Interpret Trait Graphs - Middle School Life Science
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Identify the best interpretation when a beneficial trait increases after an environmental change.
Identify the best interpretation when a beneficial trait increases after an environmental change.
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Natural selection favored that trait in the new environment. The trait provides survival or reproductive advantage.
Natural selection favored that trait in the new environment. The trait provides survival or reproductive advantage.
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Identify the best interpretation when a harmful trait decreases steadily over many generations.
Identify the best interpretation when a harmful trait decreases steadily over many generations.
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Selection acted against that trait. Individuals with the trait had lower survival or reproduction.
Selection acted against that trait. Individuals with the trait had lower survival or reproduction.
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Which option best explains a new trait appearing, then slowly increasing over generations?
Which option best explains a new trait appearing, then slowly increasing over generations?
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A mutation arose and was favored by selection. New genetic variation can spread if it provides an advantage.
A mutation arose and was favored by selection. New genetic variation can spread if it provides an advantage.
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Identify the trait with the greatest increase: A goes from $10%$ to $40%$, B from $30%$ to $50%$.
Identify the trait with the greatest increase: A goes from $10%$ to $40%$, B from $30%$ to $50%$.
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Trait A (increase of $30%$). Compare absolute changes: A increased by $30%$ points vs B's $20%$.
Trait A (increase of $30%$). Compare absolute changes: A increased by $30%$ points vs B's $20%$.
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Find the change in frequency: a trait is $0.20$ at Gen 1 and $0.35$ at Gen 6.
Find the change in frequency: a trait is $0.20$ at Gen 1 and $0.35$ at Gen 6.
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Increase of $0.15$. Subtract initial from final frequency: $0.35 - 0.20 = 0.15$.
Increase of $0.15$. Subtract initial from final frequency: $0.35 - 0.20 = 0.15$.
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Identify the correct conclusion if a model shows higher survival for one trait and its frequency increases.
Identify the correct conclusion if a model shows higher survival for one trait and its frequency increases.
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That trait has higher fitness in that environment. Better survival leads to increased frequency over generations.
That trait has higher fitness in that environment. Better survival leads to increased frequency over generations.
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What is the term for a change in trait frequencies in a population across generations?
What is the term for a change in trait frequencies in a population across generations?
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Evolution. Heritable traits change in frequency over successive generations.
Evolution. Heritable traits change in frequency over successive generations.
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What is the term for the proportion of individuals with a trait in a population?
What is the term for the proportion of individuals with a trait in a population?
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Trait frequency. Measures how common a trait is relative to the whole population.
Trait frequency. Measures how common a trait is relative to the whole population.
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What does a flat (horizontal) trait frequency line over time indicate?
What does a flat (horizontal) trait frequency line over time indicate?
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The trait frequency is not changing over time. The trait proportion remains constant across generations.
The trait frequency is not changing over time. The trait proportion remains constant across generations.
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What does it mean if a trait frequency line slopes downward over time?
What does it mean if a trait frequency line slopes downward over time?
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The trait is becoming less common in the population. Fewer individuals have the trait each generation.
The trait is becoming less common in the population. Fewer individuals have the trait each generation.
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What does it mean if a trait frequency line slopes upward over time?
What does it mean if a trait frequency line slopes upward over time?
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The trait is becoming more common in the population. More individuals inherit or develop the trait each generation.
The trait is becoming more common in the population. More individuals inherit or develop the trait each generation.
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What does the x-axis usually represent in a graph showing population trait changes?
What does the x-axis usually represent in a graph showing population trait changes?
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Time (generations, years, or breeding seasons). Tracks how traits change across multiple reproductive cycles.
Time (generations, years, or breeding seasons). Tracks how traits change across multiple reproductive cycles.
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What does the y-axis usually represent in a graph of trait frequency over time?
What does the y-axis usually represent in a graph of trait frequency over time?
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Trait frequency (often percent or proportion) in the population. Shows what proportion of the population has the trait at each time point.
Trait frequency (often percent or proportion) in the population. Shows what proportion of the population has the trait at each time point.
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Identify the selection type if a graph shows two peaks forming over time from one original peak.
Identify the selection type if a graph shows two peaks forming over time from one original peak.
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Disruptive selection. One peak splits into two distinct peaks.
Disruptive selection. One peak splits into two distinct peaks.
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What is the average rate of change per generation if frequency goes from $0.10$ to $0.30$ in $4$ generations?
What is the average rate of change per generation if frequency goes from $0.10$ to $0.30$ in $4$ generations?
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$0.05$ per generation. Rate = change/time = $(0.30-0.10)/4$.
$0.05$ per generation. Rate = change/time = $(0.30-0.10)/4$.
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What is the change in frequency if a trait rises from $0.20$ to $0.50$ over the time shown?
What is the change in frequency if a trait rises from $0.20$ to $0.50$ over the time shown?
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$0.30$. Change = final - initial = $0.50 - 0.20$.
$0.30$. Change = final - initial = $0.50 - 0.20$.
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What is the percent frequency if an allele frequency is $0.65$ on a graph?
What is the percent frequency if an allele frequency is $0.65$ on a graph?
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$65%$. Multiply by $100$ to convert to percent.
$65%$. Multiply by $100$ to convert to percent.
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What does it suggest if a trait frequency changes rapidly right after an environmental change on a timeline?
What does it suggest if a trait frequency changes rapidly right after an environmental change on a timeline?
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New selective pressure is acting. Environmental change drives selection.
New selective pressure is acting. Environmental change drives selection.
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What does it indicate if two trait lines cross, where trait A decreases as trait B increases?
What does it indicate if two trait lines cross, where trait A decreases as trait B increases?
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The population is shifting from trait A to trait B. One trait replaces another over time.
The population is shifting from trait A to trait B. One trait replaces another over time.
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What does it mean if an allele is lost on a graph (frequency reaches $0.00$)?
What does it mean if an allele is lost on a graph (frequency reaches $0.00$)?
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That allele is no longer in the population. Lost means $0%$ frequency, extinct from population.
That allele is no longer in the population. Lost means $0%$ frequency, extinct from population.
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Which interpretation is correct if a model shows survivors have a trait value closer to one extreme?
Which interpretation is correct if a model shows survivors have a trait value closer to one extreme?
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Selection favored that extreme trait value. Survivors show which traits were advantageous.
Selection favored that extreme trait value. Survivors show which traits were advantageous.
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What is the allele frequency if $30$ of $100$ alleles in a sample are allele A?
What is the allele frequency if $30$ of $100$ alleles in a sample are allele A?
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$0.30$. Frequency = count/total = $30/100$.
$0.30$. Frequency = count/total = $30/100$.
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What does the x-axis usually represent on a graph of population trait change over time?
What does the x-axis usually represent on a graph of population trait change over time?
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Time (generations or years). Time is the independent variable when tracking changes.
Time (generations or years). Time is the independent variable when tracking changes.
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What does it mean if a trait becomes fixed on a graph (frequency reaches $1.00$)?
What does it mean if a trait becomes fixed on a graph (frequency reaches $1.00$)?
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All individuals carry that allele/trait version. Fixed means $100%$ frequency in population.
All individuals carry that allele/trait version. Fixed means $100%$ frequency in population.
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What does the y-axis usually represent on a graph showing a trait changing in a population?
What does the y-axis usually represent on a graph showing a trait changing in a population?
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Trait frequency or average trait value. Shows how common a trait is or its average value.
Trait frequency or average trait value. Shows how common a trait is or its average value.
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