2
practice examMultiple Choice

Practice Exam

Question 2 • TPS EdX Biology

A scientist is studying an infectious agent in a lab. Which observation best illustrates the importance of the theory of evolution in the field of medicine?

Answer
A
Organisms in Petri dish A have a mechanism that produces the same neurotoxin as the rest.
B
Organisms in Petri dish B have the largest cells relative to the rest.
C
Organisms in Petri dish C have twice as many genes on their DNA.
D
Organisms in Petri dish D have a mutation that allows them to survive treatment with medication.

Explanation

Evolution explains how populations change when some individuals have traits that help them survive and reproduce. If a mutation lets organisms in Petri dish D survive medication, those organisms may multiply while others die, making the infectious agent harder to treat. This is why the observation about medication resistance is important in medicine; cell size, gene count, or toxin production alone do not show this process.

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