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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- A. Virus
- B. Bacteria
- C. Plants
- D. Animals
Explanation: The succession of fossil forms is strong evidence in favor of evolution.
Correct answer: Bacteria- A. Acquired traits can be passed on to offspring
- B. Living forms become perfect with time
- C. Nervous fluids are passed on from generation to generation
- D. Evolution is related to changes in adaptation to the environment
Explanation: Lamarck said that living organisms bring changes in them according to their environment and the acquired traits are also passed to the…
Correct answer: Acquired traits can be passed on to offspring- A. Homo neanderthalensis
- B. Lemuroidea
- C. Dromacosaurus
- D. Pan troglodytes
Explanation: Homo neanderthalensis is an extinct species of archaic humans who lived in Eurasia during the Late Pleistocene.
Correct answer: Homo neanderthalensis- A. Lamarck
- B. Darwin
- C. Wallace
- D. Aristotle
Explanation: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was a French naturalist who proposed the first fully formed theory of evolution in his book Philosophie Zoologique…
Correct answer: Lamarck- A. The origin of species by means of natural selection
- B. The origin of species
- C. The evolution of species
- D. The evolution of species by means of natural selection
Explanation: The book name in which Darwin published the theory of evolution was On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the…
Correct answer: The origin of species by means of natural selection- A. Inheritance of acquired characterstics
- B. Theory of genetic changes
- C. Both A and B
- D. None of these
Explanation: Lamarck did not propose the theory of genetic changes. However, Lamarck proposed theory of acquired characteristics.
Correct answer: Theory of genetic changes- A. Genetic linkage
- B. Genetic expression
- C. Genetic dirift
- D. Gene pool
Explanation: Genetic drift is a random change in the frequency of alleles in a population.
Correct answer: Genetic dirift- A. Vestigial
- B. Analogous structures
- C. Homologous structures
- D. None of these
Explanation: Structures that were once functional in the past but no longer serve a purpose due to evolutionary adaptions and physiological changes are…
Correct answer: Vestigial- A. Increases
- B. Decreases
- C. Remains same
- D. None of these
Explanation: Genetic drift refers to the changes in allelic frequency in a population from generation to generation.
Correct answer: Decreases- A. Genetics
- B. Paleontology
- C. Taxonomy
- D. All of these
Explanation: Mendelism and Darwinism were reconciled, and the genetic basis of variation and natural selection was worked out.
Correct answer: All of these- A. Exbreeding
- B. Breeding
- C. Inbreeding
- D. Outbreeding
Explanation: Inbreeding is the mating of closely related individuals, such as siblings, cousins, or uncles and nieces.
Correct answer: Inbreeding- A. Individuals lose traits that they don't need
- B. Acquired characteristics are heritable
- C. Individuals gain characteristics they need
- D. All of these
Explanation: Lamarck's theory of evolution was influential for a time, but it is no longer accepted by scientists.
Correct answer: All of these- A. Artistotle
- B. Linnaeus
- C. Mendel
- D. Darwin
Explanation: Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) was a Swedish naturalist who is considered the father of taxonomy, the science of classifying and naming…
Correct answer: Linnaeus- A. Watson and Crick
- B. Lamarck
- C. Darwin
- D. All of these
Explanation: Lamarck was the scientist who postulated that giraffes have long necks because they want to eat the leaves of tall trees.
Correct answer: Lamarck- A. Wing of an insect, wing of a bird
- B. Leg of a dog, leg of a spider
- C. The arm of a human, wing of a bird
- D. All of these
Explanation: Homologous organs are organs that share a common evolutionary origin but have evolved to perform different functions.
Correct answer: The arm of a human, wing of a bird- A. Mutations cause changes in genetic frequency.
- B. Migration changes allele frequency.
- C. There should not be selection.
- D. Non-random mating will reduce chances of evolution.
Explanation: Individuals with specific genotypes sometimes mate with one another more commonly than expected on a random basis.
Correct answer: Non-random mating will reduce chances of evolution.- A. Mutation
- B. Selection
- C. Non-radom mating
- D. Genetic drift
Explanation: A change in the frequency of alleles at a locus occurs by chance is called genetic drift.
Correct answer: Genetic drift- A. Lamarck published his theory of evolution
- B. Lyell published principles of geology
- C. Malthus published an essay on the principle of population
- D. Cuvier published papers on inheritance
Explanation: Option D is incorrect. Cuvier did not publish the papers on inheritance.
Correct answer: Cuvier published papers on inheritance- A. Increased
- B. Decreased
- C. No change
- D. None of these
Explanation: If an allele is evolutionary successful, its frequency is increased. The alleles, that are favorable for the survival and adaptation of an…
Correct answer: Increased- A. Bottleneck effect
- B. Directional selection
- C. Genetic drift
- D. Disruptive selection
Explanation: Disruptive selection is a form of natural selection occuring in a population where extreme traits are favoured over intermediate traits.
Correct answer: Disruptive selection