Question

1. mutations are important because they bring about

a. death of the organism in which they develop
b. genetic variation needed for a population to evolve
c. benefits for the individual, not for the population
d. hardy-weinberg equilibrium within a population

1. what is another name for natural selection?

a. survival of the smartest
b. survival of the fastest
c. survival of the strongest
d. survival of the fittest

1. individuals undergo evolution.

a. true
b. false
c. unable to determine

1. starting in 1954, commercial fishers in the northwest pacific were paid by weight, rather than by the individual fish, for pink salmon. the fishers increased the use of a net that selectively catches larger fish. which of the following effects did this change in fishing technique most likely have on the salmon population over the next 20 years?

a. the average body size of the salmon population decreased significantly.
b. the average body size of the salmon population increased significantly.
c. the average body size of the males in the salmon population increased, and the females stayed the same.

1. charles darwin observed that finches of different species on the galápagos islands have many similar physical characteristics. this supports the theory that these finches

a. are twins
b. acquired traits through use and disuse.
c. all eat the same type of food.
d. descended from a common ancestor.

1. we analyzed the microbiome diversity of three different populations. which population had the most biodiversity in their microbiome?

a. urban italians
b. rural africans
c. hadza hunter-gatherers
d. all were the same

1. what is the black death?

a. global pandemic of bubonic plague
b. a disease that was harmful to mice
c. the name of jack sparrows ship
d. a disease that causes dehydration due to diarrhea

Explanation:

• Question 6: Mutations introduce new genetic variations. Genetic variation is the raw material for evolution as it allows populations to adapt over time.
• Question 7: Natural selection is often referred to as "survival of the fittest". This means organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
• Question 8: Evolution occurs at the population level. Individual organisms do not evolve; rather, the genetic composition of a population changes over generations.
• Question 9: If larger fish are selectively caught, smaller fish are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, this would lead to a decrease in the average body size of the salmon population.
• Question 10: Similar physical characteristics among different finch species on the Galápagos Islands suggest they share a common ancestor. This is a key concept in evolutionary theory.
• Question 11: Hunter - gatherer populations, like the Hadza, often have more diverse microbiomes due to their varied diets and exposure to different environments compared to urban or rural populations with more standardized lifestyles.
• Question 12: The Black Death was a global pandemic of bubonic plague that had a significant impact on human history.

Answer:

• 6. B. genetic variation needed for a population to evolve
• 7. D. survival of the fittest
• 8. B. False
• 9. A. The average body size of the salmon population decreased significantly.
• 10. D. descended from a common ancestor.
• 11. C. Hadza Hunter - Gatherers
• 12. A. Global pandemic of bubonic plague