,
, Test Bank - Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, 7th Edition (Pierce, 2020)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 01: Introduction to Genetics
1. Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20,000 people. However,
the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona. Explain in terms of
natural selection why albinism is so rare in most human populations.
ANSWER: In most populations, there is fairly strong selection against albinism because albinos don't produce
melanin, causing their skin cells not to be protected from the damaging effects of sunlight. Also, the
lack of melanin in their eyes causes them to have poor eyesight. Finally, in most cultures albinos are
seen as abnormal, and they are not normally sought out for marriage and mating. Therefore, in most
populations the alleles that cause albinism are selected against, and they decrease in frequency or are
kept at a low level, causing the recessive trait to be rare.
2. Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20,000 people. However,
the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona. Explain in terms of
natural selection why the trait is so much more common among the Hopis of Black Mesa.
ANSWER: Albinos occupy a privileged position among the Hopis of Black Mesa. In this culture, albinos are
viewed as especially pretty, clean, and intelligent, and they often occupy positions of leadership.
Albinos are celebrated in the villages as a sign of purity of Hopi blood in the community.
Furthermore, albinos are often excused from normal male field labor because of their sensitivity to
sunlight, causing them to be left behind in the village with the women during the daytime. This
allows them extra mating opportunities compared to the other men of the village. Therefore, the
alleles that cause albinism are either selected for in this culture or at least not selected against as
strongly as in other cultures, allowing the trait to occur at a much higher frequency.
3. Which one of the following pairings between the subdiscipline of genetics and the phenomenon is
INCORRECT?
a. evolution—population genetics
b. gene regulation—molecular genetics
c. allelic frequency alteration—population genetics
d. arrangement of genes on chromosome—transmission genetics
e. chemical nature of the gene—transmission genetics
ANSWER: e
4. Which one of the following topics of research belongs to the discipline of transmission genetics?
a. inheritance pattern of gene alleles
b. mechanism of DNA replication
c. gene expression patterns
d. evolution
e. chemical modification of nucleic acids
ANSWER: a
5. The complete genetic makeup of an organism is referred to as its
a. chromosome.
b. alleles.
c. locus.
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, Test Bank - Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, 7th Edition (Pierce, 2020)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 01: Introduction to Genetics
d. genome.
e. phenotype.
ANSWER: d
6. Identify a TRUE statement from the following descriptions concerning genetics.
a. The theory of pangenesis states that all living organisms are composed of cells.
b. Bacteria and viruses are not useful in studying genes and inheritance because they are structurally
and metabolically different from eukaryotic cells.
c. Charles Darwin accurately described the laws of inheritance in his landmark book, On the Origin of
Species.
d. Many human traits, such as skin and hair color, are determined by more than a single gene.
e. Evolution can occur without genetic changes in the population.
ANSWER: d
7. Identify a FALSE statement from the following descriptions of genetics.
a. Humans first applied genetics to the domestication of plants and animals between approximately
10,000 and 12,000 years ago.
b. Some viruses use RNA to carry their genetic information.
c. Albinism results from a mutation in the genes that control the synthesis and storage of melanin.
d. All human traits that display blending inheritance are affected by a single gene.
e. The process by which genetic information is copied and decoded is similar for all forms of life.
ANSWER: d
8. Which of the following species is considered a model genetic organism?
a. the plant Linaria vulgaris
b. the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
c. the worm Caenorhabditis elegans
d. the frog Hyla chrysoscelis
e. the chimpanzee Pan troglodytes
ANSWER: c
9. Which of the following would serve the LEAST well as a model for understanding basic mechanisms of
inheritance?
a. fruit flies
b. humans
c. yeast
d. mice
e. zebrafish
ANSWER: b
10. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
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, Test Bank - Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, 7th Edition (Pierce, 2020)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 01: Introduction to Genetics
1. Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20,000 people. However,
the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona. Explain in terms of
natural selection why albinism is so rare in most human populations.
ANSWER: In most populations, there is fairly strong selection against albinism because albinos don't produce
melanin, causing their skin cells not to be protected from the damaging effects of sunlight. Also, the
lack of melanin in their eyes causes them to have poor eyesight. Finally, in most cultures albinos are
seen as abnormal, and they are not normally sought out for marriage and mating. Therefore, in most
populations the alleles that cause albinism are selected against, and they decrease in frequency or are
kept at a low level, causing the recessive trait to be rare.
2. Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20,000 people. However,
the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona. Explain in terms of
natural selection why the trait is so much more common among the Hopis of Black Mesa.
ANSWER: Albinos occupy a privileged position among the Hopis of Black Mesa. In this culture, albinos are
viewed as especially pretty, clean, and intelligent, and they often occupy positions of leadership.
Albinos are celebrated in the villages as a sign of purity of Hopi blood in the community.
Furthermore, albinos are often excused from normal male field labor because of their sensitivity to
sunlight, causing them to be left behind in the village with the women during the daytime. This
allows them extra mating opportunities compared to the other men of the village. Therefore, the
alleles that cause albinism are either selected for in this culture or at least not selected against as
strongly as in other cultures, allowing the trait to occur at a much higher frequency.
3. Which one of the following pairings between the subdiscipline of genetics and the phenomenon is
INCORRECT?
a. evolution—population genetics
b. gene regulation—molecular genetics
c. allelic frequency alteration—population genetics
d. arrangement of genes on chromosome—transmission genetics
e. chemical nature of the gene—transmission genetics
ANSWER: e
4. Which one of the following topics of research belongs to the discipline of transmission genetics?
a. inheritance pattern of gene alleles
b. mechanism of DNA replication
c. gene expression patterns
d. evolution
e. chemical modification of nucleic acids
ANSWER: a
5. The complete genetic makeup of an organism is referred to as its
a. chromosome.
b. alleles.
c. locus.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
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, Test Bank - Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, 7th Edition (Pierce, 2020)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 01: Introduction to Genetics
d. genome.
e. phenotype.
ANSWER: d
6. Identify a TRUE statement from the following descriptions concerning genetics.
a. The theory of pangenesis states that all living organisms are composed of cells.
b. Bacteria and viruses are not useful in studying genes and inheritance because they are structurally
and metabolically different from eukaryotic cells.
c. Charles Darwin accurately described the laws of inheritance in his landmark book, On the Origin of
Species.
d. Many human traits, such as skin and hair color, are determined by more than a single gene.
e. Evolution can occur without genetic changes in the population.
ANSWER: d
7. Identify a FALSE statement from the following descriptions of genetics.
a. Humans first applied genetics to the domestication of plants and animals between approximately
10,000 and 12,000 years ago.
b. Some viruses use RNA to carry their genetic information.
c. Albinism results from a mutation in the genes that control the synthesis and storage of melanin.
d. All human traits that display blending inheritance are affected by a single gene.
e. The process by which genetic information is copied and decoded is similar for all forms of life.
ANSWER: d
8. Which of the following species is considered a model genetic organism?
a. the plant Linaria vulgaris
b. the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
c. the worm Caenorhabditis elegans
d. the frog Hyla chrysoscelis
e. the chimpanzee Pan troglodytes
ANSWER: c
9. Which of the following would serve the LEAST well as a model for understanding basic mechanisms of
inheritance?
a. fruit flies
b. humans
c. yeast
d. mice
e. zebrafish
ANSWER: b
10. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
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