Test: Theories of Evolution & Mechanism of Evolution (December 20) - NEET MCQ

The term "survival of the fittest" was first used by the Victorian naturalist Herbert Spencer as a metaphor to help explain natural selection, the central element of Charles Darwin's revolutionary theory of evolutionary change, first published in 1859 in his famous book, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.

These are examples of artificial selection 'Artificial selection' is a process in which the breeder choose to perpetuate only those forms that have certain desirable inheritable characteristics. The other three options are incorrect as mutation is a sudden change in DNA sequence due to mutagenic agents such as chemicals and radiations. Natural selection is a gradual process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of the effect of the changing environment. Reverse evolution or devolution is a notion that species can change into more primitive forms over time. 

The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits.

Charles Darwin traveled on the HMS Beagle on December 27, 1831. He went on board in Devonport and traveled for 5 years.
So, the correct option is, 'Beagle'.

• The peppered moth Biston betularia is also a model of parallel evolution in the incidence of melanism in the British form (f. carbonaria) and the American form (f. swettaria) as they are indistinguishable in appearance.
• Genetic analysis indicates that both phenotypes are inherited as autosomal dominants.

Hence the correct option is "B" 

• Single-step that causes large mutation is called saltation.
• It is called as such because the mutation occurs suddenly and abruptly that leads to evolution in large scale.
• Hugo de Vries used this term against Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Philosophie zoologique is an 1809 book by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in which he outlines his theory of evolution now known as Lamarckism. In the book, Lamarck named two supposed laws that would enable animal species to acquire characteristics under the influence of their environment. The two laws are as followed :

a) Law of use and disuse theory that defines the change in the body structure over the course of evolution.

b) The second law states that the change in the body structure must be inherited.

So, the correct answer is option B.

August Weismann, a German scientist formulated his famous 'Theory of continuity of germplasm' in 1886, on experimenting with mice. His theory states that inheritance in multicellular organisms takes place by means of germ cells i.e. egg and sperm cells only.

• The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of other evolutionary influences.
• It operates in the absence of mutation, natural selection and recombination.

The earlier organisms were simpler. They gradually changed into complex organisms. They are interrelated because of common origin. They have common shelter and environment. Evolution is generally slow, continuous, irreversible and progressive. The most important requirement for the evolution is variation. The ultimate source of organic evolution is the mutation. One of the most important factors of the development of a new species is the geographical isolation. The ultimate source of organic variation is not natural selection, sex reproduction and hormonal action. Thus, option A is correct.