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The following table provides phenotypic data for a population of mammoths living in cold environments based on fossil and DNA evidence.

Based on this data and your knowledge of natural selection, which explanation best explains the trends seen in the data?

(3 points)
Responses

Individuals with thick fur migrated into the population of mammoths, increasing the proportion of these individuals.
Individuals with thick fur migrated into the population of mammoths, increasing the proportion of these individuals.

Individuals with thicker fur had a survival advantage in the cold environment, allowing these individuals to reproduce more often and create more offspring.
Individuals with thicker fur had a survival advantage in the cold environment, allowing these individuals to reproduce more often and create more offspring.

This population of mammoths appear to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium since no allele frequencies are changing over time.
This population of mammoths appear to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium since no allele frequencies are changing over time.

Individuals within this population of mammoths tend to only mate with individuals that have thick fur.
Individuals within this population of mammoths tend to only mate with individuals that have thick fur.
Question 2
Different species are distinguished by their:(1 point)
Responses

diet
diet

size
size

physical appearance
physical appearance

DNA
DNA
Question 3
How are transitional fossils evidence that support the process of natural selection?(2 points)
Responses

They show plants and animals that once existed but do not exist now.
They show plants and animals that once existed but do not exist now.

They show that most species have not changed over long periods of time.
They show that most species have not changed over long periods of time.

They show that every species of animals developed separately.
They show that every species of animals developed separately.

They show intermediate steps in the evolution process.
They show intermediate steps in the evolution process.
Question 4
When Charles Darwin discovered the various finch species on the Galapagos islands, he was surprised to find so many different but related species in such a small geographic area. Which of the following best illustrates the correlation between competitive advantage and an individual's traits in a particular environment?(3 points)
Responses

Finches had no natural predators on the island before Darwin's voyage, allowing them to prosper on the islands.
Finches had no natural predators on the island before Darwin's voyage, allowing them to prosper on the islands.

Different islands had very different food resources available, and only individuals that were adapted to eat those food resources survived and reproduced on that island.
Different islands had very different food resources available, and only individuals that were adapted to eat those food resources survived and reproduced on that island.

Competition between different species for food resources led to resource partitioning of the ecosystem.
Competition between different species for food resources led to resource partitioning of the ecosystem.

Mating behaviors in finch species ensure that different species of finch will not interbreed with one another.
Mating behaviors in finch species ensure that different species of finch will not interbreed with one another.
Question 5
How does an individual with a competitive advantage lead to the evolution of an entire species?(2 points)
Responses

Those who have traits that help them survive are able to reproduce, and their offspring have those traits, leading to a change in the species over time.
Those who have traits that help them survive are able to reproduce, and their offspring have those traits, leading to a change in the species over time.

Traits that are advantageous help certain individuals reproduce at higher rates, so those traits are more common within the population.
Traits that are advantageous help certain individuals reproduce at higher rates, so those traits are more common within the population.

Some individuals are better at competing for resources, and that allows them to survive droughts or other major ecological events, leading to the extinction of certain species and the survival of others.
Some individuals are better at competing for resources, and that allows them to survive droughts or other major ecological events, leading to the extinction of certain species and the survival of others.

Individuals that survive due to their competitive advantage are able to expand their range, similar to how the finches radiated out from one common ancestor on the mainland.
Individuals that survive due to their competitive advantage are able to expand their range, similar to how the finches radiated out from one common ancestor on the mainland.
Question 6
How is antigenic drift beneficial for viruses?(1 point)
Responses

It creates a variety on immune responses in the host organisms.
It creates a variety on immune responses in the host organisms.

It makes them unrecognizable to the immune system.
It makes them unrecognizable to the immune system.

It leads to less mRNA which is easier to copy.
It leads to less mRNA which is easier to copy.

It changes how genes code for antigens.

1 answer

Here are the suggested responses for each question based on your provided information:

Question 1: Based on phenotypic data trends in mammoths, which explanation best explains the data?

  • Individuals with thicker fur had a survival advantage in the cold environment, allowing these individuals to reproduce more often and create more offspring.

Question 2: Different species are distinguished by their:

  • DNA

Question 3: How are transitional fossils evidence that support the process of natural selection?

  • They show intermediate steps in the evolution process.

Question 4: What illustrates the correlation between competitive advantage and an individual's traits in a particular environment?

  • Different islands had very different food resources available, and only individuals that were adapted to eat those food resources survived and reproduced on that island.

Question 5: How does an individual with a competitive advantage lead to the evolution of an entire species?

  • Those who have traits that help them survive are able to reproduce, and their offspring have those traits, leading to a change in the species over time.

Question 6: How is antigenic drift beneficial for viruses?

  • It makes them unrecognizable to the immune system.

These answers reflect the understanding of natural selection, species classification, the significance of transitional fossils, competitive advantages among species, and the mechanisms of viral evolution.