Why did 40% of the human population evolve to tolerate lactose?(1 point)

Responses

Within cultures that rely on milk-producing animals, individuals who tolerated lactose had a survival advantage.
Within cultures that rely on milk-producing animals, individuals who tolerated lactose had a survival advantage.

Lactose tolerance allows people to enjoy a wide variety of food, including milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese.
Lactose tolerance allows people to enjoy a wide variety of food, including milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese.

People who have an intolerance experience physical pain, so a tolerance evolved to avoid that.
People who have an intolerance experience physical pain, so a tolerance evolved to avoid that.

Babies rely on milk to survive, so they need to be able to tolerate lactose.

9 answers

The correct response is:

Within cultures that rely on milk-producing animals, individuals who tolerated lactose had a survival advantage.

This statement highlights the role of natural selection in the evolution of lactose tolerance among populations that practiced dairy farming, as those who could digest lactose would benefit from the nutritional resources provided by milk, giving them a survival edge.

What is the difference between genetic drift and natural selection?(1 point)
Responses

Genetic drift is the frequency of genes in a population; natural selection is the frequency of adaptations in a population.
Genetic drift is the frequency of genes in a population; natural selection is the frequency of adaptations in a population.

Genetic drift is the selection of random traits in a population; natural selection is the selection of specific traits.
Genetic drift is the selection of random traits in a population; natural selection is the selection of specific traits.

Genetic drift is the random increase or decrease of certain genes in a population; natural selection is not random.
Genetic drift is the random increase or decrease of certain genes in a population; natural selection is not random.

Genetic drift is the change in a population’s genes over time; natural selection is the evolution of a population over time.

The correct response is:

Genetic drift is the random increase or decrease of certain genes in a population; natural selection is not random.

This statement accurately describes the fundamental difference between the two processes: genetic drift is a random process that can lead to changes in allele frequencies due to chance events, while natural selection is a non-random process that favors certain traits based on their fitness advantages in a given environment.

What is an interferon?(1 point)
Responses

An interferon disrupts DNA replication.
An interferon disrupts DNA replication.

An interferon reduces the efficacy of antibiotics on bacteria.
An interferon reduces the efficacy of antibiotics on bacteria.

An interferon is used by a virus to stop the body from detecting it.
An interferon is used by a virus to stop the body from detecting it.

An interferon activates the body’s immune system response to a virus.

The correct response is:

An interferon activates the body’s immune system response to a virus.

Interferons are proteins produced by the body in response to viral infections, and they play a crucial role in the immune response by activating various components of the immune system to help combat the infection.

Why is there such a wide variety of immune system responses between hosts when they are infected with the same virus?(1 point)
Responses

Some viruses are resistant to antibiotics, so they cause a stronger immune system response.
Some viruses are resistant to antibiotics, so they cause a stronger immune system response.

People that have already been infected are asymptomatic.
People that have already been infected are asymptomatic.

Each person’s immune system employs different tactics to get rid of the virus.
Each person’s immune system employs different tactics to get rid of the virus.

Slight variations due to mutations in the virus trigger different responses in people.
Slight variations due to mutations in the virus trigger different responses in people.

The correct response is:

Each person’s immune system employs different tactics to get rid of the virus.

This reflects the fact that individual immune systems can vary in their composition, experience (such as previous infections or vaccinations), and overall functioning, leading to a diverse range of responses to the same viral infection among different hosts.

Is the following statement true? “Antigenic drift and other mutations to the DNA of viruses are always beneficial for the virus.”(1 point)
Responses

Yes, because mutated viruses have less mRNA so they can copy and replicate faster.
Yes, because mutated viruses have less mRNA so they can copy and replicate faster.

Yes, because mutated viruses are able to infect more hosts.
Yes, because mutated viruses are able to infect more hosts.

No, because mutated viruses may be less likely to replicate.
No, because mutated viruses may be less likely to replicate.

No, because different mutations cause a variety of immune responses.

The correct response is:

No, because mutated viruses may be less likely to replicate.

While some mutations may confer advantages to the virus (such as increased infectivity or resistance to host immune responses), others can be detrimental, potentially reducing the virus's ability to replicate and spread. Therefore, not all mutations are beneficial.