Which of the following refer to correct example(s) of organisms which have evolved due to changes in environment brought about by anthropogenic action? (a) Darwin's Finches of Galapagos islands (b) Herbicide resistant weeds (c) Drug resistant eukaryotes (d) Man-created breeds of domesticated animals like dogs
Answer: (A) (b) (c) and (d). Answer: (A) (b) (c) and (d).
- A.(b) (c) and (d)✓
- B.Only (d)
- C.Only (a)
- D.(a) and (c)
Correct Answer
(A) (b) (c) and (d)
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (A) (b) (c) and (d). Evolution by anthropogenic (human-caused) action includes herbicide-resistant weeds, drug-resistant eukaryotes, and man-created breeds of domesticated animals like dogs, all of which arose because of changes brought about by human activity. Darwin's Finches evolved naturally through adaptive radiation on the Galapagos Islands and are not a result of anthropogenic action, so (a) is excluded. NCERT Reference: Ch 6 Evolution, p.116, lines 19–24: "excess use of herbicides, pesticides, etc., has only resulted in selection of resistant varieties in a much lesser time scale. This is also true for microbes against which we employ antibiotics or drugs against eukaryotic organisms/cell... These are examples of evolution by anthropogenic action."