on the other hand, occurs between members of different species.

So, the correct answer to this question is A - "Intraspecific".

The process of natural selection relies on both variation and mutation among species.

Variations provide the raw material upon which natural selection acts, while mutation is a primary source of the genetic variation that contributes to evolutionary change.

Therefore, the correct answer to this question is D - "Both B and C".

The concept of natural selection revolves around certain fundamental principles which include adaptation to the environment (where organisms with beneficial traits survive and reproduce), overproduction (organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support) and survival in the struggle for existence (only the ones best adapted to their environment survive).

Hence, the correct answer to this question is D - "All of the mentioned".

Archaebacteria are known for their ability to survive in extreme conditions, including high temperatures up to 120°C.

They seem to have gone through less evolution compared to other organisms and utilize energy and raw materials from hydrothermal vents.

As a result, the correct answer to this question is D - "All of the above".

Vestigial organs are parts of the body that no longer serve a purpose, examples include the Coccyx or tail bone, Nictating membrane of the eye, and the Appendix.

As all the listed options are vestigial organs, the correct answer to this question is D - "None of the above".

Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, a renowned French scientist who transitioned from a soldier to a botanist, and finally to a professor of zoology in Paris, published "Philosophic Zoologique".

This significant work was published in the year 1809.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is A - "1809".

Various forms of evidence back the process of evolution, including biogeography (the geographical distribution of organisms), homology (similarities in structures due to common ancestry), and analogy (similarities in function despite different evolutionary origins).

As all the options listed provide evidence for evolution, the correct answer to this question is D - "All of the above".

Whales are known to retain certain anatomical structures that serve no apparent purpose, which are considered vestiges of their evolution.

These include the pelvic bones and leg bones, remnants from a time when their ancestors walked on land.

Hence, the correct answer to this question is D - "Both B and C".

Multiple factors can lead to species extinction, including habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

However, the primary cause among these is changing climate conditions, which drastically affect the ecosystems and survival of species.

Therefore, the correct answer to this question is C - "Climate change".

Evolution can occur in diverse ways, leading to convergent, divergent, progressive, or retrogressive evolution.

The forelimbs of humans, bats, horses, and whales, though different in structure, have similar functions, a classic example of divergent evolution.

Hence, the correct answer to this question is B - "Divergent evolution".

Species facing threats to their existence are categorized as threatened, endangered, or extinct, based on the level of threat.

A species is termed 'endangered' when it is in immediate danger of extinction throughout its range.

Consequently, the correct answer to this question is B - "Endangered".

In the realm of science, the term 'theory' has a specific connotation.

It generally refers to a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, backed by a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

Consequently, the correct answer to this question is B - "A proposition explaining numerous related phenomena".

Several scientists before Charles Darwin proposed theories and models to explain the evolution of life.

Alfred Russel Wallace stands out among these predecessors for his significant contributions to the theory of evolution through natural selection.

So, the correct answer to this question is D - "Alfred Russel Wallace".

Certain inherited characteristics may increase an organism's survival and reproduction chances in its specific environment.

Such a beneficial trait is referred to as an 'adaptation'.

There are several theories of organic evolution, including Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism.

However, Lamarckianism is typically recognized as the earliest theory of organic evolution.

As a result, the correct answer to this question is C - "Lamarckianism".

In evolutionary biology, organs are classified as analogous, homologous, or vestigial based on their structure and function.

The human hand, bat's wing, cat's paw, horse's front leg, and the front flipper of a whale are homologous organs because they have a similar bone structure but different functions.

Therefore, the correct answer to this question is B - "Homologous organs".

Fossils provide crucial evidence about the history of life on Earth.

The oldest known fossils are considered to be prokaryotes, simple life forms that existed long before the appearance of complex organisms.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is A - "Prokaryotes".

Modern synthesis, also known as Neo-Darwinism, merges the principles of genetics with Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Among the list provided, the scientist associated with this idea is Chetverik.

Hence, the correct response for this question is C - "Chetverik".

Genetic variation, a cornerstone of evolution, arises primarily through two processes: mutation and sexual recombination.

Adaptation to the environment is facilitated through natural selection, where those traits that are advantageous in a given environment are more likely to be passed on to future generations.

Therefore, the correct answer is C - "Mutation, sexual recombination, natural selection".