Mechanisms of Evolution Science Test

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

A change or development over time

Question 2

Natural Selection

Answer 2

Is the primary mechanism leading to change over time in organisms

Question 3

Fitness

Answer 3

An organisms ability to survive and reproduce sucessfully

Question 4

Adaptation

Answer 4

A physical feature or behavior that helps an organism survive or reproduce

Question 5

Structural adaptation

Answer 5

Physical features that have developed over time to increase fitness

Question 6

Camouflage

Answer 6

When an organism blend in with its enviroment

Question 7

Mimicry

Answer 7

An organisms resembling another organism in order to provide protection

Question 8

Behavioral adaptation

Answer 8

The way an organism acts in order to increase fitness

Question 9

Instinctive behavior

Answer 9

An behaviri pattern that an organism inherited that happened naturally and not learned

Question 10

Learned Behavior

Answer 10

A behavior that is obtained based on experience that is not passed to the next generation

Example: Dog playing fetch

Question 11

Gene flow

Answer 11

Any movement of individuals from one population to another. New individuals increase variation in the population.

Question 12

Selection Pressure

Answer 12

Factors or reason that give a certain traits on advantage fro organisms fitness

Question 13

Mutation

Answer 13

Random, spontaneous changes in an organisms DNA

Question 14

Non random mating

Answer 14

A process when organisms choose for or against particuler traits when mating.

Question 15

Variation

Answer 15

Difference between individuals of the same species

Question 16

Genetic drift: Founder Effect

Answer 16

A new colony of individuals is started from just a few members of a population. This causes less variation. The offspring will have similar traits as the few people of the new colony.

Question 17

Genetic drift: Bottleneck effect

Answer 17

When variation in a population decreases because a large portion of the population are randomly killed. The offspring will have similar traits as the few remaining survivors.

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

A group of organisms all from the same species living in a area

Question 19

What 4 conditions must be present for natural selection to occur?

Answer 19

1. Traits in a population of organism exhibit variation
2. In any given population, not all individuals survive to reproduce
3. Survival is not random. Survivors must have an advantage over those that don’t survive
4. The survivors advantageous traits must be heritable

Question 20

What is the theory of natural selection?

Answer 20

States that organisms that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Favorable traits are then passed onto the next generation.

Question 21

How can variation increase in an population?

Answer 21

Changes in the genetic makeup of individuals. These changes can come from new mutations,
and gene flow

Question 21

How can variation decrease in an population?

Answer 21

Including genetic drift, population bottlenecks, and inbreeding

Question 22

What are 4 different examples of selection Pressure?

Answer 22

1. Females may show a preference for a particuler version of a trait, like feather color in their mate
2. Ability to find food and prey: One version of a trait like beak shape
3. Climate tolerance: Climate factors like temperature or precipitation may favor thicker fured animals
4. Ability to avoid predators: One version of a trait like body color may be a better camoflauge