YOUR NAME:

BSCI 370, EVOLUTION, FINAL EXAM, 2008.

This exam consists of 28 questions, 13 pages = 150 pts.

1. Which is the best definition of Darwinian fitness? (4 points)a. The ability of a population to survive in any environment, compared to other populations.b. The ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in any potential environment, compared to other individuals of that population.c. The ability of a species to survive in a certain environment, compared to other species.d. The ability of a species to survive over time, compared to other species.

2. The below phylogeny of a marine copepod helps distinguish populations from different regions. The observation that populations from one region cannot mate with populations from another region (Japan with New England), is an example of what species concept?

Name the species concept (4 pts): ___________________________________________

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3. What is the best explanation for the below patterns of prezygotic isolation with genetic distance? (4 pts)

A. Closely related species are more likely to be prezygotically isolated from one another

B. Selection is acting to reinforce prezygotic isolating mechanisms when closely related species are found near one another

C. Selection is acting to increase prezygotic isolation with increasing genetic distance

D. Distantly related species are less likely to be prezyotically isolated from one another

E. None of the above.

4. In the inequality below, define each of the terms, B, r and C (one word for each term will do) (6 pts)

Br - C > 0

B = _____________________

r = ______________________

C = ______________________

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5. The following is/are an example(s) of inclusive fitness (4 pts):

A. The fitness of your neighbour

B. The fitness of your cousin

C. Your survivorship and reproduction

D. B and C

6. In the below is pictured the relationship of a mother (queen) and a father (drone) with their female offspring (e.g., social bees such as honey bees) (6 pts total).

Why does a daughter inherit all of the genes of the father? ___________________________________(2 pts)

How related are the sisters to one another? _____________________________ (4 pts)

mother father

r = ½ ½ 1 1

sister sister

mother father

r = ½ ½ 1 1

sister sister

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7. Blending inheritance was a major stumbling block for the maintenance of genetic variation and Darwin’s theory of evolution via natural selection. The following example will reinforce how our knowledge of inheritance eliminates this stumbling block. 5 pts. A white flowered, small flowered individual is crossed with a red flowered individual having large flowers and gives rise to offspring that are pink flowered and produce intermediate sized flowers. Given that AA and aa refers to the homozygous conditions of white and red, respectively and BB and bb refers to small and large flowered individuals, respectively, PROVIDE the genotype of the pink intermediate sized flower individual (1 pt)

and LIST (4 pts) the GAMETES produced by the pink, intermediate sized flowers for these two loci. Assume the loci are unlinked.

8. Use the phylogeny below to answer the questions at the bottom. (TOTAL = 8 pts).

The ancestral character state is yellow flowered individuals. Species 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 have white flowers (W), while species 2, 3 and 4 have blue flowers (B). Boxes refer to ancestors of the species.

Using PARSIMONY, in the above boxes, TOTAL = 8 ptsA. label the box(s) where white flowers FIRST evolved for sp. 1 and for species 5-8. B. label the box(s) where blue flowers FIRST evolved for species 2-4.C. is white color in species 1, homologous with white color in species 5-8 (yes or no)

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Species 1(W) 2(B) 3(B) 4(B) 5(W) 6(W) 7(W) 8(W)

Yellow Flowered Ancestor

9. A TRUE STORY: Clover is a plant that is found in many fields in Europe. -There is a genetic polymorphism present in clover in Europe associated with the release of cyanide from the leaf tissue, when the leaf tissue is damaged. -Individuals of type AA release lots of cyanide when the leaf is damaged, Aa individuals an intermediate amount (incomplete dominance) and aa individuals NO cyanide. -The release of cyanide when the leaf is damaged prevents or reduces other leaves of the plant from being eaten by animals, such as slugs, cattle, etc. -The release of cyanide also results in a nonfunctional leaf. For example, AA individuals will be avoided by leaf eating animals, because the animals leave the plant alone once the animal has tasted the cyanide, but the leaf that was partially chewed will eventually die. -FROST damage can also lead to the release of cyanide, resulting in the destruction of the leaf. -Individuals that are AA are most prone to frost damage, Aa less so and aa individuals not at all, due to the release of cyanide into the leaf tissue. In other words:

AA is more resistant than Aa, which is in turn more resistant than aa in terms of resistance to animals eating it But

AA has more leaf damage following frost than Aa, which in turn has more leaf damage than aa following frost

Use this information to address the following problems (TOTAL = 12 pts):

A. The following survivorship of genotypes was observed in a population of Clover on the Coast of England, relatively mild climate with little frost. Remember the presence of A confers increasing resistance to animals eating leaves through the expression of cyanide, but also increases the amount of frost damage.

Coast of England Genotype

AA Aa aa

# individuals before selection 100 100 100

# individuals after selection 80 80 0

However the following survivorship was observed for a population of Clover at an elevation of 8000 ft in the Swiss Alps:

Swiss Alps Genotype

AA Aa aa

# individuals before selection 100 100 100

# individuals after selection 40 80 20

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With respect to the above data, do the following:

A. Calculate the fitness of each genotype at each location (6 pts)

Fitness of AA Aa aa

Coast of England:

Swiss Alps:

B. Calculate the “s” or the selection coefficients for the Swiss Alp population (4 pts),

then provide the equilibrium frequency of the a allele in the Swiss Alp population (2 pts). Just set up the answer correctly.

10. Each of the figures (A, B, and C) illustrates the results of a series of computer simulations of changes in allele frequency in a group of populations due to chance alone. Figure _____ most likely represents the simulations performed on the smallest populations; Figure _____ most likely represents the simulations performed on the largest populations (6 pts).

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11. From the following figure, please answer the below 4 (A-D) questions (10 pts) :

A. In the absence of selection, what is the expected MEAN corolla flare in the offspring (mean of the parent = 3.5 mm) ? (3 pts).

Mean Corolla flare in offspring (no selection) =

B. If selection is exerted (the mean of the selected pairs of parents is 4.0), then what is S, the selection differential (3 pts)?

S =

C. What is the mean phenotype of the offspring following the above selection (4 pts)?

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1 mm Parents Corolla Flare 4mmMean Parent Mean Selected (3.5 mm) (4.0 mm)

Slope of line = 0.5

2 3.0 3.5 4.0 5.0

12. The diagram below represents the ranges of 3 species (A, B, and C), which are separated by a mountain range and river. Jane B. Geographer has hypothesized that these three species arose via vicariance. Specifically, she has proposed that the area was originally occupied by a single species. Its range was split first by the mountain range. Later, the river formed, separating populations on the eastern side of the mountains. If her hypothesis is correct, phylogenetic analysis should reveal that (4 PTS) :

a. Species B and C are each other's closest relatives

b. All three species are equally related

c. Species A and C are each other's closest relatives

d. Species B and A are each other's closest relatives.

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13. The diagram below represents the ranges of 3 species (A, B, and C), which are separated by a mountain range and river. Joe B. Geographer (Jane's brother) has hypothesized that these species descended from a common ancestor via dispersal. Specifically, he has proposed that the original species was confined to the western side of the mountains. One dispersal event brought individuals around the northern end of the mountains; the river prevented them from dispersing farther south. Some time later, a second dispersal event brought individuals around the southern end of the mountains; dispersal of these individuals was also stopped by the river. If Joe's hypothesis is correct, phylogenetic analysis should reveal that (4 pts);

a. Species A and C are each other's closest relatives

b. All three species are equally closely related

c. Species B and C are each other's closest relatives.

d. Species A and B are each other's closest relatives

14. All of the following describe real experimental results. However, one does not support the predictions of Hamilton's rule. Which one? (5 pts)

A. Wood mouse sperm will sacrifice themselves to assist a "sibling" sperm to fertilize an egg.

B. Coots have evolved discriminatory mechanisms to detect and reject eggs that are not their own.

C. Twenty percent of "in-law" bee-eaters that are not related to other birds at the nest will help raise the young anyway.

D. Prairie dogs are more likely to give alarm calls to a simulated badger attack if they have kin living nearby.

15. Should sibling rivalry be more or less common in species that are monogamous or polygamous? (4 pts)

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16. Match the definition in this chapter listed below with the category of behavior that is the best match for it. (8 pts)

DEFINITION Correct Answer:

a. selfish behavior

Behavior that is costly to the actor, and beneficial to the recipient.   

b. cooperative behavior  

Behavior that is beneficial to the actor, and costly to the recipient.   

c. altruistic behavior

Behavior that is costly to both actor and recipient.   

d. spiteful behavior  

Behavior that is beneficial to both actor and recipient.   

17. Menopause is an unusual feature seen in humans and some whales that have matrilineal social systems (family groups led by older females), such as pilot whales and orcas. Menopause involves a complete and sudden cessation of reproduction function relatively early in a healthy female's life. In humans and in these whales, females completely cease reproduction about one-half to two-thirds of the way through their life spans, but continue to assist siblings, offspring, and grand-offspring for the rest of their lives. (In most other animals, females continue to reproduce as long as they are alive.) (5 pts)

Refer to the information above regarding menopause to answer these questions. What must B and C be for an older female to cease reproduction and instead care for her grand-offspring?

18. According to Ewald's analysis of the trade-off hypothesis for virulence, which of the following pathogens should be the least virulent? (5 pts)

A. Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan Giardia intestinalis. It is passed into the water via the feces of infected humans and other animals; it is a serious contaminant of recreational waterways throughout the United States.

B. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted from host to host via ticks.

C. Group A streptococcus bacteria are most commonly transmitted by direct contact with mucus secretions from the nose or throat of an infected individual.

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D. Chaga's disease is caused by a trypanosome (a single-celled eukaryotic parasite) and is transmitted via an insect known as the "kissing bugs" for their tendency to bite (and take blood from) the face of humans.

19. In Bush and colleague’s work on the influenza virus, they were able to predict the most common strain in the subsequent year in 9 of 11 years based on what property of strain? (5 pts)

A. The most common strain in one year was the most common strain the following year.

B. The least common strain in one year was the most common strain the following year.

C. The strain with the most mutations in an 18 codon region of the protein that is recognized by the

human immune system.

D. The strain with the least mutations in an 18 codon region of the protein that is recognized by the

human immune system.

20. Human and chimps both diverged from rhesus macaques at the same time. When comparing differences of humans with rhesus macaques and chimps with rhesus macaques, which of the following tissues showed the greatest difference in gene expression? (4 pts)

A. Blood

B. Liver

C. Bone

D. Brain

21. Genetic evidence for a single origin of humans from Africa includes (4 pts)

A. Humans have the lowest genetic diversity of any of the African great apes

B. African humans have the highest genetic diversity of any human group

C. Humans have the highest genetic diversity of any of the African great apes

D. All human populations have about the same amount of genetic diversity

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22. The best genetic evidence at this time indicates that the most recent common ancestor of human populations is about (4 pts)

A. 50,000 years ago

B. 200,000 years ago

C. 600,000 years ago

D. 1,000,000 years ago

E. 6,000 years ago

23. Which of the following terms refers to ancestors that are more closely related to modern humans than to our nearest relatives, the chimps? (4 pts)

A. ape

B. great ape

C. African great ape

D. hominins

E. humanoid

24. Of the following human ancestors, from which do we have fossils from outside of Africa (4 pts)

A. H. neanderthalensis

B. H. erectus/ergaster

C. H. rudolfensis

D. Australopitecus africanus

E. Paranthropus boisei

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25. In an experiment with the desert iguana, the following was demonstrated (4 pts)

A. Large males had higher mating success

B. Infected animals allowed to increase their temperature had longer survivorship

C. Infected animals allowed to decrease their temperature had longer survivorship

D. Infected animals maintained their normal body temperature

26. Increased virulence is often associated with (4 pts):

A. longer survivorship of the host

B. lower reproductive rate of the pathogen

C. higher reproductive rate of the pathogen

D. A and B

27. What favors increased virulence (4 pt)?

A. Higher transmission rates

B. Lower transmission rates

C. Competition among pathogens

D. Antibiotic resistance

28. Provide one piece of evidence (PRINT ANSWER) for humans evolving simultaneously in Africa, Europe and Spain (3 pts)

List 2 types of evidence that humans evolved once, in Africa (PRINT ANSWER) (6 pts)

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