Which of the following statements is false?

Which of the following statements is false?

a. Proteins are composed of amino acids.
b. The first step in protein synthesis is translation.
c. The number and sequence of amino acids determines protein function.
d. Proteins are manufactured by the ribosomes.
e. The sequence of amino acids in a protein is ultimately determined by the sequence of DNA bases.

Answer: B

A nucleotide

A nucleotide 

a. is composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate unit
b. is the same thing as an RNA molecule
c. codes for the production of an amino acid
d. can include the nitrogenous base uracil
e. a and b only

Answer: A

Gametes

Gametes 

a. are egg and sperm cells
b. are also called zygotes
c. transmit genetic information from parent to offspring
d. all of these
e. a and c only

Answer: E

Ribosomes are

Ribosomes are

a. the sex chromosomes
b. gametes
c. found only in prokaryotes
d. only present when the cell divides
e. important to protein synthesis

Answer: E

Somatic cells are

Somatic cells are

a. one type of eukaryotic cell
b. not gametes
c. the cellular components of tissue
d. all of these
e. a and b only



Answer: D

Speciation can occur as a result of which of the following?

Speciation can occur as a result of which of the following?

a. geographic isolation
b. natural selection acting on populations
c. ecological separation
d. all of these
e. a and b only

Answer: D

What does the term endothermic refer to?

What does the term endothermic refer to?

a. mammalian tooth shapes
b. the loss of heat in animals without fur
c. using metabolic activity to maintain a constant internal body temperature
d. staying warm by laying in the sun
e. all of these

Answer: E

What are Monotremes?

What are Monotremes?

a. marsupials
b. viviparous reptiles
c. egg-laying fish
d. placental mammals
e. egg-laying mammals

Answer: E

Animals with a nerve cord along the back and gill slits during some developmental stage are called which of the following?

Animals with a nerve cord along the back and gill slits during some developmental stage are called which of the following?

a. insects
b. invertebrates
c. chordates
d. metazoans
e. all of these

Answer: C

What is the physical manifestation of gene action?

What is the physical manifestation of gene action?

a. genotype
b. phenotype
c. phenotypic ratio
d. genotypic ratio
e. independent assortment

Answer: B

Genetic drift

Genetic drift

a. is a random change in allele frequencies
b. has its greatest effect in small populations
c. includes the phenomenon of founder's effect
d. all of these
e. a and b only

Answer: D

Scientists use ____________ to produce many copies of small DNA fragments, such as those obtained at crime scenes or from fossils.

Scientists use ____________ to produce many copies of small DNA fragments, such as those obtained at crime scenes or from fossils.

a. transcription
b. polymerase chain reactions
c. nondisjunction
d. trisomies
e. random assortment of alleles

Answer: B

Enzymes

Enzymes 

a. are proteins
b. are major constituents of body tissues
c. initiate and direct chemical reactions
d. a and c only
e. none of these

Answer: D

What is the view that the extinction and the subsequent appearance of more modern forms could be explained by a series of disasters and creations known as?

What is the view that the extinction and the subsequent appearance of more modern forms could be explained by a series of disasters and creations known as?

a. natural selection
b. catastrophism
c. use-disuse theory
d. uniformitarianism
e. descent with modification

Answer: B

In protein synthesis, the process called transcription is which of the following?

In protein synthesis, the process called transcription is which of the following?

a. manufacture of tRNA
b. assembly of polypeptide chains
c. assembly of a mRNA molecule
d. production of amino acids
e. manufacture of ribosomal RNA

Answer: C

What is it called when a person possesses two different alleles at the same locus, and both alleles are expressed in the phenotype?

What is it called when a person possesses two different alleles at the same locus, and both alleles are expressed in the phenotype?

a. recessiveness
b. codominance
c. dominance
d. homozygosity
e. X-linkage

Answer: B

Dominant alleles

Dominant alleles 

a. usually cause the underproduction of an enzyme
b. always produce the most desirable phenotype
c. don't always completely inactivate recessive alleles
d. are always the most common allele in a population
e. were discovered by Charles Darwin

Answer: C

The principle of uniformitarianism

The principle of uniformitarianism

a. stated that the geological processes that operated in the past are still occurring in the present
b. was a problem for the development of evolutionary theories
c. proposed that the Earth was only a few thousand years old
d. was the same as the theory of catastrophism
e. was first proposed by Georges Cuvier

Answer: A

What does the term biocultural evolution refer to?

What does the term biocultural evolution refer to?

a. biological changes in a species over time
b. changes in human culture from generation to generation
c. the interaction between biology and culture in human evolution
d. biological evolution in all species except humans
e. none of these

Answer: C

Natural selection favors behaviors that enhance:

Natural selection favors behaviors that enhance:

a. body size
b. brain size
c. population size
d. social status
e. survival and reproduction

Answer: E

When male langurs take over another male's group, they sometimes kill all the young infants. What is the evolutionary explanation for this behavior?

When male langurs take over another male's group, they sometimes kill all the young infants. What is the evolutionary explanation for this behavior?

a. It increases the reproductive success of the male.
b. It causes the infants' mothers to cease lactation and resume cycling.
c. The mothers become sexually receptive to the new male.
d. all of these
e. a and b only

Answer: D

Grooming involves:

Grooming involves: 

a. the development of alliances between females only.
b. the development of alliances between males only.
c. bonding between individuals of the same rank only, picking through the skin and hair of another individual.
d. bonding between two members of a social group, calming or appeasing the primate being groomed if he or she has a higher dominance.
e. bonding between mother and infant only.

Answer: D

Altruistic behavior:

Altruistic behavior:

a. is behavior that benefits others while causing a disadvantage to the individual.
b. occurs only between primates that are not relatives.
c. is not a beneficial evolutionary adaptation
d. is not an advantage of cooperation within a society.
e. is autonomic in nature.

Answer: A

Sexual dimorphism:

Sexual dimorphism:

a. relates to sexual courtship rituals in primates
b. is the study of sexual intercourse between primates
c. tends to be lower than in groups where males disperse and compete with unrelated males
d. determines male and female social hierarchy
e. a and c only

Answer: C

In terms of personality types, which type of baboon was least likely to be approached by other group members and had the highest stress hormone levels?

In terms of personality types, which type of baboon was least likely to be approached by other group members and had the highest stress hormone levels?

a. nice
b. aloof
c. loner
d. alpha

Answer: C

Amicable behaviors that promote group cohesion are called _______ behaviors.

Amicable behaviors that promote group cohesion are called _______ behaviors.

a. cultural
b. philopatric
c. ritualized
d. affiliative
e. autonomic

Answer: D

What are some of the cultural behaviors observed in wild chimpanzees?

What are some of the cultural behaviors observed in wild chimpanzees?

a. the use of "spears"
b. the use of "leaf sponges"
c. "termite fishing"
d. all of these
e. b and c only

Answer: D

According to proponents of behavioral ecology,

According to proponents of behavioral ecology,

a. individuals act to enhance the survival of their species
b. infanticide is beneficial for the social group
c. individuals consciously behave in ways that ensure their fitness
d. individuals act to increase their reproductive success
e. none of these

Answer: D

The theory that species persist unchanged for long periods and then undergo rapid evolutionary change is known as

The theory that species persist unchanged for long periods and then undergo rapid evolutionary change is known as

a. gradualism
b. punctuated equilibrium
c. parallel evolution
d. homology
e. microevolution

Answer: B

Humans

Humans

a. are the only habitually bipedal primate
b. are omnivorous
c. can brachiate
d. A and B only
e. all of these

Answer: E

Bonobos are

Bonobos are

a. the most thoroughly studied primate species
b. in the same genus as the gorilla
c. behaviorally indistinguishable from chimpanzees
d. in the same genus as the chimpanzee
e. almost exclusively arboreal

Answer: D

Chimpanzees live in groups composed of

Chimpanzees live in groups composed of

a. one adult male, several females, and their young
b. numerous adult males and females, plus young of all ages
c. one adult male plus one adult female and their young
d. several adult females, one adult male, and any dependent young

Answer: B

Mountain gorilla social groups are usually composed of

Mountain gorilla social groups are usually composed of 

a. one adult silverback male and one adult female, plus their immature offspring
b. solitary individuals, except for females with dependent young
c. one or two adult silverback males, a few adult females and their immature offspring
d. several adults of both sexes and offspring of all ages
e. several adult males plus only one female and her offspring

Answer: C

The study of how bones and other materials come to be buried in the earth and preserved as fossils is:

The study of how bones and other materials come to be buried in the earth and preserved as fossils is:

a. taxonomy
b. taphonomy
c. taxidermy
d. taxation
e. a and b only

Answer: B

Which of the following are vertebrates?

Which of the following are vertebrates?

a. birds
b. reptiles
c. amphibians
d. all of these
e. A and B only

Answer: D

Compared to monkeys, hominoids

Compared to monkeys, hominoids

a. generally have larger body sizes and lack a tail
b. have a more elongated lower back
c. have arms and legs of equal length
d. exhibit less complex behavior
e. have a shorter period of infant dependency

Answer: A

_______ have very large, highly sexually dimorphic body sizes and live largely solitary lives.

_______ have very large, highly sexually dimorphic body sizes and live largely solitary lives.

a. Gorillas
b. Chimpanzees
c. Gibbons
d. Orangutans
e. none of these

Answer: D

Which are not hominoids?

Which are not hominoids?

a. gorillas
b. humans
c. orangutans
d. chimpanzees
e. baboons

Answer: E

All Old World monkeys belong to which superfamily?

All Old World monkeys belong to which superfamily?

a. Ominidae
b. Cercopithecoidea
c. Callitrichidae
d. Pongidae
e. Monkidae

Answer: B

Among the apes, the ________ have the smallest average body sizes.

Among the apes, the ________ have the smallest average body sizes.

a. gibbons and siamangs
b. bonobos
c. chimpanzees
d. macaques
e. orangutans

Answer: A

Which of the following are characteristics of tarsiers?

Which of the following are characteristics of tarsiers?

a. Restricted to the islands of Southeast Asia
b. Mainly diurnal
c. insectivore leaping from branch to branch to catch prey
d. All of the above
e. Only a and c

Answer: E

Purely on the basis of genetic similarities, it would be consistent to classify humans and the great apes within the same

Purely on the basis of genetic similarities, it would be consistent to classify humans and the great apes within the same

a. species
b. genus
c. family
d. all of these
e. none of these

Answer: C

Primate

Primate

a. teeth are generalized because primates are omnivorous
b. teeth are specialized for processing one type of food
c. premolars and molars are indistinguishable from those found in carnivores
d. tooth form is not correlated with their diet
e. none of these

Answer: A

The order Primates is traditionally divided into two suborders:

The order Primates is traditionally divided into two suborders:

a. Platyrrhine and Catarrhine
b. Strepsirhini and Haplorhini
c. Pongidae and Hominidae
d. Cercopithecoidea and Hominoidea
e. Pongo and Homo

Answer: B

Arms that are longer than the legs, and a short stable lumbar spine are traits associated with?

Arms that are longer than the legs, and a short stable lumbar spine are traits associated with?

a. brachiation
b. vertical clinging and leaping
c. arboreal quadrupedalism
d. terrestrial quadrupedalism
e. full time bipedalism

Answer: A

Traditionally, primate characteristics have been explained as the result of adaptation to ____________environments?

Traditionally, primate characteristics have been explained as the result of adaptation to ____________environments?

a. terrestrial
b. rocky
c. arboreal
d. desert
e. ocean

Answer: C

The primate emphasis on the visual sense is reflected in which of the following?

The primate emphasis on the visual sense is reflected in which of the following?

a. the reduction in the size of structures related to the sense of smell
b. the presence of color vision in most species
c. a more forward facing position of the eyes relative to most other mammals
d. all of these
e. b and c only

Answer: D

_____ is seen in some New World monkeys, but not in any Old World monkeys.

_____ is seen in some New World monkeys, but not in any Old World monkeys.

a. A grasping hand
b. Quadrupedalism
c. An arboreal lifestyle
d. Color vision
e. A prehensile tail

Answer: E

The diversification of the mammals occurred mostly during the

The diversification of the mammals occurred mostly during the

a. Pleistocene
b. Mesozoic
c. Quaternary
d. Cenozoic
e. Paleozoic

Answer: D

Modern endothermic animals include which of the following?

Modern endothermic animals include which of the following?

a. fish
b. amphibians
c. birds
d. mammals
e. C and D only

Answer: E

In _________, the young are born in an extremely immature state and complete development in their mother's external pouch.

In _________, the young are born in an extremely immature state and complete development in their mother's external pouch.

a. placental mammals
b. monotremes
c. marsupials
d. reptiles
e. none of these

Answer: C

What are structural similarities between species that are based on common function and not on common evolutionary descent called?

What are structural similarities between species that are based on common function and not on common evolutionary descent called?

a. acquired
b. generalized
c. non-adaptive
d. analogies
e. homologies

Answer: D

Structural similarities shared by species that are acquired by descent from a common ancestor are

Structural similarities shared by species that are acquired by descent from a common ancestor are

a. analogies
b. homologies
c. acquired
d. uncommon
e. uninformative of evolutionary relationships

Answer: B

Which statement(s) concerning polygenic traits is/are true?

Which statement(s) concerning polygenic traits is/are true?

a. They are governed by more than one genetic locus.
b. Their expression is often influenced by genetic/environmental interactions.
c. The alleles have an additive effect on the phenotype.
d. all of these
e. a and b only

Answer: D

Mendelian traits

Mendelian traits

a. are governed by several genetic loci
b. are more likely to have identifiable loci than polygenic traits
c. have continuous distributions
d. can be described by statistics such as the average and standard deviation
e. have phenotypic expressions that are often the result of genetic and environmental interactions

Answer: B

Which of the following types of traits are governed by more than one genetic locus?

Which of the following types of traits are governed by more than one genetic locus?

a. polygenic
b. dominant
c. Mendelian
d. recessive
e. pleiotropic

Answer: A

Which of the following is not inherited in a Mendelian fashion?

Which of the following is not inherited in a Mendelian fashion?

a. ABO blood type
b. Marfan syndrome
c. achondroplasia
d. phenylketonuria
e. skin color

Answer: E

What is gene flow defined as?

What is gene flow defined as?

a. production of new alleles
b. production of new genetic material
c. chance loss of alleles in a population
d. exchange of genes between populations
e. differential reproductive success of individuals

Answer: D

Two people (both heterozygotes) are able to taste a chemical substance called PTC. The ability to taste PTC is caused by a dominant allele (T). The inability to taste PTC is caused by a recessive allele (t). What proportion of their offspring would be expected to be heterozygous?

Two people (both heterozygotes) are able to taste a chemical substance called PTC. The ability to taste PTC is caused by a dominant allele (T). The inability to taste PTC is caused by a recessive allele (t). What proportion of their offspring would be expected to be heterozygous?

a. 3/4
b. 1/2
c. All
d. 1/4
e. 2/3

Answer: B

A person who is homozygous recessive at a locus has which of the following?

A person who is homozygous recessive at a locus has which of the following?

a. two copies of the recessive allele
b. two copies of the dominant allele
c. an autosomal trisomy
d. a recessive allele on the X chromosome only
e. a recessive allele on the Y chromosome only

Answer: A

Evolution can be described as a two-stage process that includes which of the following?

Evolution can be described as a two-stage process that includes which of the following?

a. genetic drift followed by migration
b. natural selection followed by migration
c. recombination followed by mutation
d. production of variation followed by natural selection
e. none of these

Answer: D

Which statement concerning the F1 plants in Mendel's experiments is false?

Which statement concerning the F1 plants in Mendel's experiments is false?

a. They were hybrids.
b. They were heterozygous for the traits in question.
c. Their parents were homozygous for the traits in question.
d. All F1s displayed the dominant trait in their phenotype.
e. All F1s displayed the recessive trait in their phenotype.

Answer: E

In Mendel's experiments, what was the ratio of tall to short plants in the F2 generation?

In Mendel's experiments, what was the ratio of tall to short plants in the F2 generation?

a. 15 to 1
b. 3 to 1
c. ½ tall, ½ short
d. 4 to 1
e. 5 to 1

Answer: B

When Mendel crossed true breeding tall and short parental plants, what was produced?

When Mendel crossed true breeding tall and short parental plants, what was produced?

a. All the offspring were tall.
b. Half the offspring were tall, the other half were short.
c. All the offspring were short.
d. The offspring were intermediate in height relative to the two parent plants.
e. About 90 percent were tall, but the rest were short.

Answer: A

Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel

a. published his results and won the Nobel Prize for his discoveries
b. was trained as a geneticist
c. died before the importance of his research was recognized
d. was a professor at the University of Vienna
e. never published his work

Answer: C

What did Gregor Mendel do?

What did Gregor Mendel do?

a. He developed theories of evolutionary change.
b. He discovered the structure of the DNA molecule.
c. He studied characteristics that are influenced by several genetic loci.
d. He discovered the fundamental principles of how traits are inherited.
e. He developed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics.

Answer: D

"Fitness," in an evolutionary sense, refers to an individual's

"Fitness," in an evolutionary sense, refers to an individual's

a. strength
b. reproductive success
c. aggressiveness
d. size
e. age at death

Answer: B

Which contemporary of Charles Darwin also developed a theory of evolution by means of natural selection?

Which contemporary of Charles Darwin also developed a theory of evolution by means of natural selection?

a) Charles Lyell
b) Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
c) Erasmus Darwin
d) Alfred Russel Wallace
e) Georges Cuvier

Answer: D

Carolus Linnaeus

Carolus Linnaeus

a. established a binomial system of classification for plants and animals
b. was a proponent of evolutionary change
c. opposed all notions of fixity of species
d. was a supporter of Charles Darwin
e. developed theories of natural selection

Answer: A

Several events had combined to alter Western Europeans' ideas about the earth by the 18th century. What did these include?

Several events had combined to alter Western Europeans' ideas about the earth by the 18th century. What did these include?

a. the circumnavigation of the globe
b. the discovery of the New World
c. the notion of a sun-centered universe
d. all of these
e. A and B only

Answer: D

What is the belief that species do not change but are the same as when first created known as?

What is the belief that species do not change but are the same as when first created known as?

a. fixity of species
b. the Great Chain of Being
c. heliocentrism
d. uniformitarianism
e. natural selection

Answer: A

_______ is the subdiscipline of osteology that is concerned with disease and trauma in earlier populations.

_______ is the subdiscipline of osteology that is concerned with disease and trauma in earlier populations.

a. Forensic anthropology
b. Primatology
c. Anthropometry
d. Paleoanthropology
e. Paleopathology

Answer: E

Physical anthropologists:

Physical anthropologists:

a. travel around the world to investigate human populations
b. study living populations
c. study primates like lemurs, monkeys, and apes
d. all of the above
e. none of these

Answer: D

Which of the following is not one of the subfields of anthropology in the United States?

Which of the following is not one of the subfields of anthropology in the United States?

a. Cultural
b. Physical
c. Psychological
d. Archaeology
e. Linguistics

Answer: C

The term evolution refers to

The term evolution refers to

a. changes in the genetic makeup of a population from one generation to the next
b. the process of speciation
c. includes genetic changes within populations and the appearance of new species
d. all of these
e. none of these

Answer: D

Physical anthropologists seek to.

Physical anthropologists seek to.

a. study humans from a cultural perspective
b. study humans from a biological perspective only
c. study humans from a biological and cultural perspective
d. study human behavior
e. study the material remains of human societies

Answer: C