GENETICS FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
In a few sentences, summarize Darwin's theory of natural selection. - Answer -Natural
selection posited that more offspring were produced than an environment could actually
support. Survival in a crowded environment would lead to struggle within a population,
so the offspring that inherited the most desirable traits for a certain environment would
ultimately survive. Over time, variations would evolve in offspring that would make them
more adaptive, and ultimately over time, new species could evolve.
Name 2 types of animal models that are used for genetics research. Describe one trait
that each model possesses that makes it a useful genetic tool. - Answer -Mouse-
similar genome to human, easy to breed
Fruit fly- extremely cheap, short life, easy to breed, small genome
Worms- inexpensive, simple nervous system, easy to use, short life span
Zebrafish- transparent larvae and embryo
How does preformation differ from epigenesis? - Answer -Preformation postulated that
a fertilized egg contained a miniaturized version of a tiny human, called a homunculus.
Epigenesis directly contradicted that theory by stating that a fertilized egg undergoes a
series of developmental events that eventually form a human.
What type of plants did Gregor Mendel use in his famous experiments? - Answer -pea
plants
The chromosomal theory of inheritance states that: - Answer -Genes, contributed from
each parent, are carried on chromosomes.
True or False: Nucleotides are the basic building blocks that make up DNA.
Correct! - Answer -true
Explain how the use of biotechnology has contributed to modern agriculture. - Answer -
Transgenic plants have been engineered to resist insects and harsh environments,
grow bigger and more prolifically, or to enhance nutrition.
True or False: The theory of spontaneous generation posits that living things can
spontaneously generate from nonliving things.
Correct! - Answer -true
Natural selection posits that organisms that have the most advantageous characteristics
will survive their environment. Do humans have the same selective pressures for natural
selection that their animal counterparts do? Are humans still evolving? - Answer -
Modern humans have overcome the survival barriers that most animals face. They
(typically) do not face harsh environments or predators because of their ability to
shelter; they do not need to hunt or gather for food because there are markets; they
have equipment and clothing to help them to be strong, to climb, etc. So, humans do not
, face the same selective pressures that other animals do for survival. That being said,
they do continue to evolve. Genetic mutations occur within populations that may be
slightly advantageous to a certain lifestyle (eg evolving the ability to digest milk even
into adulthood), and these mutations may be selected for within a population. So,
evolution occurs even though it is no longer a true "natural selection" for survival.
Cell theory was introduced by: - Answer -Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann
Charles Darwin's publication on evolution is called: - Answer -the origin of species
Propose examples of certain traits that could benefit a mammal that lives in a
mountainous environment. - Answer -The ability to climb easily, have good balance,
blend in with the colors of mountains (snow or rocks), to deal with low oxygen levels,
and to find food on rough terrain are traits that would benefit a mountain animal.
Answers may vary.
The _________hypothesized that heredity and development depend on the passing of
genetic information via _______that are contained within chromosomes. - Answer -
Chromosomal theory of inheritance; genes
The number of total chromosomes in a normal human chromosome set is____.
Chromosomes exist in matched numbers of____. - Answer -46;2
______ genes are the "normal" genes, such as the red eye color in the fruit fly. A
mutation of a gene is referred to as an ______. - Answer -wild type;allele
How many nucleotides make up DNA? In which combinations do they pair? - Answer -
4; A-T and G-C
True or False: Proteins are responsible for carrying the genetic information within
organisms. - Answer -false
Which of the following statements is correct? - Answer -Dominance and recessiveness
are not linked to the sex chromosomes.
True or False: A dominant gene will always cause the expression of a dominant
phenotype in any genetic cross. - Answer -false
People with sickle-cell disease can become very sick under what conditions? - Answer
-high altitudes
A homozygous long-haired cat is bred to a homozygous short-haired cat. Assuming that
the gene for long hair is completely dominant, what are the chances of the F1 offspring
being long-haired? - Answer -100%
In a few sentences, summarize Darwin's theory of natural selection. - Answer -Natural
selection posited that more offspring were produced than an environment could actually
support. Survival in a crowded environment would lead to struggle within a population,
so the offspring that inherited the most desirable traits for a certain environment would
ultimately survive. Over time, variations would evolve in offspring that would make them
more adaptive, and ultimately over time, new species could evolve.
Name 2 types of animal models that are used for genetics research. Describe one trait
that each model possesses that makes it a useful genetic tool. - Answer -Mouse-
similar genome to human, easy to breed
Fruit fly- extremely cheap, short life, easy to breed, small genome
Worms- inexpensive, simple nervous system, easy to use, short life span
Zebrafish- transparent larvae and embryo
How does preformation differ from epigenesis? - Answer -Preformation postulated that
a fertilized egg contained a miniaturized version of a tiny human, called a homunculus.
Epigenesis directly contradicted that theory by stating that a fertilized egg undergoes a
series of developmental events that eventually form a human.
What type of plants did Gregor Mendel use in his famous experiments? - Answer -pea
plants
The chromosomal theory of inheritance states that: - Answer -Genes, contributed from
each parent, are carried on chromosomes.
True or False: Nucleotides are the basic building blocks that make up DNA.
Correct! - Answer -true
Explain how the use of biotechnology has contributed to modern agriculture. - Answer -
Transgenic plants have been engineered to resist insects and harsh environments,
grow bigger and more prolifically, or to enhance nutrition.
True or False: The theory of spontaneous generation posits that living things can
spontaneously generate from nonliving things.
Correct! - Answer -true
Natural selection posits that organisms that have the most advantageous characteristics
will survive their environment. Do humans have the same selective pressures for natural
selection that their animal counterparts do? Are humans still evolving? - Answer -
Modern humans have overcome the survival barriers that most animals face. They
(typically) do not face harsh environments or predators because of their ability to
shelter; they do not need to hunt or gather for food because there are markets; they
have equipment and clothing to help them to be strong, to climb, etc. So, humans do not
, face the same selective pressures that other animals do for survival. That being said,
they do continue to evolve. Genetic mutations occur within populations that may be
slightly advantageous to a certain lifestyle (eg evolving the ability to digest milk even
into adulthood), and these mutations may be selected for within a population. So,
evolution occurs even though it is no longer a true "natural selection" for survival.
Cell theory was introduced by: - Answer -Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann
Charles Darwin's publication on evolution is called: - Answer -the origin of species
Propose examples of certain traits that could benefit a mammal that lives in a
mountainous environment. - Answer -The ability to climb easily, have good balance,
blend in with the colors of mountains (snow or rocks), to deal with low oxygen levels,
and to find food on rough terrain are traits that would benefit a mountain animal.
Answers may vary.
The _________hypothesized that heredity and development depend on the passing of
genetic information via _______that are contained within chromosomes. - Answer -
Chromosomal theory of inheritance; genes
The number of total chromosomes in a normal human chromosome set is____.
Chromosomes exist in matched numbers of____. - Answer -46;2
______ genes are the "normal" genes, such as the red eye color in the fruit fly. A
mutation of a gene is referred to as an ______. - Answer -wild type;allele
How many nucleotides make up DNA? In which combinations do they pair? - Answer -
4; A-T and G-C
True or False: Proteins are responsible for carrying the genetic information within
organisms. - Answer -false
Which of the following statements is correct? - Answer -Dominance and recessiveness
are not linked to the sex chromosomes.
True or False: A dominant gene will always cause the expression of a dominant
phenotype in any genetic cross. - Answer -false
People with sickle-cell disease can become very sick under what conditions? - Answer
-high altitudes
A homozygous long-haired cat is bred to a homozygous short-haired cat. Assuming that
the gene for long hair is completely dominant, what are the chances of the F1 offspring
being long-haired? - Answer -100%
