Free Concept of Evolution MCQs with Answers

192 Concept of Evolution MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Evolution is the heritable change in populations over generations, driven by mutation, recombination, natural selection, genetic drift and reproductive isolation. Questions examine variation, adaptation, survival and reproduction, speciation, fossil and anatomical evidence, and the difference between individual acclimatization and evolutionary change in a population.

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192 questions · page 8 of 10

  • A. Adaptation
  • B. Evolution
  • C. Neo-Darwinsm
  • D. Special creation

Explanation: Evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection.

Correct answer: Evolution
  • A. Genes
  • B. Anatomy
  • C. Physiology
  • D. Acquired characters

Explanation: A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA.

Correct answer: Genes
  • A. A semipermeable membrane and a nucleus
  • B. Competition for resources and the development of hereditary mechanisms
  • C. A semipermeable membrane and the ability to catalyze chemical reactions
  • D. A nucleus and the ability to catalyze chemical reactions

Explanation: Early protobionts, which were simple, non-living structures, needed two critical developments to evolve into true living cells.

Correct answer: A semipermeable membrane and the ability to catalyze chemical reactions
  • A. The results supported the Oparin hypothesis by showing that organisms contributed to the composition of Earth's present-day atmosphere.
  • B. The results contradicted the Oparin hypothesis by showing that Earth's early atmosphere could not produce cells from organic molecules.
  • C. The results supported the Oparin hypothesis by showing that replicating membranes could form from simple molecular precursors.
  • D. The results supported the Oparin hypothesis by showing that biological molecules could form in conditions resembling the early Earth.

Explanation: Urey and Miller simulated the conditions found early in Earth's history (reducing atmosphere, water vapor, lightning) and showed that…

Correct answer: The results supported the Oparin hypothesis by showing that biological molecules could form in conditions resembling the early Earth.
  • A. I only
  • B. II only
  • C. I and II
  • D. I and III

Explanation: Oparin and Haldane's artificial atmosphere contained hydrogen gas and other reducing gases.

Correct answer: I and III
  • A. Polymorphism
  • B. Specialization
  • C. Gene linkage
  • D. Adaptation

Explanation: Variation allows some individuals within a population to adapt to the changing environment.

Correct answer: Adaptation
  • A. Genotype
  • B. Phenotype
  • C. Recombination
  • D. Polymorph

Explanation: Option A: Genotype is the genetic complement i.e. the genes in an individual for a particular trait.

Correct answer: Polymorph
  • A. Straight evolution
  • B. Convergent evolution
  • C. Zig-zag evolution
  • D. Divergent evolution

Explanation: "Analogous organs" are structures that perform similar functions but have different evolutionary origins.

Correct answer: Convergent evolution
  • A. Gene
  • B. Genome
  • C. Genotype
  • D. Gene Pool
  • E. Karyotype

Explanation: Gene pool refers to the sum total of all the genes, alleles, and their variations present in a population at a particular time.

Correct answer: Gene Pool
  • A. Darwin-survival of the fittest
  • B. Darwin-no extinction
  • C. Lamarck-acquired transmission
  • D. Both Darwin-survival of the fittest and Lamark-acquired transmission

Explanation: Charles Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest, stating that organisms that are better adapted to…

Correct answer: Both Darwin-survival of the fittest and Lamark-acquired transmission
  • A. Adaptations
  • B. Polymorphism
  • C. Niches
  • D. Specialization

Explanation: The correct answer is niches. A niche encompasses the role a species plays in its ecosystem, including how it acquires resources…

Correct answer: Niches
  • A. Convergent evolution
  • B. Divergent evolution
  • C. Natural selection
  • D. Common ancestry

Explanation: Convergent evolution is the process by which unrelated species evolve similar traits independently, often due to similar environmental…

Correct answer: Convergent evolution
  • A. Genetic drift
  • B. Mutation
  • C. Emmigration
  • D. Immigration

Explanation: Genetic drift takes place when the occurrence of variant forms of a gene, called alleles, increases and decreases by chance over time.

Correct answer: Genetic drift
  • A. Genetic linkage
  • B. Genetic expression
  • C. Genetic diversity
  • D. Gene pool

Explanation: Population bottlenecks significantly affect the gene pool by drastically reducing the number of individuals and thus the genetic variation…

Correct answer: Genetic diversity
  • A. Vestigial structures
  • B. Analogous structures
  • C. Homologous structures
  • D. None of these options are correct

Explanation: Vestigial structures are those that have lost their original function through evolution.

Correct answer: Vestigial structures
  • A. echinodermata
  • B. mollusca
  • C. nematoda
  • D. arthropoda

Explanation: Arthropods commonly show tagmatization into head, thorax, and abdomen, with jointed appendages and an external exoskeleton.

Correct answer: arthropoda
  • A. gastropods
  • B. bivalves
  • C. arthropods
  • D. platyhelminthes

Explanation: Snails are gastropods, a molluscan group characterized by a muscular foot and, in most members, a single coiled shell.

Correct answer: gastropods
  • A. Older sediment layers have equal amount of these reaioactive isotopes as that of the young ones
  • B. Older sediment layers have less amount of these reaioactive isotopes as that of the young ones.
  • C. Older sediment layers have greater amount of these radioactive isotopes as that of the young ones.
  • D. Older sediment layers did not have these radioactive isotopes

Explanation: Radioactive parent isotopes decay into daughter products over time, so an older rock generally contains less of the original radioactive…

Correct answer: Older sediment layers have less amount of these reaioactive isotopes as that of the young ones.
  • A. Convergent evolution
  • B. Divergent evolution
  • C. Coevolution
  • D. Parallel evolution

Explanation: The pattern of evolution in which different species have evolved from different ancestors in a common habitat is known as convergent…

Correct answer: Convergent evolution
  • A. Homologous organs
  • B. Analogous organs
  • C. Vestigial organs
  • D. Saltatory organs
  • E. Vital organs

Explanation: Explanation for this question will be added soon.

Correct answer: Homologous organs