Portage Learning
LANIF · 012 DOIB
✚
G
★
A Division of Geneva College
EST. 1848
P R O C H R I S T O E T P AT R I A
BIOD 210 — Final Examination (2026)
CO M P L E T E G U I D E W I T H Q U E ST I O N S A N D V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS — G E T I T 1 0 0 % CO R R E CT
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 210
PROGRAM Bachelor of Science — Pre-Health / ACADEMIC YEAR
Biology
EXAM TITLE Final Examination — Complete Guide TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions
with Verified Answers
COURSE TITLE Genetics FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content spans karyotyping, Mendelian genetics, molecular biology, and inheritance patterns.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive review.
▸ All genetic terminology and concepts reflect current standard references.
, SECTION I — CYTOGENETICS, KARYOTYPING & MOLECULAR
Questions 1 – 6
BASIS OF DISEASE
1. Karyotyping is typically done by isolating ________ from a person, staining them, and taking pictures
under a microscope.
A. Red blood cells
B. White blood cells
C. Skin epithelial cells
D. Nerve cells
CORRECT ANSWER B — White blood cells
RATIONALE White blood cells (specifically lymphocytes) are the cells of choice for karyotyping because
they are easily obtained from a peripheral blood sample and can be stimulated to divide in
culture. The cells are arrested in metaphase using colchicine, stained (typically with Giemsa
stain for G-banding), and photographed under a microscope. The chromosomes are then
arranged in pairs by size and centromere position to create the karyotype. Red blood cells are
enucleated and cannot be used. Nerve cells do not divide in adult tissue.
2. Describe the pathophysiology of Sickle Cell Anemia.
A. A mutant α-globulin protein causes hemoglobin to overproduce, leading to excessive red blood cell
production and polycythemia.
B. A mutant β-globulin protein causes hemoglobin to distort when oxygen is low, deforming red blood
cells into a sickle shape that breaks easily (causing anemia) and blocks small blood vessels (causing
pain and organ damage).
C. An autoimmune reaction destroys white blood cells, leaving the body unable to fight infections.
D. A deficiency of clotting factors causes excessive bleeding and joint damage.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A mutant β-globulin protein causes hemoglobin to distort when oxygen is low,
deforming red blood cells into a sickle shape that breaks easily (causing anemia) and
blocks small blood vessels (causing pain and organ damage).
RATIONALE Sickle cell anemia results from inheriting a mutant copy of the β-globulin gene from both
parents (homozygous recessive). The mutant hemoglobin (HbS) polymerizes under low-
oxygen conditions, distorting red blood cells into a rigid sickle shape. These sickled cells have
two major consequences: (1) They break easily (hemolysis), lowering the total red blood cell
count and causing anemia. (2) They occlude small blood vessels, causing ischemia, pain
crises, and damage to the brain, heart, muscles, and kidneys. Symptoms are exacerbated at
high altitudes where oxygen is lower.
, 3. Why did Mendel use pea plants (Pisum sativum) for his genetic studies?
A. Pea plants have the largest genome of any known organism, making them ideal for study.
B. Pea plants are easy to grow and breed, are self-fertilizing, and are easy to cross-breed for controlled
genetic crosses.
C. Pea plants produce thousands of offspring per generation, enabling statistical analysis.
D. Pea plants have visually identical traits that can only be distinguished at the molecular level.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Pea plants are easy to grow and breed, are self-fertilizing, and are easy to cross-
breed for controlled genetic crosses.
RATIONALE Mendel chose pea plants for three key practical reasons: (1) Easy to grow and breed — they
have a short generation time and produce many offspring. (2) Self-fertilizing — pea flowers
have both male and female reproductive structures enclosed within the petals, so they
naturally self-pollinate, producing true-breeding lines. (3) Easy to cross-breed — Mendel
could manually remove the anthers (male parts) from one plant and transfer pollen from
another plant to control which plants mated. This allowed him to perform controlled
monohybrid and dihybrid crosses with discrete, easily observable traits.
4. A __________ cross occurs when two pure individual parental strains are mated that contrast ONLY in
the trait that is being observed.
A. Dihybrid
B. Monohybrid
C. Test
D. Backcross
CORRECT ANSWER B — Monohybrid
RATIONALE A monohybrid cross involves mating two pure (true-breeding) parental strains that differ in
only one trait (e.g., tall × short). All F1 offspring are heterozygous for that single gene. When
these F1 heterozygotes are self-crossed, the classic 3:1 phenotypic ratio emerges in the F2
generation. In contrast, a dihybrid cross involves two traits simultaneously and produces a
9:3:3:1 ratio. A test cross is performed to determine an unknown genotype by crossing with a
homozygous recessive individual.
LANIF · 012 DOIB
✚
G
★
A Division of Geneva College
EST. 1848
P R O C H R I S T O E T P AT R I A
BIOD 210 — Final Examination (2026)
CO M P L E T E G U I D E W I T H Q U E ST I O N S A N D V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS — G E T I T 1 0 0 % CO R R E CT
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 210
PROGRAM Bachelor of Science — Pre-Health / ACADEMIC YEAR
Biology
EXAM TITLE Final Examination — Complete Guide TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions
with Verified Answers
COURSE TITLE Genetics FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content spans karyotyping, Mendelian genetics, molecular biology, and inheritance patterns.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive review.
▸ All genetic terminology and concepts reflect current standard references.
, SECTION I — CYTOGENETICS, KARYOTYPING & MOLECULAR
Questions 1 – 6
BASIS OF DISEASE
1. Karyotyping is typically done by isolating ________ from a person, staining them, and taking pictures
under a microscope.
A. Red blood cells
B. White blood cells
C. Skin epithelial cells
D. Nerve cells
CORRECT ANSWER B — White blood cells
RATIONALE White blood cells (specifically lymphocytes) are the cells of choice for karyotyping because
they are easily obtained from a peripheral blood sample and can be stimulated to divide in
culture. The cells are arrested in metaphase using colchicine, stained (typically with Giemsa
stain for G-banding), and photographed under a microscope. The chromosomes are then
arranged in pairs by size and centromere position to create the karyotype. Red blood cells are
enucleated and cannot be used. Nerve cells do not divide in adult tissue.
2. Describe the pathophysiology of Sickle Cell Anemia.
A. A mutant α-globulin protein causes hemoglobin to overproduce, leading to excessive red blood cell
production and polycythemia.
B. A mutant β-globulin protein causes hemoglobin to distort when oxygen is low, deforming red blood
cells into a sickle shape that breaks easily (causing anemia) and blocks small blood vessels (causing
pain and organ damage).
C. An autoimmune reaction destroys white blood cells, leaving the body unable to fight infections.
D. A deficiency of clotting factors causes excessive bleeding and joint damage.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A mutant β-globulin protein causes hemoglobin to distort when oxygen is low,
deforming red blood cells into a sickle shape that breaks easily (causing anemia) and
blocks small blood vessels (causing pain and organ damage).
RATIONALE Sickle cell anemia results from inheriting a mutant copy of the β-globulin gene from both
parents (homozygous recessive). The mutant hemoglobin (HbS) polymerizes under low-
oxygen conditions, distorting red blood cells into a rigid sickle shape. These sickled cells have
two major consequences: (1) They break easily (hemolysis), lowering the total red blood cell
count and causing anemia. (2) They occlude small blood vessels, causing ischemia, pain
crises, and damage to the brain, heart, muscles, and kidneys. Symptoms are exacerbated at
high altitudes where oxygen is lower.
, 3. Why did Mendel use pea plants (Pisum sativum) for his genetic studies?
A. Pea plants have the largest genome of any known organism, making them ideal for study.
B. Pea plants are easy to grow and breed, are self-fertilizing, and are easy to cross-breed for controlled
genetic crosses.
C. Pea plants produce thousands of offspring per generation, enabling statistical analysis.
D. Pea plants have visually identical traits that can only be distinguished at the molecular level.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Pea plants are easy to grow and breed, are self-fertilizing, and are easy to cross-
breed for controlled genetic crosses.
RATIONALE Mendel chose pea plants for three key practical reasons: (1) Easy to grow and breed — they
have a short generation time and produce many offspring. (2) Self-fertilizing — pea flowers
have both male and female reproductive structures enclosed within the petals, so they
naturally self-pollinate, producing true-breeding lines. (3) Easy to cross-breed — Mendel
could manually remove the anthers (male parts) from one plant and transfer pollen from
another plant to control which plants mated. This allowed him to perform controlled
monohybrid and dihybrid crosses with discrete, easily observable traits.
4. A __________ cross occurs when two pure individual parental strains are mated that contrast ONLY in
the trait that is being observed.
A. Dihybrid
B. Monohybrid
C. Test
D. Backcross
CORRECT ANSWER B — Monohybrid
RATIONALE A monohybrid cross involves mating two pure (true-breeding) parental strains that differ in
only one trait (e.g., tall × short). All F1 offspring are heterozygous for that single gene. When
these F1 heterozygotes are self-crossed, the classic 3:1 phenotypic ratio emerges in the F2
generation. In contrast, a dihybrid cross involves two traits simultaneously and produces a
9:3:3:1 ratio. A test cross is performed to determine an unknown genotype by crossing with a
homozygous recessive individual.
