Humber Admissions Practice Test

What does macroevolution produce?

1. Minor variations within species

2. Changes in behavior of organisms

3. New species via thousands-to-millions of years of microevolution

4. Genetic mutations that do not lead to new species

The correct answer is: New species via thousands-to-millions of years of microevolution

Macroevolution refers to large-scale evolutionary changes that occur over extended periods, typically thousands to millions of years. This process encompasses significant transformations, including the emergence of new species. Unlike microevolution, which deals with minor variations within a species that may occur over shorter timescales, macroevolution results from cumulative changes that can lead to speciation. The transition from one species to another generally involves extensive alterations in genetic makeup, adaptations to new environments, or shifts in reproductive isolation. Thus, the essence of macroevolution is its capacity to produce entirely new species through this long-term evolutionary process, explaining why this particular choice represents the correct understanding of what macroevolution achieves. In contrast, minor variations within species, changes in behavior, and genetic mutations that do not lead to new species are more accurately characterized by microevolutionary processes. These phenomena, while significant in their own right, do not capture the broader implications and outcomes associated with macroevolution.