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All questions of Organic Evolution for UPSC CSE Exam

The term "survival of the fittest" was coined by:
  • a)
    Charles Darwin
  • b)
    Alfred Russel Wallace
  • c)
    Thomas Malthus
  • d)
    Herbert Spencer
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

The term "survival of the fittest" was coined by Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher, in his work "Principles of Biology." Although often associated with Charles Darwin, Spencer introduced the term before Darwin included it in later editions of his book.

The process of genetic change in a population over time is known as:
  • a)
    Genetic drift
  • b)
    Gene flow
  • c)
    Genetic recombination
  • d)
    Microevolution
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

The process of genetic change in a population over time is known as microevolution. It involves changes in allele frequencies within a population, often driven by natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, or mutation.

What is the term used to describe the process by which individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce?
  • a)
    Natural selection
  • b)
    Genetic drift
  • c)
    Mutation
  • d)
    Genetic recombination
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with traits that increase their chances of survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation. It is the primary mechanism of evolution.

What is the term used to describe the study of the geographic distribution of species?
  • a)
    Biogeography
  • b)
    Anthropology
  • c)
    Ethnography
  • d)
    Geology
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of species. It examines the patterns of species diversity and the factors influencing the distribution of organisms across different regions.

What is the study of the development and changes in organisms before they are born or hatched called?
  • a)
    Comparative anatomy
  • b)
    Comparative embryology
  • c)
    Molecular biology
  • d)
    Biogeography
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Comparative embryology is the study of the development and changes in organisms before they are born or hatched. It examines the similarities and differences in the early stages of development among different species.

Which of the following is not a mechanism of evolution?
  • a)
    Genetic drift
  • b)
    Genetic recombination
  • c)
    Gene flow
  • d)
    Genetic isolation
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Genetic recombination is not a mechanism of evolution but rather a process that occurs during sexual reproduction. Genetic drift, gene flow, and genetic isolation are mechanisms that can lead to evolutionary changes in populations.

What is the process by which new species arise called?
  • a)
    Speciation
  • b)
    Extinction
  • c)
    Mutation
  • d)
    Adaptation
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Speciation is the process by which new species arise from existing ones. It occurs when populations become reproductively isolated and accumulate enough genetic differences to be considered distinct species.

What is the age of the Earth estimated to be?
  • a)
    4.6 billion years
  • b)
    10,000 years
  • c)
    1 million years
  • d)
    1 billion years
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

The age of the Earth is estimated to be approximately 4.6 billion years based on radiometric dating of rocks and minerals. This estimation provides evidence for the vast timescale over which life has evolved on our planet.

Which of the following is an example of an analogous structure?
  • a)
    Human arm and whale flipper
  • b)
    Human arm and bat wing
  • c)
    Human arm and monkey arm
  • d)
    Human arm and bird wing
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

An analogous structure refers to structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins. The human arm and whale flipper are examples of analogous structures as they both serve the function of locomotion in different lineages.

What does the fossil record provide evidence for?
  • a)
    Common ancestry of different species
  • b)
    Genetic mutations in a population
  • c)
    Genetic drift within a population
  • d)
    Natural selection in action
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

The fossil record provides evidence for the common ancestry of different species. Fossils show the existence of organisms that lived in the past and help scientists trace the evolutionary history of various species.

Who proposed the concept of inheritance of acquired characteristics?
  • a)
    Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
  • b)
    Charles Darwin
  • c)
    Gregor Mendel
  • d)
    Thomas Malthus
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed the concept of inheritance of acquired characteristics. He suggested that traits acquired by an organism during its lifetime could be passed on to its offspring, an idea that was later disproven by scientific research.

What is the term used to describe a sudden reduction in the size of a population, leading to a loss of genetic variation?
  • a)
    Bottleneck effect
  • b)
    Founder effect
  • c)
    Genetic drift
  • d)
    Gene flow
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

The bottleneck effect refers to a sudden reduction in the size of a population, leading to a loss of genetic variation. This reduction can occur due to a natural disaster, disease outbreak, or other events that drastically reduce the population's size.

Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure in humans?
  • a)
    Wisdom teeth
  • b)
    Appendix
  • c)
    Tailbone (coccyx)
  • d)
    All of the above
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Wisdom teeth, appendix, and the tailbone (coccyx) are examples of vestigial structures in humans. These structures have lost their original function over time but are still present in our bodies.

Who proposed the theory of natural selection?
  • a)
    Charles Darwin
  • b)
    Gregor Mendel
  • c)
    Louis Pasteur
  • d)
    Albert Einstein
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Charles Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection in his book "On the Origin of Species" published in 1859. His theory revolutionized the understanding of how species evolve and adapt to their environments.

The study of the similarities and differences in the DNA sequences of different species is known as:
  • a)
    Comparative anatomy
  • b)
    Comparative embryology
  • c)
    Molecular biology
  • d)
    Biogeography
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The study of the similarities and differences in the DNA sequences of different species is known as molecular biology. It provides insights into evolutionary relationships and genetic similarities among organisms.

What is the primary driving force behind natural selection?
  • a)
    Genetic drift
  • b)
    Mutation
  • c)
    Adaptation
  • d)
    Genetic recombination
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Adaptation is the primary driving force behind natural selection. Organisms that are better adapted to their environment have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing, passing on their advantageous traits to future generations.

Which of the following best describes organic evolution?
  • a)
    The study of carbon-based compounds
  • b)
    The development of life from non-living matter
  • c)
    The process of change in living organisms over time
  • d)
    The theory of plate tectonics
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Organic evolution refers to the process of change in living organisms over time. It involves the gradual development of species through genetic variation, natural selection, and adaptation to changing environments.

Chapter doubts & questions for Organic Evolution - Lucent for GK 2025 is part of UPSC CSE exam preparation. The chapters have been prepared according to the UPSC CSE exam syllabus. The Chapter doubts & questions, notes, tests & MCQs are made for UPSC CSE 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests here.

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