GCSEBiologyOCR GatewayExam Questions5. Genes, Inheritance & Selection5.2 Natural Selection & Evolution

Natural Selection & Evolution (OCR Gateway GCSE Biology)

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5.2 Natural Selection & Evolution

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5.2 Natural Selection & Evolution

1
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What is a mutation?

  • The process of taking genes from the DNA of one organism and inserting them into the DNA of another

  • The cause of continuous phenotypic variation in organisms

  • The cause of environmental variation in organisms

  • A change in the base sequence of DNA

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2
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Which of the following is not caused as a result of a genetic mutation?

  • A non-functional enzyme

  • Decreased variation in a population

  • A new allele for a gene

  • Development of cancerous cells

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3
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The following statements describe the process of natural selection.

I. New alleles increase in the population over time

II. Mutation provides an advantage to those who have it

III. Random mutation causes variation in the population

IV. Individuals with mutations are more likely to survive and reproduce

What is the correct order for these statements?

  • I → II → IV → III

  • III → II → IV → I

  • IV → II → III → I

  • II → III → IV → I

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4
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A patient with a bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics, but some of the bacteria survive.

Which statement is correct about the bacteria that have survived?

  • The bacteria will now be resistant to all antibiotics

  • The resistant bacteria are a result of selective breeding

  • The bacteria will have undergone a process of natural selection

  • The antibiotic will now work better on the next generation of bacteria

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5
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The list below shows the binomial names for eight animals.

Canis lupus

Cygnus buccinator

Dasypus novemcinctus

Dasyurus maculatus

Equus burchelli

Eumetopias jubatus

Felis chaus

Felis lybica

Which two animals are most closely related?

  • Dasypus novemcinctus & Dasyurus maculatus

  • Felis chaus & Felis lybica

  • Equus burchelli & Eumetopias jubatus

  • Cygnus buccinator & Dasypus novemcinctus

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6
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FOP is a disorder that causes soft tissue in the body to turn to bone.

It is caused by a dominant allele.

People who have this condition are often infertile.

Natural selection predicts that the number of children born with the condition will go down.

Which explanation can explain why the number of people with FOP is staying constant?

  • The allele is being produced regularly by mutation.

  • Dominant alleles can remain hidden for generations.

  • The allele may increase the rate of meiosis.

  • The allele has no effect on a person’s phenotype.

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7
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Which statement best describes the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection?

  • Darwin and Mendel working together

  • Darwin and Wallace working independently

  • Darwin and Wallace working together

  • Mendel working on his own

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8
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Which approach would be used to classify organisms by phylogenetics?

  • Compare the structure of the organisms’ internal organs

  • Look at DNA base sequences

  • Look at the behaviour of the organisms

  • Study fossils

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9
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What are the names of the two scientists who first suggested the theory of natural selection?

  • Darwin and Mendel

  • Mendel and Wallace

  • Wallace and Darwin

  • Watson and Crick

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10
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Which of these is a feature of an artificial classification system?

  • It shows evolutionary links between organisms.

  • It can be based on similarities in DNA.

  • It may compare the amino acids in proteins.

  • It uses a single difference or similarity between organisms.

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11
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How does the fossil record provide evidence for evolution?

  • It provides information about all extinct organisms.

  • It shows that all organisms have evolved at the same rate.

  • It shows that many small changes can result in a large change in organisms over time.

  • It shows that changes in phenotype occurring during life can be passed on in the genes.

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12
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Strains of bacteria are now becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Which process is causing this resistance?

  • Genetic modification

  • Natural classification

  • Natural selection

  • Selective breeding

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13
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Why are the effects of most mutations not observed?

  • Most mutations do not affect the genotype or phenotype.

  • Most mutations do not affect the phenotype.

  • Mutations mainly affect internal body processes.

  • Mutations often kill the organism.

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14
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Which of these is a similarity between selective breeding and natural selection?

  • Cause a change in organisms’ genotypes but not phenotypes.

  • Humans decide which organisms will reproduce.

  • Only some organisms reproduce.

  • Take place over many thousands of years.

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15
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Darwin and Wallace both developed theories of natural selection. Both of their theories were developed after making observations on islands.

What is the most likely explanation for this?

  • Conditions on neighbouring islands are very similar.

  • Different characteristics were observed in organisms on islands compared to the mainland.

  • There are no selection pressures for organisms on islands.

  • There is no competition for food on islands.

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16
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Humans belong to the species H.sapiens.

H.sapiens have evolved from a number of possible ancestors. The graph shows five of these ancestors.

q9-paper2h-nov2020-ocrgcsebio

What conclusion about human evolution can be made from the graph?

  • A larger brain meant that the species were better adapted to their environment.

  • H.sapiens outcompeted the other species which then became extinct.

  • In general, the more recently a species first appears, the larger its brain size.

  • There is no correlation between brain size and when a species first appeared.

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17
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What is meant by the term phylogenetics?

  • Classifying organisms using many common characteristics.

  • Constructing diagrams to predict how characteristics are inherited.

  • The study of evolutionary relationships based on molecular studies.

  • Using a single common feature to determine evolutionary relationships.

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18
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Seedbanks store many types of seed for long periods of time.

Why were seedbanks set up?

  • To act as a store of biodiversity.

  • To be used to feed animals if food is short.

  • To store pathogens for future use.

  • To supply seeds to farmers at a cheaper cost.

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19
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What is meant by the term natural classification?

  • Classifying organisms according to their uses.

  • Classifying organisms using many of their common characteristics.

  • Using a key to classify organisms.

  • Using a single feature to classify organisms.

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