Q. The concept of 'survival of the fittest' is most closely associated with which of the following?
A.Lamarck
B.Darwin
C.Mendel
D.Wallace
Solution
'Survival of the fittest' is a phrase often associated with Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, emphasizing that those best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Q. The theory that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime is known as?
A.Natural Selection
B.Lamarckism
C.Mendelian Genetics
D.Darwinism
Solution
Lamarckism is the theory that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime, which has been largely discredited in favor of Darwinian evolution.
A.Rapid evolution of many species from a common ancestor
B.Evolution of similar traits in unrelated species
C.The extinction of a species
D.The migration of species to new habitats
Solution
Adaptive radiation is the rapid evolution of many species from a common ancestor, often occurring when species colonize new environments with diverse ecological niches.
Correct Answer: A — Rapid evolution of many species from a common ancestor
Genetic drift refers to changes in allele frequencies in a population due to random sampling of organisms, which can lead to significant changes over time, especially in small populations.
Correct Answer: A — Change in allele frequencies due to chance
Q. What is the primary mechanism of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin?
A.Natural Selection
B.Genetic Drift
C.Mutation
D.Gene Flow
Solution
Charles Darwin proposed the mechanism of evolution known as Natural Selection, which explains how species adapt and evolve over time based on environmental pressures.
Q. What is the primary source of genetic variation in a population? (2022)
A.Mutation
B.Natural Selection
C.Gene Flow
D.Genetic Drift
Solution
Mutation is the primary source of genetic variation in a population, as it introduces new alleles into the gene pool, which can then be acted upon by natural selection.
Q. What is the role of fossils in understanding evolution? (2020)
A.They provide evidence of past life forms and their changes over time
B.They are the only source of genetic information
C.They show the exact lineage of species
D.They have no role in evolution
Solution
Fossils provide crucial evidence of past life forms and their changes over time, helping scientists understand the process of evolution and the history of life on Earth.
Correct Answer: A — They provide evidence of past life forms and their changes over time
Q. What is the significance of the fossil record in understanding evolution?
A.It provides direct evidence of genetic changes
B.It shows the chronological order of species appearance
C.It proves the theory of inheritance
D.It eliminates the need for natural selection
Solution
The fossil record is significant because it provides a chronological order of species appearance, helping to trace the evolutionary history of life on Earth.
Correct Answer: B — It shows the chronological order of species appearance
Q. Which of the following is a mechanism of microevolution? (2005)
A.Natural selection
B.Gene flow
C.Genetic drift
D.All of the above
Solution
All of the options listed (natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift) are mechanisms of microevolution, which refers to small-scale evolutionary changes within a population.