0802/196.

207
AKL
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Student ID number: __________________________________

Name: _____________________________________________

MASSEY UNIVERSITY
AUCKLAND CAMPUS
EXAMINATION FOR
196.207 BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
Semester 2 - 2008

TIME ALLOWED: THREE (3) HOURS

Answer ALL questions from SECTION A.

Answer THREE (3) questions from SECTION B.
Section A consists of 10 short answer questions.
Each question is worth 3 marks, 30 marks in total. Allocate 1 hour for Section A.
Section B consists of six long answer questions. Each question is worth 20 marks,
60 marks in total. Allocate 2 hours for Section B.

TOTAL marks: 90
All answers are to be written in the blue answer book provided.

Page 1 of 2

SECTION A (Short answer questions)

1. Explain briefly what is meant by chemical evolution.
2. Give a brief explanation of the synthesis of the elements which were deposited on
primordial earth. Distinguish between the synthesis of the lighter elements (below the
nuclear charge of iron), and the heavier ones.
3. Explain the terms "mutation rate" and "substitution rate".
4. What assumptions are held by the Hardy Weinberg Principle and what conclusions
hold when these assumptions are not violated?
5. Discuss, with reference to morphology and/or development, what is meant by the
term homology in evolution.
6. Under what circumstance might a trait that is costly to individuals increase in
frequency within a population?
7. Describe the biological species concept and provide one criticism of this concept.
8. The evolution of biological complexity has depended on a small number of major
evolutionary transitions. What characterizes an evolutionary transition?
9. Define the terms self-organisation and emergence.
10. Define and give an example of a strange attractor.
SECTION B
(Long answer questions)
1. Give an account of Wchtershusers chemoautotrophic origin of life. How does
his theory compare with other hypotheses?
2. A small population has moved from the mainland to a small island. Explain how
this founding population can be influenced by selection, genetic drift and mutation.
3. What evidence supports the idea that life on earth has evolved by common
descent with modification?
4. Describe and discuss the different modes by which new species might arise.
5. Why has sex evolved?
6. Using examples, explain why complexity theory is relevant to biology.