Chapter 13

1. How can natural selection alter variation in a population?

Variation naturally occurs in populations as new traits arise from random mutations.
However, through natural selection only those traits that are beneficial to the organism are
passed on to the next generation. Any harmful mutations are naturally weeded out.

2. What can provide evidence that modern species have evolved from prior species?
Fossil record of change in earlier species, the chemical and anatomical similarities of
related life forms, the geographic distribution of related species and the recorded genetic
changes in living organisms over many generations can provide evidence that modern
species have evolved from prior species.
3. What condition would tend to make the Hardy-Weinberg equation more accurate for predicting
the gene frequencies of future generations in a population of sexually reproducing species?

Little gene flow with surrounding populations

4. Tay-Sachs is inherited as an autosomal recessive allele. Homozygous individuals die within the
first few years of life. However, there is some evidence that heterozygous individuals are more
resistant to tuberculosis. Why?
This situation is an example of heterozygote advantage if tuberculosis is present in a
population
5. What promotes genetic variation in a population?
6. Natural selection cannot fashion perfect organisms. Explain.
7. In what sense is natural selection more of an editing process than a creative process?
8. Explain how the phrase survival of the fittest differs from the biological definition of fitness?

Chapter 14

1. What are the several ways to define species?
2. What are the reproductive barriers between species? Give an example for each barrier.
3. Explain why allopatric speciation would be less likely in an island close to a mainland than on a
more isolated island?
4. What is the significance of polyploidy on speciation?
5. Discuss adaptive radiation.
Chapter 15
1. What conditions on early Earth made the origin of life possible?
2. Cite important event of the following stages:
Stage 1: abiotic synthesis of organic molecules
Stage 2: the formation of polymers
Stage 3: packaging of polymers into protobionts
Stage 4: self-replication
3. Based on the Geologic Time Scale list down in table form the major events in each period.
4. What are the mechanisms of macroevolution?