Double checking 5 questions about phylogenetics

[GFresha]

Can some1 double check these 5 questions about phylogenetics and natural selection? I would love if you can double check all, but feel free to just jump in on which ever you feel good about!

15) Which of the following characters are neither (currently) adaptive or exaptive?

The color of blood cells.

The oxygen-binding properties of blood cells.

The presence of lungs in some modern fishes.

The waxy cuticle of cacti.

The limblessness of snakes.

Q16) Which is NOT one of the three conditions that must be met for evolution by natural selection to take place?

Variation in phenotypic traits must exist in the population.

Differences in phenotype influence the probability of survival or reproduction.

One extreme of the phenotype leads to greater survival in the future.

Differences in phenotypic traits must be at least partially heritable.

All of the above are necessary for evolution by natural selection.

Q17) A new pest insect species has started attacking plant crops around San Jose. Fortunately, there is a possibility that a new pesticide might be effective. There is a danger, of course, that application of the pesticide may lead to evolution of pesticide resistance in the insects. Which of the following need to be true for this to occur?

The population must currently have some individuals that are pesticide resistant.

Pesticide resistance must be exaptive.

Pesticide resistance must be inheritable.

(a) and (c)

All of the above.

Q18) A simple survey of natural organisms today shows a range of complexities of functioning eyes, from extremely simple/reduced eyespots and reflecting pigment cups, to the much more complex single-lens chambered eyes and compound eyes. What is problematical about considering the vertebrate single-lens chambered eye the "pinnacle of evolution"?

In terms of functionality, every form of the eye, from simple to complex, serves its required function.

From an engineering perspective, there are objective a number of objectively better or more complex eye designs than the vertebrate one.

Simple eyes could have arisen by chance alone but not more complex ones.

All of the above.

(a) and (b)

Q19) It is extremely unlikely that humans will have evolved as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic at least in terms of immunity, because:

We have not developed a vaccine.

There is no inheritable variation in sensitivity or resistance to COVID-19 infection.

Social distancing restricts the ability of the virus from spreading to all humans.

Humans have mostly stopped evolving.

The human population is too large and too widespread to evolve.

Q20) Which of the following facts provides the clearest evidence for common rather than separate ancestry?

The coelacanth fish looks almost indistinguishable from fossils in 200-million- year-old rocks

Most primates have tails, which seem to be important for their survival

Diverse cactus species are found in the American deserts, but none occur in African or Asian deserts

Some orchid flowers are very well suited to pollination by particular kinds of insects

Whale flippers and dolphin flippers have a similar bone arrangement and are used for a similar function