LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034
M.Sc. DEGREE EXAMINATION – ZOOLOGY
FIRST SEMESTER – NOV 2006
ZO 1809 - ADVANCED EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Date & Time : 31-10-2006/1.00-4.00 Dept. No.
AF 15
Max. : 100 Marks
PART A
(Answer all)
10 x 2 = 20
1. Differentiate neoteny from paedogenesis
2. What is Darwinian fitness?
3. What are cannon and splint bones?
4. Comment on genetic inertia
5. Enumerate the evidences to prove the fact that the primitive atmosphere lacked free
oxygen
6. Characterise the ‘Period of Reaction’ in the history of evolutionary thought
7. Antibiotics exert a strong evolutionary force’. Substantiate
8. What is atavism?
9. What are ichnofossils?
10. Comment on the first authentic hominid fossil from India
PART B
(Answer any four)
4 x 10 = 40
11. Explain neolamarckism
12. Briefly describe the methodologies employed in dating the fossils
13. With suitable examples explain co-evolution
14. Elaborate the importance of numerical changes in chromosomes
15. Write notes on polymorphism and evolution
16. An organ is homologous with another because of what it is, not because of what it
does. Substantiate
PART C
(Answer any two)
2 x 20 = 40
17. The evolution of a trait through natural selection could be substituted by the
evolution of a trait through social selection – Discuss
18. Categorise isolating mechanisms and discuss their role in speciation
19. Enumerate the recent concepts of recapitulation theory
20. Write notes on (i) hybrid speciation and (ii) Animal Colouration
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