Evolution, Mutations, and Speciation

This is an MCQ-based quiz for GRE on the topic of Evolution, Mutations, and Speciation.

Speciation can be driven by evolution, which is a process that results in the accumulation of many small genetic changes called mutations in a population over a long period of time. There are a number of different mechanisms that may drive speciation.

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Which type of mutation creates a premature stop codon in the mRNA?

Silent mutation Missense mutation Frameshift mutation Nonsense mutation

Sickle cell anemia is a disorder caused by the alteration of one amino acid in hemoglobin. Based on this, what kind of mutation causes sickle cell anemia?

Nonsense mutation Missense mutation Silent mutation Frameshift mutation

What term best describes when one species exhibits two or more defined phenotypes within the same population?

Allopatry Natural selection Assortative mating Sympatry Polymorphism

Which of the following is most accurate about single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)?

SNPs are more frequently found in AT-rich microsatellite regions SNPs occur in only non-coding regions SNPs occur in only coding regions SNPs occur in 1% or more of the population None of these

Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?

Two populations living in the same geographic region acquire enough differences to diverge into two separate species Two species merge together to form a single species Two different species independently gain the ability to fly A species regains a trait that an ancestor had previously lost

Which of the following refers to speciation that results from physical barriers such that biological populations become isolated?

Allopatric speciation Sympatric speciation Natural selection Parapatric speciation Disruptive selection

Which of the following refers to speciation that occurs due to reproductive isolation in populations that occupy the same geographical area?

None of the other answers Sympatric speciation Balancing selection Allopatric speciation Parapatric speciation

A scientist studies three populations of frog (populations A, B, and C) that live in the same rainforest. He notices some interesting similarities between the three groups. What would be the best evidence that A and B have a more recent common ancestor than A and C or B and C?

Populations A and B share similar mtDNA sequences, but differ in their nDNA sequences Populations A and B are not native to the rainforest, but came from two different areas that were very similar to the rainforest Populations A and C often fight over territory Populations B and C eat different things Populations A and B are both blue

Phylogenetics relates organisms to one another based on genetic distance that increases with evolutionary time. This principle requires the use of what kind of genes in order to give accurate relationships?

Genes from the mitochondrial DNA Genes under directional selection Genes under sexual selection Genes from the nuclear DNA Genes that are not under selection

A __________ mutation always results in the ribosome encountering a premature stop codon.

Nonsense

Missense

Frameshift

Deletion

A certain class of protein is found to exist in several different species. The amino acid sequence of this protein is compared between a large number of species. The greatest number of amino acid differences will be found between species of different __________.

Genera

Orders

Phyla

Families

An example of __________ is the speciation of Darwin"s finches through the accumulation of many small, distinct traits.

Parsimony

Artificial selection

Convergent evolution

Divergent evolution

Quiz/Test Summary

Title: Evolution, Mutations, and Speciation

Questions: 12