Free Evolution MCQs with Answers
814 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 describes heritable change in populations over generations through variation, natural selection and adaptation. Lamarckism explains inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Darwinism explains selection of favourable inherited variations; these historical explanations must not be confused with the modern genetic account of evolutionary change.
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Read the Evolution notesFree MDCAT chapter notes with key terms814 questions · page 18 of 41
- A. Homo neanderthalensis
- B. Lemuroidea
- C. Dromaeosaurus
- D. Pan troglodytes
Explanation: Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are our closest living relatives. The evolutionary divergence between the human lineage and the Pan lineage…
Correct answer: Pan troglodytes- A. Cuvier
- B. Hutton
- C. Darwin
- D. Lamarck
Explanation: The Catastrophism theory, given by George Cuvier, is a geologic theory that stipulates that the gaps in fossil records are due to several…
Correct answer: Cuvier- A. Emigration
- B. Immigration
- C. Pan migration
- D. Both A and B
Explanation: The correct answer is both A and B. Emigration and immigration are both forms of migration that can disturb a gene pool.
Correct answer: Both A and B- A. 1888
- B. 1898
- C. 1908
- D. 1918
Explanation: Hardy-Weinberg law, is an algebraic equation that describes the genetic equilibrium within a population.
Correct answer: 1908- A. Early 1940s
- B. Early 1950s
- C. Early 1930s
- D. Early 1960s
Explanation: Neo-Darwinism, or the modern synthesis, was developed primarily during the 1930s and 1940s.
Correct answer: Early 1940s- A. Darwin's natural selection
- B. Lamarck's theory
- C. Hardy-Weinberg's principle
- D. None of these options are correct
Explanation: Option A: Darwin suggested that populations of individual species become better adapted to their environments through natural selection…
Correct answer: Hardy-Weinberg's principle- A. Competition
- B. No competition
- C. Gene linkage
- D. Polymorphism
Explanation: The correct answer is that there is no competition when two species occupy different niches.
Correct answer: No competition- A. 100%
- B. 50%
- C. 40%
- D. 0%
Explanation: Option D is correct because, in evolutionary biology, fitness is defined by an individual's ability to pass on its genes through…
Correct answer: 0%- A. When they can no longer produce viable, fertile offspring
- B. When they look significantly different from each other
- C. When they can interbreed successfully and produce offspring
- D. When their habitats are separated by a significantly large distance so that they cannot meet
- E. Both B and C
Explanation: The correct answer is Option A: When they can no longer produce viable, fertile offspring.
Correct answer: When they can no longer produce viable, fertile offspring- A. Darwin's theory of evolution
- B. Lamarckism
- C. Neo - darwinism
- D. Endosymbiont theory
Explanation: The endosymbiotic theory states that some of the organelles in today's eukaryotic cells were once prokaryotic microbes.
Correct answer: Endosymbiont theory- A. DNA and Proteins
- B. RNA and Proteins
- C. DNA and Genes
- D. DNA and RNA
Explanation: The extent to which proteins and DNA are conserved between organisms gives us clues about the amount of evolutionary time that has passed…
Correct answer: DNA and Proteins- A. Adaptive modifications
- B. Adaptive radiations
- C. Both A and B
- D. None of the above
Explanation: Lamarckism is the theory proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck suggesting that organisms can acquire new characteristics during their lifetime…
Correct answer: Adaptive modifications- A. Genetic role in reproduction
- B. Use and disuse of organ
- C. Survival of the fittest
- D. Mutations
Explanation: Inheritance of acquired traits is when a parent uses a organ more/less than usual, hence changing certain aspects of it (for e.g.
Correct answer: Use and disuse of organ- A. I, II, III, IV
- B. II, I, III, IV
- C. III, I, IV, II
- D. IV, I, II, III
- E. IV, II, I, III
Explanation: Summarizing Darwins' theory in correct sequence: 1. Organisms overproduce but remain constant in number. 2.
Correct answer: IV, II, I, III- A. Theodosius Dobzhansky 1937
- B. Fischer 1958
- C. Wright 1968
- D. All of above
Explanation: The correct answer is: All of the above. All three scientists mentioned-Theodosius Dobzhansky, R.A.
Correct answer: All of above- A. 0
- B. 1
- C. Infinity
- D. Any value between 0 to 1
Explanation: In the Hardy - Weinberg principle, p2 + 2pq + q2 =1
Correct answer: 1- A. Darwinism
- B. Lamarckism
- C. Natural selection
- D. Special creation
Explanation: According to the Lamarck, the development and degeneration of organs will be based on the use and disuse of organs respectively.
Correct answer: Lamarckism- A. 36
- B. 48
- C. 52
- D. 74
Explanation: As p+q =1, where p is frequency of dominant allele and q is frequency of recessive allele. 0.4 + q =1, q = 1-0.4 = 0.6.
Correct answer: 48- A. Divergent evolution
- B. Convergent evolution
- C. Genetic drift
- D. Inheritance of acquired characters
Explanation: All vertebrates have the same bone structure of limbs despite their limbs looking very different on the outside.
Correct answer: Divergent evolution360. According to the Hardy-Weinberg theorem, what will be the frequency of heterozygote when 'p' is 0.2?
- A. 0.32
- B. 0.38
- C. 0.42
- D. 0.48
Explanation: According to the Hardy-Weinberg theorem, the frequency of heterozygotes (denoted as q) can be calculated using the formula: q = 2 * p * (1…
Correct answer: 0.32