Part 3: Darwin’s Contribution & Modern Synthetic Theory (25 MCQs)
Part 3: Darwin’s Contribution & Modern Synthetic Theory (25 MCQs)
Q51. Who is known as the father of evolution?
a) Lamarck
b) Darwin
c) Wallace
d) Mendel
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Charles Darwin is regarded as the father of evolution by natural selection.
Q52. The book Origin of Species was published in:
a) 1840
b) 1859
c) 1865
d) 1900
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859.
Q53. Darwin’s theory of natural selection is based on:
a) Mutations only
b) Inheritance of acquired characters
c) Survival of the fittest
d) Neutral theory
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Darwin proposed survival of the fittest as the mechanism.
Q54. Which of the following is NOT an observation made by Darwin?
a) Overproduction of offspring
b) Struggle for existence
c) Inheritance of acquired traits
d) Variation among individuals
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Inheritance of acquired traits was Lamarck’s idea, not Darwin’s.
Q55. Galapagos finches studied by Darwin showed:
a) Similar beaks
b) Variation in beaks adapted to different food sources
c) No variation
d) Seasonal migration
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Darwin’s finches → adaptive radiation of beaks.
Q56. Which scientist worked independently on natural selection along with Darwin?
a) Lamarck
b) Wallace
c) Mendel
d) De Vries
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Alfred Russel Wallace independently proposed natural selection.
Q57. Darwin explained evolution without knowledge of:
a) Variations
b) Natural selection
c) Genetics
d) Overproduction
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Darwin lacked knowledge of genetics (Mendel’s work was unknown to him).
Q58. Modern synthetic theory of evolution is also called:
a) Neo-Darwinism
b) Lamarckism
c) Neutral theory
d) Biogenetic law
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Neo-Darwinism = modern synthesis of Darwinism with genetics.
Q59. Who proposed mutation theory of evolution?
a) Darwin
b) Wallace
c) Hugo de Vries
d) Mendel
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Hugo de Vries proposed mutation theory based on evening primrose.
Q60. Variation is the raw material for:
a) Genetics
b) Evolution by natural selection
c) Fossil formation
d) Adaptation
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Variation provides basis for natural selection.
Q61. In modern synthetic theory, which factor is NOT included?
a) Mutation
b) Genetic drift
c) Natural selection
d) Inheritance of acquired characters
Answer: d
- d) Correct: Acquired traits = Lamarckism, not part of modern synthesis.
Q62. The primary source of new alleles in a population is:
a) Recombination
b) Mutation
c) Natural selection
d) Gene flow
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Mutations introduce new alleles, recombination reshuffles them.
Q63. The ultimate source of genetic variation is:
a) Mutation
b) Crossing over
c) Independent assortment
d) Migration
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Mutation = ultimate source of variation.
Q64. Which mechanism shuffles existing variations?
a) Mutation
b) Recombination
c) Genetic drift
d) Selection
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Recombination (crossing over, independent assortment) reshuffles existing alleles.
Q65. Mutation theory as sole mechanism of evolution was rejected because:
a) Mutations are rare
b) Most mutations are harmful
c) Mutation alone cannot explain adaptive evolution
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: All reasons made pure mutation theory insufficient.
Q66. The modern synthetic theory combines Darwinism with:
a) Genetics
b) Biochemistry
c) Molecular biology
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: Modern synthesis integrates genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology.
Q67. Industrial melanism in peppered moth is an example of:
a) Mutation
b) Recombination
c) Natural selection
d) Genetic drift
Answer: c
- c) Correct: Natural selection favored dark moths in polluted areas.
Q68. Which one is a postulate of Darwin’s theory?
a) Variations are heritable
b) Overproduction leads to struggle
c) Survival of the fittest
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: All are Darwin’s key postulates.
Q69. Lamarck’s theory is also known as:
a) Theory of natural selection
b) Theory of inheritance of acquired characters
c) Mutation theory
d) Neutral theory
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Lamarck → inheritance of acquired traits.
Q70. Which of the following supports Lamarckism?
a) Long neck of giraffe by stretching
b) Industrial melanism
c) Adaptive radiation
d) Genetic drift
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Giraffe’s long neck example used by Lamarck.
Q71. Darwin differed from Lamarck in that Darwin stressed:
a) Acquired traits are inherited
b) Natural selection acts on variation
c) Use and disuse of organs
d) Environment has no effect
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Darwin → natural selection on variation (not acquired traits).
Q72. The modern concept of evolution is best explained as:
a) Change in allele frequency in a population over generations
b) Development of new traits in an individual
c) Use and disuse of organs
d) Survival of the weakest
Answer: a
- a) Correct: Modern definition = evolution = change in allele frequency.
Q73. Which evolutionary force decreases genetic variation?
a) Mutation
b) Natural selection
c) Recombination
d) Gene flow
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Natural selection removes less-fit alleles → reduces variation.
Q74. The modern synthetic theory was developed by contributions of scientists like:
a) Darwin, Wallace, Lamarck
b) Dobzhansky, Mayr, Simpson, Stebbins
c) Mendel, Pasteur, Crick
d) Miller, Urey, Oparin
Answer: b
- b) Correct: Dobzhansky, Mayr, Simpson, Stebbins contributed to modern synthesis.
Q75. Which statement is true for modern synthetic theory?
a) Evolution occurs at population level
b) Mutations are raw material
c) Natural selection is main force
d) All of the above
Answer: d
- d) Correct: All are central principles of modern evolutionary synthesis.
Class 12 Biology MCQs, Evolution NCERT notes, NEET UG evolution questions, Darwin’s theory MCQs, Hardy Weinberg principle, Genetic drift NEET practice, Human evolution Class 12, Adaptive radiation questions, evolution class 12 biology MCQs, NCERT evolution chapter NEET questions, CBSE biology chapter 6 question bank, Darwin’s theory of evolution MCQs NEET, hardy weinberg principle class 12 solved questions, adaptive radiation human evolution NEET practice, gene flow and genetic drift class 12 MCQs, online learning evolution NEET preparation