BIO 182 Lab 2 Mendelian Dilemma
Complete Workbook Questions and
Answers | 2026/2027 Updated Version |
100% Correct Verified Solution Key |
Arizona State University (ASU) General
Biology II
Section A: Mendelian Vocabulary & Basic Concepts (Q1–Q20)
Q1. A heritable feature, such as flower color, is called a:
A) Trait
B) Character
C) Allele
D) Gene
Answer: B
Rationale: A character is the heritable feature itself; a trait is a specific variant
of that character (e.g., purple vs. white flowers) .
Q2. A specific version of a gene is called a(n):
A) Character
B) Trait
C) Allele
D) Locus
Answer: C
,Rationale: Alleles are alternative forms of the same gene (e.g., P and p for
flower color) .
Q3. An individual with two identical alleles at a locus is said to be:
A) Heterozygous
B) Homozygous
C) Hemizygous
D) Epistatic
Answer: B
Rationale: Homozygous means two copies of the same allele (AA or aa);
heterozygous means two different alleles (Aa) .
Q4. The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an
organism are its:
A) Genotype
B) Phenotype
C) Karyotype
D) Allele frequency
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenotype is the expressed trait; genotype is the underlying
genetic makeup .
Q5. Which cellular process explains Mendel's principle of equal
segregation?
A) Mitosis
B) Meiosis
C) Fertilization
D) DNA replication
Answer: B
Rationale: Homologous chromosomes separate during meiosis I, so each
gamete receives one allele from each gene pair .
,Q6. Mendel's principle of independent assortment holds true when
genes are:
A) Close together on the same chromosome
B) On different chromosomes or very far apart on the same chromosome
C) Always inherited together
D) Located only on sex chromosomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Independent assortment requires genes to be on separate
chromosomes or far enough apart that crossing over separates them .
Q7. A cross between an individual with a dominant phenotype and a
homozygous recessive individual is called a:
A) Dihybrid cross
B) Reciprocal cross
C) Test cross
D) Backcross
Answer: C
Rationale: A test cross helps infer the genotype of a dominant-phenotype
individual by revealing whether it carries a recessive allele .
Q8. In incomplete dominance, the heterozygote phenotype is:
A) Identical to the dominant homozygote
B) Identical to the recessive homozygote
C) Intermediate between the two homozygotes
D) A mixture of both homozygote phenotypes
Answer: C
Rationale: In incomplete dominance, the heterozygote shows a blended,
intermediate phenotype .
Q9. In codominance, the heterozygote phenotype is:
A) Intermediate between the two homozygotes
B) A mixture of both homozygote phenotypes (both expressed)
, C) Identical to the dominant homozygote
D) Lethal
Answer: B
Rationale: Codominance means both alleles are fully expressed in the
heterozygote (e.g., AB blood type) .
Q10. Which term describes one gene masking the expression of
another gene?
A) Pleiotropy
B) Epistasis
C) Polygenic inheritance
D) Incomplete dominance
Answer: B
Rationale: Epistasis occurs when an allele of one gene masks the effect of
alleles at a different gene .
Q11. A true-breeding organism is one that:
A) Is always heterozygous
B) Produces offspring with the same trait generation after generation
C) Cannot reproduce
D) Shows incomplete dominance
Answer: B
Rationale: True-breeding (homozygous) individuals produce offspring
identical to themselves when self-fertilized or crossed with the same
genotype.
Q12. The physical location of a gene on a chromosome is its:
A) Allele
B) Locus
C) Genotype
D) Karyotype
Complete Workbook Questions and
Answers | 2026/2027 Updated Version |
100% Correct Verified Solution Key |
Arizona State University (ASU) General
Biology II
Section A: Mendelian Vocabulary & Basic Concepts (Q1–Q20)
Q1. A heritable feature, such as flower color, is called a:
A) Trait
B) Character
C) Allele
D) Gene
Answer: B
Rationale: A character is the heritable feature itself; a trait is a specific variant
of that character (e.g., purple vs. white flowers) .
Q2. A specific version of a gene is called a(n):
A) Character
B) Trait
C) Allele
D) Locus
Answer: C
,Rationale: Alleles are alternative forms of the same gene (e.g., P and p for
flower color) .
Q3. An individual with two identical alleles at a locus is said to be:
A) Heterozygous
B) Homozygous
C) Hemizygous
D) Epistatic
Answer: B
Rationale: Homozygous means two copies of the same allele (AA or aa);
heterozygous means two different alleles (Aa) .
Q4. The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an
organism are its:
A) Genotype
B) Phenotype
C) Karyotype
D) Allele frequency
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenotype is the expressed trait; genotype is the underlying
genetic makeup .
Q5. Which cellular process explains Mendel's principle of equal
segregation?
A) Mitosis
B) Meiosis
C) Fertilization
D) DNA replication
Answer: B
Rationale: Homologous chromosomes separate during meiosis I, so each
gamete receives one allele from each gene pair .
,Q6. Mendel's principle of independent assortment holds true when
genes are:
A) Close together on the same chromosome
B) On different chromosomes or very far apart on the same chromosome
C) Always inherited together
D) Located only on sex chromosomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Independent assortment requires genes to be on separate
chromosomes or far enough apart that crossing over separates them .
Q7. A cross between an individual with a dominant phenotype and a
homozygous recessive individual is called a:
A) Dihybrid cross
B) Reciprocal cross
C) Test cross
D) Backcross
Answer: C
Rationale: A test cross helps infer the genotype of a dominant-phenotype
individual by revealing whether it carries a recessive allele .
Q8. In incomplete dominance, the heterozygote phenotype is:
A) Identical to the dominant homozygote
B) Identical to the recessive homozygote
C) Intermediate between the two homozygotes
D) A mixture of both homozygote phenotypes
Answer: C
Rationale: In incomplete dominance, the heterozygote shows a blended,
intermediate phenotype .
Q9. In codominance, the heterozygote phenotype is:
A) Intermediate between the two homozygotes
B) A mixture of both homozygote phenotypes (both expressed)
, C) Identical to the dominant homozygote
D) Lethal
Answer: B
Rationale: Codominance means both alleles are fully expressed in the
heterozygote (e.g., AB blood type) .
Q10. Which term describes one gene masking the expression of
another gene?
A) Pleiotropy
B) Epistasis
C) Polygenic inheritance
D) Incomplete dominance
Answer: B
Rationale: Epistasis occurs when an allele of one gene masks the effect of
alleles at a different gene .
Q11. A true-breeding organism is one that:
A) Is always heterozygous
B) Produces offspring with the same trait generation after generation
C) Cannot reproduce
D) Shows incomplete dominance
Answer: B
Rationale: True-breeding (homozygous) individuals produce offspring
identical to themselves when self-fertilized or crossed with the same
genotype.
Q12. The physical location of a gene on a chromosome is its:
A) Allele
B) Locus
C) Genotype
D) Karyotype
