0

Examples of natural selection - class-XII

Description: examples of natural selection
Number of Questions: 27
Created by:
Tags: evolution variation biology evolution and biodiversity zoology
Attempted 0/27 Correct 0 Score 0

Individuals with better traits for the new environment have more offspring. The given statement can be related to which of the following phenomena?

  1. Noe-Lamarckism

  2. Gene drift

  3. Natural selection

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The theory of natural selection was given by Darwin. According to the law of natural selection, nature supports the survival of the fittest. It means that, the individual which is better adapted to the environment, will survive and produce new individual. So, the correct option is C.

Which of the following is a result of natural selection?

  1. Seedless grapes

  2. Insecticide - resistant mosquitoes

  3. Disease - resistant crop plants

  4. Cattle for high milk yield


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

When the insecticides are used on a large scale, the genes in the organism are mutated and then there is no effect of the insecticide on the organism. This is the phenomenon of resistance evolved due to natural selection which allows the development of the mosquitoes which are resistant.

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

The inherited character long neck in giraffe is an example of 

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Gene drift

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Long necks and long legs and can reach food high in the trees does not mean that a need to reach high browse was a causative factor in the evolution of those characteristics. Clearly, both Darwin's and Lamarck's conceptions of giraffe evolution were highly speculative.

So, the correct answer is "Natural selection".

Which of the following process is responsible for inheritance during natural selection?

  1. Crossover

  2. Mutation

  3. Variation

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Natural selection:- The differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype. It is a key mechanism of evolution, the change in the heritable traits characteristic of a population over.

principles of natural selection:-
  • 1) Variation. Organisms (within populations) exhibit individual         variation in appearance and behavior.
  • 2) Inheritance. Some traits are consistently passed on from parent to offspring.
  • 3) High rate of population growth.
  • 4) Differential survival and reproduction.    So, the correct answer is"All of the above".                                                                                  

Darwin's finches are an example of 

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Adaptive radiation

  3. Convergent evolution

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Darwin observed amazing diversity among the creatures which originated from a particular geographical area and radiated to the other habitat. The diversity in the type of beaks of finches adapted to different feeding habits on the Galapagos islands is considered as an example of adaptive radiation and serves as an evidence for an origin of species by natural selection.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Which of the following defines the relation between adaptive radiation and natural selection?

  1. Natural selection is usually the principle mechanism driving adaptive radiation.

  2. Natural selection leads to adaptation during adaptive radiation.

  3. Natural selection causes mutational changes during adaptive radiation.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:
Natural selection and adaptive radiation are related to each other. A progressive change in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into two or more groups to adapt to the changing environment is called an adaptive radiation. Natural selection is the adaptation of the individual towards the changing environment to survive. So, natural selection is the principal mechanism driving adaptive radiation. So, the correct option is A.

Warrior ants have a chemical signal that tells other ants in the family not to attack. Some have adapted and learned to imitate the chemical signal from other colonies so they can invade and take over another colony and the workers will never know. The given example can be related to 

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Mutation

  3. Natural selection

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The given example is of natural selection. According to the theory of natural selection, nature supports the survival of the fittest. It means, only those individuals will survive, who adapt themselves to the change in the environment. In the given case, those ants survived, who adapted the mechanism of chemical signalling and were selected by the nature as fittest. Whereas, those organisms died who didn't adapt the mechanism. So, the correct option is B.

Maximum ............ increase the chance of survival.

  1. Variation

  2. Adaptation

  3. Mutation

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Adaptation:- process by which an animal or plant species becomes fitted to its environment; it is the result of natural selection's acting upon heritable variation.

So, the correct answer is "Adaptation".

Which of the following is considered during natural selection?

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Differential reproduction

  3. Competition

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Natural selection:- The basic mechanisms of evolution, along with mutation, migration, and genetic drift. Darwin's grand idea of evolution by natural selection is relatively simple but often misunderstood. To find out how it works, imagine a population of beetles: There is variation in traits.

So, the correct answer is "All of the above".

In a habitat, there are red bugs and green bugs. The birds prefer the taste of the red bugs, so soon there are many green bugs and few red bugs. The green bugs reproduce and make more green bugs and eventually there are no more red bugs. The given example can be related to 

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Genetic variation

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The given example is of natural selection. According to the theory of natural selection, nature supports the survival of the fittest. It means, only those individuals will survive, who adapt themselves to the change in the environment. In the given case, bugs adapted the green colouration to survive. They were selected by the nature as fittest. So, the correct option is B.

The species which were not able to adapt to their environments through genetic changes to their skeletons were not able to survive. The given statement is an example of 

  1. Skeletal Adaptations

  2. Coloration

  3. Physiological adaptations

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The given adaptation in lizard is an example of skeletal adaptation of natural selection. According to this adaptation, the individual who didn't develop the skeletal changes died. This type of adaptation can be seen in some species (lizards, giraffes) of animals who adapted themselves to the environment through genetic changes in their skeletons. For example, development of long neck in giraffes to reach food sources of the upper part of the trees. It is said that those died who didn't develop the long neck. Another example is development of longer leg bones in lizards to help them to climb up during periods of flood and to escape predators in the ground. Those lizards who didn't develop long leg bones, died. So, the correct option is A.

Which of the following has a natural selection as principle mechanism?

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Convergent evolution

  3. Genetic variation

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Principle Mechanism:-

  • Variation. Organisms (within populations) exhibit individual variation in appearance and behavior.
  • Inheritance. Some traits are consistently passed on from parent to offspring.
  • High rate of population growth.
  • Differential survival and reproduction. 
  • Adaptive radiation:- A process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new environmental niches.  So,the correct answer is "Adaptive radiation".

The animals having several adaptation and are able to adapt is given by theory of 

  1. Evolution

  2. Natural selection

  3. Variation

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Central idea of Darwinism is Natural Selection. He stated that nature selects the best-suited organisms that have a greater chance to become parents for the next generation who have adapted themselves. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

The peppered moths rested became blackened by soot, giving the dark-coloured moths

  1. Advantage in hiding from predators

  2. Advantage in hiding from primary consumers

  3. Advantage in hiding from secondary consumers

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Due to changes in the environment, the dark coloured moths had a better survival chance as compared to the light coloured moths, which could be easily spotted. Hence, dark coloured moths got an advantage in hiding from predators. Hence dark coloured moths were able to leave the greater number of progeny. In other words, dark coloured moths were naturally selected and they were reproductively successful as compared to light coloured moths.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.

Peacock females pick their mate according to the males tail. The ones with the largest and brightest tails mate more often. The given example can be related to

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Convergent evolution

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The male peacock has a lot of showy feathers.However, peacocks use their feathers to attract peahens (female peacocks). The peacocks with the showier feathers are able to attract mates, so they are the ones that have offspring, and pass on the fancy-feather genes to the next generation.

So, the correct answer is  "Natural selection".

Read the passage and answer the following question.

A total of 12 bird species having distinct diets, behavior, coloration and beak shapes inhabit a large volcanic island in the South Atlantic 500 miles from the Coast of Africa not found on the mainland. Two species are flightless herbivores. A bird found on the mainland is related to these bird species but it does not fly over water but can occasionally survive at sea in a storm. There are no reptiles, mammals or amphibians on the island, although there are many insect and plant species.

The evolution of two flightless bird species on the island indicates

  1. Flight improved the ability of the species to escape predators, but impaired food gathering on the ground.

  2. Flight originally evolved only to escape predators.

  3. Mimicry is a highly effective evolutionary strategy.

  4. The species had greater fitness without the ability to fly.

  5. Flight is not an effective means to escape predators.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

According to Charles Darwin, Natural selection is a tool of nature to impose the survival of the fittest. As some species fight to become the fittest, they adapt. Many organisms due to this, evolved, got adapted as they chose to survive in that habitat. Adaptation is the biggest drive to evolution and the pinpointed conclusion of the natural selection. 

So, the correct option is 'The species had greater fitness without the ability to fly'.

Read the passage and answer the following question.

A total of 12 bird species having distinct diets, behavior, coloration and beak shapes inhabit a large volcanic island in the South Atlantic 500 miles from the Coast of Africa not found on the mainland. Two species are flightless herbivores. A bird found on the mainland is related to these bird species but it does not fly over water but can occasionally survive at sea in a storm. There are no reptiles, mammals or amphibians on the island, although there are many insect and plant species.

Two of the bird species on the island are herbivores that both inhabit the same species of tree and eat the fruit the tree produces year-round. Which of the following helps both species to inhabit the tree without competing for resources?

  1. One species lives in the top 30 percent of the tree and the other species lives in the lower 70 percent.

  2. One species is nocturnal and the other is active during the day.

  3. Reproductive isolation exists.

  4. The species have differing beak shapes.

  5. One species must become extinct.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

This phenomenon is called Resource partitioning. When the resources in a niche are limited, so as to avoid the competition species divide the resources accordingly.

According to R* rule of limited resources of ecology, If two species are living in a resource limiting space, the species which can survive in the lowest equilibrium of resource will only resist the extinction. Coexistence is only possible if each species have the low R* on that resource.
So, the answer is 'One species lives in the top 30 percent of the tree and the other species lives in the lower 70 percent'.

Replacement of the lighter-coloured variety of peppered moth (Biston betularia) to its darker variety (Biston carbonaria) in England is the example of

  1. Natural selection

  2. Regeneration

  3. Genetic isolation

  4. Temporal isolation


Correct Option: A
Explanation:
In England, before industrialisation in $1860$, it was observed that there were more white-winged moths on tree trunks than dark-winged or melanised moths. But after industrialisation in $1920$, there were more dark-winged moths in the same area. Before industrialisation, the tree trunks were covered by white-coloured lichens. In that background, the white-winged moths survived but the dark-winged moths were eaten by predators. During post industrialisation period, the tree trunks became dark due to industrial smoke and soot. Therefore, the white winged moths could not survive due to predators but dark-winged moths survived, i.e., the moths that were hidden in background survived. Thus, industrial melanism supports evolution by natural selection.

So, the correct answer is 'Natural selection'.


The adaptation shown by the bacterium Pseudomonas for metabolization of nylon is an example of

  1. Genetic variation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Neo-Lamarckism

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Pseudomonas is the genus of a bacterium. This bacterium was placed in the medium where only nylon was present. This resulted in the development of the bacterial species which was able to metabolize the nylon. The nylon was the only source of food available so, the organism adapted itself to feed on the nylon. This is an example of natural selection.

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Read the following statements and select the correct option.
(i) Increase in melanised moths after industrialisation in Great Britain is a proof for natural selection.
(ii) When more individuals of a population acquire a mean character value, it is called disruption
(iii) Changes in allelic frequency in a population will lead to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
(iv) Genetic drift changes the existing gene or allelic frequency in future generations.

  1. Only (ii) is correct

  2. Only (iv) is correct

  3. Both (i) and (iv) are correct

  4. Both (i) and (iii) are correct


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

When more individuals of a population acquire a mean character value, it is called stabilising selection. No change in allelic frequency in a population will lead to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

So, the correct option is 'Option C'.

State whether the following statements are true or false .
Boiled potato tuber cannot be used for potato osmoscope experiment

  1. True

  2. False


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

On boiling, most of the cells of the potato become dead. Due to this the cells become inactive and cannot undergo the process of osmosis. When there is no osmosis the water level inside the cavity of potato shows no change.

So, the given statement is true. 

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
Fitness is an important concept in natural selection. Fitness is most properly a property of

  1. an individual

  2. a genotype

  3. a species

  4. a phenotype


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Natural selection, the process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype or genetic constitution.

So correct answer is B, a genotype

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
The offspring of better-adapted individuals are expected to make up a larger proportion of the next generation. The.most likely explanation is

  1. genetic drift

  2. mutation

  3. natural selection

  4. gene flow


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

As the natural selection a process in which organisms with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than are individuals with other traits. So correct answer is C, natural selection.

The peppered moth used to be a light colour with black spots. When the atmosphere in London became filled with soot because of the Industrial Revolution, the white trees became darker and light coloured moths were eaten by birds more readily. Within months, moths became darker and lighter moths were rare. After the Industrial revolution, light coloured moths were found in greater numbers. The given example can be related to 

  1. Adaptive radiation

  2. Natural selection

  3. Convergent evolution

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The given example is of natural selection. According to the theory of natural selection, nature supports the survival of the fittest. It means, only those individuals will survive who adapt themselves to the change in the environment. In the given case, moths changed their colour to adapt themselves according to the change in the environment. They were selected by the nature as fittest. So, the correct option is B.

Which of the following traits accounts for natural selection?

  1. Skeletal Adaptations

  2. Coloration

  3. Physiological traits

  4. All of the bove


Correct Option: D
Explanation:
Natural selection is the one of the most accepted theory of evolution of species. According to this theory, nature supports the survival of the fittest who adapts according to the change in the environment. It was given by Darwin. He also said that a population will show change in genetic traits over many generations, that help it remain best suited to the environment. For example, skeletal adaptations of long neck in giraffe, change in colouration in peppered moth, physiological changes in humans to digest the cow's milk (lactose tolerance). So, the correct option is D.

Which of the following statement is incorrect ?

  1. The biogenetic law stating 'Ontogeny repeats phylogeny ' was given by Von Baer.

  2. Auricular muscles in human beings are vestigial

  3. Tooth buds and gill clefts found in bird embryos are temporary embryonic structrues.

  4. Spiny and scaly anteaters show adaptive convergene


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The biogenetic law stating 'Ontogeny repeats phylogeny ' was given by Ernst Haeckel. Auricular muscles, wisdom teeth, appendix, tailbone, body hair are some vestigial organs in human beings. Embryos of some animals develop temporary non-functional embryonic structures which disappear before hatching. Tooth buds are examples of temporary embryonic structures found in bird embryos. Gill clefts are temporary embryonic structures found in embryos of land vertebrates. Spiny anteater and scaly anteater show adaptive convergence. These are not closely related but are adapted for the diet of ants, termites and other insects.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Choose the correct statement.

  1. Phenotypic variation exists among individuals and the variation is heritable

  2. Those individuals with heritable traits better suited to the environment will survive.

  3. The black peppered moth during industrial revolution is related to natural selection.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. More individuals are produced each generation that can survive. Phenotypic variation exists among individuals and the variation is heritable. Those individuals with heritable traits better suited to the environment will survive. There is also a naturally occurring genetic mutation which causes some moths to have almost black wings.

So, the correct answer is "All of the above".

- Hide questions