- 1. In 'Genetics and the Origin of Species', Theodosius Dobzhansky presents a groundbreaking synthesis of genetic science and evolutionary theory, arguing that the mechanisms of genetics provide a robust framework for understanding the processes of evolution and speciation. Published in 1937, this seminal work emphasizes the importance of genetic variation and mutation as the driving forces behind the adaptation of species to their environments. Dobzhansky's perspective fundamentally shifted the way scientists viewed the relationship between genetics and evolution, famously stating, 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.' By integrating the principles of Mendelian genetics with the ideas of natural selection proposed by Charles Darwin, Dobzhansky elucidates how populations adapt over time, leading to the emergence of new species. His work not only laid the foundation for the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology but also bridged the gap between population genetics and evolutionary theory, influencing generations of biologists and deepening our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. Through rigorous research and eloquent prose, Dobzhansky demonstrates that the study of genes is essential to comprehending the dynamic history of species and their evolutionary trajectories.
Who is the author of 'Genetics and the Origin of Species'?
A) Theodosius Dobzhansky
B) Charles Darwin
C) Gregor Mendel
D) Francis Crick
- 2. What year was 'Genetics and the Origin of Species' published?
A) 1937
B) 1945
C) 1953
D) 1925
- 3. According to Dobzhansky, what is a major driving force of evolution?
A) Physical adaptations
B) Genetic variation
C) Environmental factors
D) Cultural transmission
- 4. What concept is central to Dobzhansky’s argument regarding species?
A) The biological species concept
B) The phylogenetic species concept
C) The morphological species concept
D) The ecological species concept
- 5. Which of the following does Dobzhansky emphasize in his work?
A) The impact of climate change
B) Transgenerational epigenetics
C) The fossil record
D) The role of mutations in evolution
- 6. Dobzhansky's work helped bridge which two fields?
A) Genetics and zoology
B) Genetics and microbiology
C) Genetics and ecology
D) Genetics and evolutionary biology
- 7. Which organism type did Dobzhansky primarily study?
A) Plants
B) Drosophila (fruit flies)
C) Bacteria
D) Mice
- 8. Dobzhansky’s famous quote states that 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of _____.'
A) ecology
B) genetics
C) taxonomy
D) evolution
- 9. What mechanism allows for the exchange of genes between populations?
A) Gene flow
B) Genetic drift
C) Natural selection
D) Mutation
- 10. What type of selection favors extreme phenotypes?
A) Directional selection
B) Disruptive selection
C) Balancing selection
D) Stabilizing selection
- 11. What type of selection refers to the survival of the fittest in a population?
A) Natural selection
B) Sexual selection
C) Balancing selection
D) Artificial selection
- 12. What important concept did Dobzhansky stress regarding new species formation?
A) Speciation
B) Convergence
C) Extinction
D) Adaptive radiation
- 13. The study of how genes influence behavior and vice versa is called what?
A) Evolutionary psychology
B) Cognitive genetics
C) Phenotypic plasticity
D) Behavioral genetics
- 14. In genetics, what is a 'gene'?
A) A form of selection
B) A unit of heredity
C) A type of protein
D) An environmental factor
- 15. Which of the following is an example of a genetic change?
A) Migration
B) Habitat loss
C) Mutation
D) Predation
- 16. According to Dobzhansky, species can be defined as groups of populations that:
A) Occupy the same habitat
B) Exhibit the same behaviors
C) Have similar genomes
D) Interbreed
- 17. What term describes the process by which unrelated organisms evolve similar traits?
A) Parallel evolution
B) Convergent evolution
C) Adaptive radiation
D) Divergent evolution
- 18. Dobzhansky’s work contributed to the understanding of genetic _____ in populations.
A) Uniformity
B) Variation
C) Annihilation
D) Convergence
- 19. What is the significance of polygenic traits in evolution?
A) They are influenced only by environment
B) They are determined by a single gene
C) They involve multiple genes
D) They cannot evolve
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