TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 13130


Biologists performed an experiment with flies to examine the effects of population size on the maintenance of genetic variation  and  on  egg-to-adult survival.  From  a  large  source  population, they  randomly  assigned  eggs  to  three experimental  populations  of  size  N,  equal  to  20,  60,  and0100.  For  later  generations,  they  collected  N  eggs  from each  population  and  moved  them  into  identical  vials  that  co0ntained  f2re0sh  me4d0ium.  Th6e0y  coun8te0d  the  number  of adult flies that emerged and used tissue samples from the adults for genetic analyses. Genetic variation was measured by  scoring  alleles  at  several  polymorphic  loci  and  expressed  as  the  average  number  of  alleles  at  those  loci.  The results are summarized in Figure 1 and Figure 2 below.


Which process best explains the dynamics of genetic variation observed in this experiment? 

#Unit 10. Ecological Principles
  1. Genetic drift 
  2. Linkage disequilibrium
  3. Mutation 
  4. Segregation distortion

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TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 4714

#Unit 11. Evolution and Behavior

After the drought of 1977, researchers hypothesized that on the Galápagos Island Daphne Major, medium ground finches with large, deep beaks survived better than those with smaller beaks because they could more easily crack and eat the tough Tribulus cistoides fruits. A tourist company sets up reliable feeding stations with a variety of bird seeds (different types and sizes) so that tourists can get a better look at the finches. Which of these events is now most likely to occur to finch beaks on this island?

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 4713

#Unit 11. Evolution and Behavior

A farmer uses triazine herbicide to control pigweed in his field. For the first few years, the triazine works well and almost all the pigweed dies; but after several years, the farmer sees more and more pigweed. Which of these statements explains why the pigweed reappeared?

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 4712

#Unit 11. Evolution and Behavior

Which of these conditions are always true of populations evolving due to natural selection? Condition 1: The population must vary in traits that are heritable.

Condition 2: Some heritable traits must increase reproductive success.

Condition 3: Individuals pass on most traits that they acquire during their lifetime.

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 4711

#Unit 11. Evolution and Behavior

Starting from the wild mustard Brassica oleracea, breeders have created the strains known as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, and cabbage. Therefore, which of the following statements is correct?

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 4710

#Unit 11. Evolution and Behavior

The horizontal axis of the cladogram depicted below is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labeled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species.

 Which pair of scientists below would probably have agreed with the process that is depicted by this tree?

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 4709

#Unit 11. Evolution and Behavior

 The horizontal axis of the cladogram depicted below is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labeled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species.

 In Darwin's tree of life, each fork in the tree represents ________.