Prepare for NEET Biology Genetic Evolution with MCQs & PYQs on NEET.GUIDE. Access free practice, previous year questions, and expert explanations to grasp inheritance patterns and evolutionary concepts.
The Miller-Urey experiment attempted to simulate early Earth conditions to test the chemical origin of life. Which of the following gaseous components was NOT included in their experimental setup, despite being potentially present in the early atmosphere?
Methane ()
Ammonia ()
Water vapor ()
Oxygen ()
The RNA world hypothesis proposes that RNA, not DNA, was the primary genetic material in early life. Which characteristic of RNA makes it a more plausible candidate for this role compared to DNA?
Double-stranded structure
Higher stability
Catalytic activity
Presence of thymine
Protocells are considered a key step in the origin of life. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic typically associated with protocells?
Membrane-bound compartments
Simple metabolic activity
Ability to undergo fission
Developed DNA replication mechanisms
Which of the following is a critical argument against the theory of panspermia related to the origin of life on Earth?
Meteorites have been found to contain organic molecules.
Life on Earth shares a common genetic code.
Microbial life has been found in extreme environments on Earth.
The harsh conditions of space, including radiation and extreme temperatures, would likely destroy any known life forms during interstellar travel.
The 'hot dilute soup' proposed by Haldane and Oparin as a crucial stage in the origin of life faced a major challenge. What was this primary obstacle?
The absence of a continuous source of energy.
The presence of an oxidizing atmosphere.
The lack of a mechanism to concentrate the organic molecules to facilitate polymerization.
The instability of amino acids at high temperatures.
Which of the following best describes the significance of coacervates in the context of the origin of life?
They are fossilized evidence of the earliest life forms on Earth.
They prove that RNA was the primary genetic material in early life.
They demonstrate how membrane-bound compartments, crucial for cellular life, could have arisen spontaneously from organic molecules.
They explain the mechanism by which the first self-replicating molecules were formed.
The concept of punctuated equilibrium challenges the traditional view of evolution by suggesting:
Evolution proceeds at a constant, gradual rate.
Long periods of stasis punctuated by rapid bursts of evolutionary change.
Evolutionary changes occur only in small, isolated populations.
Acquired characteristics are inherited and drive evolutionary change.
Which observation MOST directly challenges the idea of a universally applicable “molecular clock” for dating evolutionary divergence?
Fossil evidence sometimes contradicts molecular clock estimates.
Mutation rates can be influenced by environmental factors.
Different genes evolve at different rates, even within the same lineage.
Horizontal gene transfer can introduce new genes into a lineage.
The evolutionary significance of the Burgess Shale fossils lies primarily in:
Providing evidence for the earliest forms of life on Earth.
Demonstrating a rapid diversification of body plans during the Cambrian explosion.
Showing the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life.
Illustrating the co-evolution of plants and animals.
The concept of 'adaptive radiation' is BEST exemplified by:
The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
The development of camouflage in a prey species.
Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands developing diverse beak shapes for different food sources.
The gradual increase in size of a particular species over generations.
