BIO 311: GENERAL GENETICS EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| EXAM PREP 2026/2027
Why is genetics so important in today's society? - ANS ✔✔Genetics is used in fields such as
Pharmaceuticals - food additives and medications like insulin are created through genetically
altered fungi and bacteria
Epidemiology - deepens knowledge of diseases such as cystic fibrosis and disease treatments,
and ways of disease identification
Agriculture - increased yields and pest-resistant genes
Why is genetics so important to biology? - ANS ✔✔allows humans to understand that all
organisms use genetic systems that share many similar features;
Genetics also serves as the foundation for multiple other forms of biological study;
Fields like developmental biology and evolution are possible through knowledge of genetics.
What evidence is there that all organisms use the similar genetic systems? - ANS ✔✔the coding
system that is utilized for genomic information for all organisms that contains the same coding
language, DNA or RNA
a method of copying and decoding genetic information that is extremely similar among all
organisms.
What are the three major divisions of genetics? - ANS ✔✔transmission genetics - focususes on
how an organism receives its genetic composition and how it spreads that genetic composition
to the next generation of organisms
molecular genetics - focuses on the gene and its structure, organization, and function, involves
cellular processes such as replication, transcription, translation, and gene regulation
population genetics - focuses on the group of genes found within a population.
, what are the qualities of model genetic organisms? - ANS ✔✔- the ability to be reproduced and
housed cheaply
- a big, but manageable amount of descendants,
- short periods for future generations
- adaptability to a laboratory environment.
what are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells? - ANS ✔✔Prokaryote:
absent nucleus, small cell diameter, one circular DNA molecule, not complexed with histones,
small amount of DNA, no membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryote:
present nucleus, large cell diameter, multiple linear DNA molecules, complexed with histones,
large amount of DNA, membrane-bound organelles
What are the similarities between cell division in bacteria and eukaryotes? - ANS ✔✔- the
processes of DNA replication
- copy separation
- cytoplasm division
Describe binary fission in prokaryotes - ANS ✔✔1. Replication begins on a circular place on the
chromosome called, "origin of replication."
2. newly replicated chromosomes form and move away from each other, toward opposite ends
of the cell
3. Proteins called structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) encircle the DNA and prevent
the chromosomes from getting tangled while being replicated
4. A new cell wall forms between the two chromosomes and produce two cells, each with an
identical copy of the chromosome
| EXAM PREP 2026/2027
Why is genetics so important in today's society? - ANS ✔✔Genetics is used in fields such as
Pharmaceuticals - food additives and medications like insulin are created through genetically
altered fungi and bacteria
Epidemiology - deepens knowledge of diseases such as cystic fibrosis and disease treatments,
and ways of disease identification
Agriculture - increased yields and pest-resistant genes
Why is genetics so important to biology? - ANS ✔✔allows humans to understand that all
organisms use genetic systems that share many similar features;
Genetics also serves as the foundation for multiple other forms of biological study;
Fields like developmental biology and evolution are possible through knowledge of genetics.
What evidence is there that all organisms use the similar genetic systems? - ANS ✔✔the coding
system that is utilized for genomic information for all organisms that contains the same coding
language, DNA or RNA
a method of copying and decoding genetic information that is extremely similar among all
organisms.
What are the three major divisions of genetics? - ANS ✔✔transmission genetics - focususes on
how an organism receives its genetic composition and how it spreads that genetic composition
to the next generation of organisms
molecular genetics - focuses on the gene and its structure, organization, and function, involves
cellular processes such as replication, transcription, translation, and gene regulation
population genetics - focuses on the group of genes found within a population.
, what are the qualities of model genetic organisms? - ANS ✔✔- the ability to be reproduced and
housed cheaply
- a big, but manageable amount of descendants,
- short periods for future generations
- adaptability to a laboratory environment.
what are the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells? - ANS ✔✔Prokaryote:
absent nucleus, small cell diameter, one circular DNA molecule, not complexed with histones,
small amount of DNA, no membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryote:
present nucleus, large cell diameter, multiple linear DNA molecules, complexed with histones,
large amount of DNA, membrane-bound organelles
What are the similarities between cell division in bacteria and eukaryotes? - ANS ✔✔- the
processes of DNA replication
- copy separation
- cytoplasm division
Describe binary fission in prokaryotes - ANS ✔✔1. Replication begins on a circular place on the
chromosome called, "origin of replication."
2. newly replicated chromosomes form and move away from each other, toward opposite ends
of the cell
3. Proteins called structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) encircle the DNA and prevent
the chromosomes from getting tangled while being replicated
4. A new cell wall forms between the two chromosomes and produce two cells, each with an
identical copy of the chromosome
