MCQs: Heredity and Evolution
1. Who is known as the father of genetics?
A) Charles Darwin
B) Gregor Mendel
C) Louis Pasteur
D) James Watson
2. The basic unit of heredity is called:
A) Chromosome
B) DNA
C) Gene
D) RNA
3. Mendel's laws of inheritance were based on the study of:
A) Fruit flies
B) Pea plants
C) Maize
D) Humans
4. Which of the following is a recessive trait in pea plants according to Mendel's experiments?
A) Tall stem
B) Yellow seed colour
C) Green pod colour
D) White flower colour
5. The physical expression of a gene is known as:
A) Genotype
B) Phenotype
C) Allele
D) Chromosome
6. Which law states that allele pairs separate independently during the formation of gametes?
A) Law of Segregation
B) Law of Independent Assortment
C) Law of Dominance
D) Law of Inheritance
7. The structure that carries genetic information in the form of genes is called:
A) Ribosome
B) Chromosome
C) Cell membrane
D) Cytoplasm
8. What does DNA stand for?
A) Deoxyribonucleic Acid
B) Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid
C) Dioxy Nucleic Acid
D) Deoxyribosome Acid
9. In which part of the cell is DNA located?
A) Cell membrane
B) Cytoplasm
C) Nucleus
D) Mitochondria
10. Which of the following is an example of a genetic disorder?
A) Malaria
B) Sickle cell anaemia
C) Tuberculosis
D) Flu
11. What is the term used for the alternate forms of a gene?
A) Genotype
B) Phenotype
C) Allele
D) Chromosome
12. Which of the following is a dominant trait in pea plants according to Mendel's experiments?
A) Short height
B) Yellow seed colour
C) Green seed colour
D) White flower colour
13. Which type of reproduction results in greater variation in offspring?
A) Asexual reproduction
B) Sexual reproduction
C) Vegetative reproduction
D) Binary fission
14. The process by which a species changes over time is called:
A) Mutation
B) Evolution
C) Inheritance
D) Selection
15. Which of the following shows that all living organisms have descended from a common ancestor?
A) Variation
B) Fossils
C) Genotype
D) Phenotype
16. What do we call a change in the DNA sequence?
A) Evolution
B) Mutation
C) Variation
D) Natural Selection
17. Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
A) Gregor Mendel
B) Louis Pasteur
C) Charles Darwin
D) James Watson
18. What is the scientific term for the study of fossils?
A) Archaeology
B) Palaeontology
C) Genetics
D) Anthropology
19. Which of the following best describes a vestigial structure?
A) A newly evolved structure
B) A structure that is no longer used
C) A structure that aids in survival
D) A structure unique to a species
20. Which of the following is an example of a vestigial organ in humans?
A) Heart
B) Liver
C) Appendix
D) Kidney
21. Which of these is NOT a part of Darwin's theory of natural selection?
A) Overproduction
B) Variation
C) Inheritance
D) Acquired characteristics
22. The finches on the Galapagos Islands are an example of:
A) Artificial selection
B) Adaptive radiation
C) Co-evolution
D) Genetic drift
23. Which evidence best supports the theory of evolution?
A) Similarities in DNA sequences
B) Differences in climatic conditions
C) Use of modern technology
D) Development of artificial intelligence
24. How are fossils formed?
A) Through the rapid cooling of lava
B) By sediment covering dead organisms
C) Through photosynthesis
D) By active volcanic eruptions
25. What are homologous structures?
A) Structures that serve the same function but have different origins
B) Structures that have different functions but the same origin
C) Structures unique to one species
D) Structures that have evolved independently
26. Which of the following is an example of a homologous structure?
A) Wings of a butterfly and bat
B) Fins of a fish and flippers of a dolphin
C) Human arm and bat wing
D) Eyes of a human and octopus
27. What is genetic drift?
A) Movement of genes from one population to another
B) Random changes in allele frequencies in small populations
C) Directed changes in allele frequencies
D) None of the above
28. Which of the following statements is true about evolution?
A) It is a slow and gradual process
B) It occurs rapidly
C) It only happens in plants
D) It stops once a species is perfectly adapted
29. Speciation is:
A) The extinction of a species
B) The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution
C) Genetic mutation within a species
D) The survival of the fittest
30. What does "survival of the fittest" mean?
A) Only the strongest survive
B) Organisms best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce
C) The fastest organisms survive
D) Survival through cooperation
31. Which type of evidence is used to establish evolutionary relationships among organisms?
A) Biochemical
B) Anatomical
C) Fossil
D) All of the above
32. Which is a common factor between natural selection and genetic drift?
A) Both are random processes
B) Both are influenced by environmental factors
C) Both result in changes in allele frequencies
D) Both are predictable
33. Analogous structures are:
A) Similar in function but different in structure
B) Similar in structure but different in function
C) Present only in extinct species
D) Found only in vertebrates
34. The theory of use and disuse is associated with:
A) Darwin
B) Mendel
C) Lamarck
D) Watson
35. What are acquired traits?
A) Traits gained from parents
B) Traits developed during an individual's life
C) Traits that are always beneficial
D) Traits coded by DNA
36. Which of the following is a limitation of Lamarck's theory of evolution?
A) It cannot explain the inheritance of acquired traits
B) It focuses only on variation
C) It does not involve natural selection
D) It supports the idea of fixed species
37. The Hardy-Weinberg principle describes a population that is:
A) Evolving
B) In genetic equilibrium
C) Experiencing genetic drift
D) Undergoing mutation
38. Which term is used to describe a species that no longer has any living members?
A) Extant
B) Extinct
C) Endangered
D) Evolved
39. A species with a short reproductive cycle and many offspring is likely to:
A) Adapt slowly to environmental changes
B) Adapt quickly to environmental changes
C) Go extinct
D) Have no variation
40. Which of the following is a source of genetic variation?
A) Mutation
B) Random mating
C) Crossing over during meiosis
D) All of the above
41. The concept that genes exist in pairs and are separated during gamete formation is known as:
A) Segregation
B) Independent Assortment
C) Crossing Over
D) Dominance
42. How are new alleles introduced into a population?
A) Through natural selection
B) Through genetic drift
C) Through mutation
D) Through migration
43. Which of the following terms is used to describe the preserved remains of ancient organisms?
A) Evolution
B) Fossil
C) Mutation
D) Species
44. What kind of selection favours individuals at both extremes of a trait over individuals with intermediate traits?
A) Stabilizing selection
B) Disruptive selection
C) Directional selection
D) Artificial selection
45. What does the fossil record provide evidence for?
A) Gradual evolution over long periods
B) Sudden appearance of fully formed species
C) The existence of only one species on Earth
D) Evolution is not a real phenomenon
46. What is selective breeding?
A) Choosing organisms with desirable traits to reproduce
B) Random mating between organisms
C) Breeding only in the wild
D) Breeding without any human intervention
47. Genetic engineering can be used to:
A) Produce crops resistant to pests
B) Clone organisms
C) Treat genetic disorders
D) All of the above
48. What is the role of DNA in evolution?
A) It stores the genetic code for organisms
B) It acts as a catalyst in metabolic reactions
C) It provides energy for cellular processes
D) It does not have any role in evolution
49. How does sexual reproduction contribute to evolution?
A) By producing identical offspring
B) By introducing genetic variation
C) By creating clones
D) By reducing the number of offspring
50. What is the primary difference between artificial selection and natural selection?
A) Artificial selection is driven by humans; natural selection is driven by the environment
B) Artificial selection is faster than natural selection
C) Artificial selection leads to more genetic variation than natural selection
D) Artificial selection has no impact on evolution
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Answers:
1. B) Gregor Mendel
2. C) Gene
3. B) Pea plants
4. D) White flower colour
5. B) Phenotype
6. B) Law of Independent Assortment
7. B) Chromosome
8. A) Deoxyribonucleic Acid
9. C) Nucleus
10. B) Sickle cell anaemia
11. C) Allele
12. B) Yellow seed colour
13. B) Sexual reproduction
14. B) Evolution
15. B) Fossils
16. B) Mutation
17. C) Charles Darwin
18. B) Palaeontology
19. B) A structure that is no longer used
20. C) Appendix
21. D) Acquired characteristics
22. B) Adaptive radiation
23. A) Similarities in DNA sequences
24. B) By sediment covering dead organisms
25. B) Structures that have different functions but the same origin
26. C) Human arm and bat wing
27. B) Random changes in allele frequencies in small populations
28. A) It is a slow and gradual process
29. B) The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution
30. B) Organisms best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce
31. D) All of the above
32. C) Both result in changes in allele frequencies
33. A) Similar in function but different in structure
34. C) Lamarck
35. B) Traits developed during an individual's life
36. A) It cannot explain the inheritance of acquired traits
37. B) In genetic equilibrium
38. B) Extinct
39. B) Adapt quickly to environmental changes
40. D) All of the above
41. A) Segregation
42. C) Through mutation
43. B) Fossil
44. B) Disruptive selection
45. A) Gradual evolution over long periods
46. A) Choosing organisms with desirable traits to reproduce
47. D) All of the above
48. A) It stores the genetic code for organisms
49. B) By introducing genetic variation
50. A) Artificial selection is driven by humans; natural selection is driven by the environment
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