Consider Three Populations of a Plant Species, Each of Which

question 1

Multiple Choice

Consider three populations of a plant species, each of which is isolated from other populations of the same species. Population X has had approximately 100 individuals in each generation for the past 200 generations. Population Y has had approximately 10,000 individuals in each generation for the past 200 generations. Population Z has had approximately 1 million individuals in each generation for the past 200 generations. If the environment changed and a new environmental condition exerted the exact same strength of directional selection on all three populations, which population would we expect to evolve most rapidly?

• A) Population X
• B) Population Y
• C) Population Z
• D) All three populations would evolve at the same rate.

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Definitions:

Computerized Axial Tomography

Also known as a CT scan, a diagnostic medical test that uses computer-processed combinations of multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce images of specific areas of the scanned object, allowing the user to see inside without cutting.

X-rays

A form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, used in medical imaging to view inside the body.

Actuarial Approach

A method that employs statistical models to assess risks and predict outcomes, commonly used in fields like insurance, finance, and criminal justice for forecasting.

Intuition

The ability to understand or know something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning, often considered as a 'gut feeling.'