CLEP Biology Genetics & Biological Diversity 5

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of allopatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

A mountain range separating two populations of squirrels that diverge over time

Answer

Allopatric speciation occurs when a physical geographic barrier separates populations, allowing them to diverge independently.

Question 2

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) are useful in genetics because they:

Accepted Answer

Serve as molecular markers to track inherited DNA regions

Answer

RFLPs are DNA sequence variations that are detected as different-sized fragments after restriction enzyme digestion and can be used as genetic markers in linkage studies.

Question 3

What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes mosses (bryophytes) from ferns (pteridophytes)?

Accepted Answer

Mosses lack vascular tissue while ferns possess it

Answer

Bryophytes lack vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) and are non-vascular, while pteridophytes (ferns) possess vascular tissue.

Question 4

In population genetics, genetic drift has the greatest effect on:

Accepted Answer

Small, isolated populations

Answer

Genetic drift (random changes in allele frequencies) has a disproportionately large effect in small populations, where chance events can significantly alter allele frequencies.

Question 5

Which of the following characteristics is shared by both gymnosperms and angiosperms?

Accepted Answer

Production of seeds

Answer

Both gymnosperms and angiosperms are seed-producing plants; the key difference is that angiosperm seeds are enclosed in fruit while gymnosperm seeds are naked.

CLEP Practice Test

CLEP Practice Test

CLEP Biology Genetics & Biological Diversity 5