Question

Which is false for microevolution?

• A. Occurs over short time scales and small changes
• B. It can be exemplified by speciation phenomena
• C. It can be exemplified wherein a bacterium growing in a lab undergo mutation that confers it with higher division rates than others
• D. Microevolution is simply a change in gene frequency within a population.

Answer 1

The correct option is B It can be exemplified by speciation phenomena

Although the changes in gene frequencies happen gradually through time, the rate of evolution is not constant. Microevolution refers to the results of evolutionary process over short time scales and small changes. For example, a bacterium in a beaker undergoes a mutation that changes its characteristics (like higher division rates). It happens on a timescale that we are able to observe this change. Because of mutations, the allelic frequency changes within a population,
Speciation is an example of macroevolution that happens over a long time periods.