Future of Human Evolution

Evolution and natural selection are the same thing.

• a.false
• b.true

Why do some researchers doubt that humans will continue to evolve through natural selection?

• a.The human population has started leveling off and will be stable at 9 billion by mid century.
• b.Modern healthcare enables the weakest to survive to reproductive age.
• c.Genetic engineering has made natural selection obsolete in many species on Earth.
• d.Humans have not evolved since the Stone Age.

Natural selection will provide humans with:

• a.larger brains
• b.webbed hands or feet
• c.improved vision or hearing
• d.none of the above

The phrase "survival of the fittest" says that individuals born with traits that _____ survival to maturity are more likely to grow up and reproduce compared with individuals lacking such traits.

• a.impede
• b.bottleneck
• c.enhance
• d.reduce

Natural selection is occurring among humans in response to the HIV virus.

• a.true
• b.false

The process that affects evolution due to human activity is known as _____.

• a.artificial selection
• b.founder effect
• c.genetic drift
• d.natural selection

An example of artificial selection is:

• a.After a large population is destroyed, a smaller population repopulates the species.
• b.A small group if individuals breaks off from a larger population to relocate.
• c.Women with wider hips due to caesarian section births.
• d.Women with more narrow hips due to caesarian section births.

Which of the following factors is plausible as an evolutionary force for human colonists of other planets to become a new species:

• a.Isolation from the rest of humanity for a very long time.
• b.Living in a complete lack of air.
• c.Constant influx of immigrants from Earth.
• d.Invention of very rapid propulsion to allow travel to new colonies.