The origin of life is understood as a one-time chemical event rather than a repeatable process: the first cell arose from non-living organic molecules through a sequence of chemical changes, an idea proposed independently by Oparin and Haldane. Earth's primitive atmosphere had virtually no free oxygen but was rich in methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and water vapour, conditions unde
Evolution
Class 1219 previous-year questions from this chapter every option and the correct answer, free · where the marks are
1. Origin of life and evidences of evolution
Exam focus: Miller and Urey's experiment specifically used a reducing atmosphere (CH4, NH3, H2, water vapour, no free O2) with an electric spark to generate amino acids — swap in an oxidising atmosphere and the option is wrong regardless of the rest of the setup. For evidence of evolution, the sharpest example pair is potato (a stem tuber) and sweet potato (a root tuber): same function, different origin, so they are analogous, not homologous.
Evolution — Full Chapter (Origin of Life and Evidences of Evolution)
Vedantu NEET English
Full Evolution chapter one-shot; covers origin of life and evidences of evolution, bundled with Darwinism and human evolution too, since no dedicated single-subtopic video could be verified.
ZoologyNEET 2024show ▾Match List I with List II.
List I List II A. Mesozoic Era I. Lower invertebrates B. Proterozoic Era II. Fish & Amphibia C. Cenozoic Era III. Birds & Reptiles D. Paleozoic Era IV. Mammals
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV
- B.A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
- C.A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II✓
- D.A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV
Solution
Mesozoic: age of reptiles and first birds (III); Proterozoic: lower invertebrates (I); Cenozoic: age of mammals (IV); Paleozoic: fishes and amphibians (II).
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Save for spaced revision (free account)ZoologyNEET 2023show ▾Given below are two statements:
Statement I: RNA mutates at a faster rate.
Statement II: Viruses having an RNA genome and a shorter life span mutate and evolve faster.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.Both Statement I and Statement II are true.✓
- B.Both Statement I and Statement II are false.
- C.Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
- D.Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2022show ▾Which of the following statements is not true?
- A.Flippers of penguins and dolphins are a pair of homologous organs✓
- B.Analogous structures are a result of convergent evolution
- C.Sweet potato and potato are an example of analogy
- D.Homology indicates common ancestry
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2020show ▾From his experiments, S.L. Miller produced amino acids by mixing the following in a closed flask:
- A., , and water vapour at 800 °C✓
- B., , and water vapour at 800 °C
- C., , and water vapour at 600 °C
- D., , and water vapour at 600 °C
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2020show ▾Embryological support for evolution was disapproved by:
- A.Karl Ernst von Baer✓
- B.Alfred Wallace
- C.Charles Darwin
- D.Oparin
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
2. Natural selection, Hardy–Weinberg, adaptive radiation
Exam focus: Adaptive radiation and convergent evolution get confused because NCERT covers them back to back: adaptive radiation is one ancestor diversifying into many forms in one place (Darwin's finches on the Galapagos), while convergent evolution is unrelated lineages converging on the same form under similar pressures in different places (the Australian marsupial wolf and the placental wolf). Hardy-Weinberg gets tested both as a calculation (given a recessive disorder's frequency, find the carrier frequency) and as a concept check on what disturbs the equilibrium — mutation, migration, drift, selection — so both are worth preparing.
Evolution — Full Chapter (Natural Selection, Hardy–Weinberg, Adaptive Radiation)
PW NEET
A complete Evolution chapter one-shot. Natural selection, the Hardy–Weinberg principle and the factors disturbing it, and adaptive radiation are all covered as distinct sections, alongside origin-of-life and human-evolution content this subtopic doesn't need.
ZoologyNEET 2025show ▾Sweet potato and potato represent a certain type of evolution. Select the correct combination of terms to explain the evolution.
- A.Analogy, convergent✓
- B.Homology, divergent
- C.Homology, convergent
- D.Analogy, divergent
Solution
Sweet potato (a root) and potato (a stem) look alike and store food but have different origins — analogous structures produced by convergent evolution.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)ZoologyNEET 2024show ▾Which one of the following factors will not affect the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?
- A.Genetic drift
- B.Gene migration
- C.Constant gene pool✓
- D.Genetic recombination
Solution
Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium is disturbed by gene migration, genetic drift, mutation, recombination and natural selection. A constant gene pool is the condition of equilibrium itself, not a disturbance.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)ZoologyNEET 2024show ▾The flippers of penguins and dolphins are an example of:
- A.Natural selection
- B.Convergent evolution✓
- C.Divergent evolution
- D.Adaptive radiation
Solution
Penguins (birds) and dolphins (mammals) evolved flippers independently for the same aquatic function — analogous organs, i.e. convergent evolution.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)ZoologyNEET 2023show ▾Select the correct group/set of Australian marsupials exhibiting adaptive radiation:
- A.Tasmanian wolf, bobcat, marsupial mole
- B.Numbat, spotted cuscus, flying phalanger✓
- C.Mole, flying squirrel, Tasmanian tiger cat
- D.Lemur, anteater, wolf
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2022show ▾Natural selection where more individuals acquire a specific character value other than the mean character value leads to:
- A.Random change
- B.Stabilising change
- C.Directional change✓
- D.Disruptive change
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2021show ▾Match List-I with List-II.
List-I List-II (a) Adaptive radiation (i) Selection of resistant varieties due to excessive use of herbicides and pesticides (b) Convergent evolution (ii) Bones of forelimbs in man and whale (c) Divergent evolution (iii) Wings of butterfly and bird (d) Evolution by anthropogenic action (iv) Darwin's finches
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A.(a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)✓
- B.(a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
- C.(a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
- D.(a)-(i), (b)-(iv), (c)-(iii), (d)-(ii)
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
BotanyNEET 2021show ▾The factor that leads to the founder effect in a population is:
- A.Natural selection
- B.Genetic recombination
- C.Mutation
- D.Genetic drift✓
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2020show ▾Flippers of penguins and dolphins are examples of:
- A.Adaptive radiation
- B.Convergent evolution✓
- C.Industrial melanism
- D.Natural selection
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2020show ▾Which of the following refer to correct example(s) of organisms that have evolved due to changes in the environment brought about by anthropogenic action?
(a) Darwin's finches of the Galapagos Islands
(b) Herbicide-resistant weeds
(c) Drug-resistant eukaryotes
(d) Man-created breeds of domesticated animals like dogs
- A.Only (a)
- B.(a) and (c)
- C.(b), (c) and (d)✓
- D.Only (d)
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2019show ▾Variations caused by mutation, as proposed by Hugo de Vries, are:
- A.Random and directional
- B.Random and directionless✓
- C.Small and directional
- D.Small and directionless
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2019show ▾In a species, the weight of newborns ranges from 2 to 5 kg. 97% of newborns with an average weight between 3 and 3.3 kg survive, whereas 99% of infants born with a weight from 2 to 2.5 kg or 4.5 to 5 kg die. Which type of selection process is taking place?
- A.Directional selection
- B.Stabilising selection✓
- C.Disruptive selection
- D.Cyclical selection
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
ZoologyNEET 2019show ▾A gene locus has two alleles, A and a. If the frequency of the dominant allele A is 0.4, what will be the frequency of homozygous dominant, heterozygous and homozygous recessive individuals in the population?
- A.0.36 (AA); 0.48 (Aa); 0.16 (aa)
- B.0.16 (AA); 0.24 (Aa); 0.36 (aa)
- C.0.16 (AA); 0.48 (Aa); 0.36 (aa)✓
- D.0.16 (AA); 0.36 (Aa); 0.48 (aa)
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.
3. Human evolution
Exam focus: Human evolution questions mostly come down to keeping the sequence and the brain-size numbers straight: Homo habilis (650-800 cc) was the first true tool user, Homo erectus (about 900 cc) hunted and definitely ate meat, and Neanderthal man (about 1400 cc) buried the dead and used hides — Neanderthal's brain size, close to modern humans' 1450 cc, is the number NEET most often tests students into underestimating.
Evolution — Full Chapter (incl. Human Evolution) with PYQs
PW NEET
Comprehensive Evolution one-shot with PYQs covering human evolution in detail, bundled with the full chapter rather than a human-evolution-only video, since none from a reputable channel could be verified in isolation.
ZoologyNEET 2024show ▾Given below are some stages of human evolution. Arrange them in the correct sequence (past to recent):
A. Homo habilis · B. Homo sapiens · C. Homo neanderthalensis · D. Homo erectus
Choose the correct sequence of human evolution from the options given below:
- A.B-A-D-C
- B.C-B-D-A
- C.A-D-C-B✓
- D.D-A-C-B
Solution
Chronological order: Homo habilis (~2 mya) → Homo erectus (~1.5 mya) → Neanderthal man (~100,000 years ago) → Homo sapiens. So A-D-C-B.
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Save for spaced revision (free account)ZoologyNEET 2019show ▾Match the hominids with their correct (approximate) brain size:
Column I Column II (a) Homo habilis (i) 900 cc (b) Homo neanderthalensis (ii) 1350 cc (c) Homo erectus (iii) 650–800 cc (d) Homo sapiens (iv) 1400 cc
- A.(a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(ii)
- B.(a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
- C.(a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)✓
- D.(a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
The worked solution is part of a paid pack.