BIOL 207 Molecular Genetics and Heredity
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Typical definition of Genetics - CORRECT ANSWER - The study of genes, heredity, and
genetic variation
What is a gene? - CORRECT ANSWER - •Basic unit of heredity
•Sequence of DNA that codes for a product (RNA or protein) and it's regulatory regions
•Located on chromosomes
What is an allele? - CORRECT ANSWER - One of two or more versions of a gene
What is a genome? - CORRECT ANSWER - •The complete set of genetic material in a
cell (including mitochondrial, chloroplast, plasmid DNA)
•Includes genes as well as non-coding DNA regions
Genes vs Traits/phenotypes - CORRECT ANSWER - •Genes are inherited
•Traits/phenotype are not directly inherited
•Traits/phenotype
•Observable characteristic
•Manifest as a result of the genes an individual carries, and the environment that influences the
expression of the genes
•Heritable trait - when a particular trait can be passed genetically
Central dogma - CORRECT ANSWER - DNA -> RNA -> Protein
,Since all organisms are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor this implies? -
CORRECT ANSWER - the coding system for genetic information is the same in all living
organisms
ATCG
Model Genetic Organisms - CORRECT ANSWER - Organisms with characteristics that
make them useful for genetic analysis
-six have been the most intensively studied genetically
Six most intensively studied organisms - CORRECT ANSWER - Fruit fly, E. coli
(bacterium), Nematode, Arabidopsis thaliana, house mouse, bakers yeast
Common characteristics of model organisms - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Short generation
time
2. Production of numerous progeny
3. The ability to carry out controlled genetic crosses
4. The ability to be reared in a laboratory environment
5. The availability of numerous genetic variants
6. An accumulated body of knowledge about their genetic systems
How have model organisms advanced our knowledge of human genetics? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Helped identified that certain alleles/genes are responsibly for certain
phenotypes.
Example of early genetics - CORRECT ANSWER - domestication of plants and animals
Pangenesis - CORRECT ANSWER - -each part of the body contains genetic information
for that particular part
-specific particles called gemmules carry info from parts of the body to the reproductive organs
(via blood) then passed to the embryo at the moment of conception
,Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics / Lamarckian Inheritance - CORRECT
ANSWER - -traits acquired in a person's lifetime become incorporated onto the person's
hereditary info and are passed onto offspring
ex. those who develop musical abilities may pass it done to there children
Preformationism - CORRECT ANSWER - -inside egg or sperm is a tiny version of an
adult (homunculus)
-this little man simple enlarges in the course of development
-offspring is genetically solely of the mother or of the father
Blending inheritance - CORRECT ANSWER - -each traits of offspring are a blend or
mixture of parental traits
-suggested genetic material blends like colored traits
What led to the proposal of the Weismann : Germ-plasm theory - CORRECT ANSWER -
-tested the idea of acquired inheritance of acquired traits by cutting of the tails of mice for 22
generations
-this did not alter their tail length thus no evidence to support inheritance of acquired
characteristics
Weismann : Germ-plasm theory - CORRECT ANSWER - cells in reproductive organs
carry a complete set of genetic info that is passed to the egg and sperm
Schleiden and Schwann - CORRECT ANSWER - The Unified Cell Theory
-Q: What are living things made of?
-all life composed of cells and the cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function in living
organisms
Abiognesis - CORRECT ANSWER - -cells arise spontaneously
-disproved: cells arise only from pre-existing cells
, Darwin - CORRECT ANSWER - -put forth the theory of evolution through natural
selection
-recognized the weakness in his theory: lack of understanding of heredity
Key Ideas of Darwin - CORRECT ANSWER - -variation of traits within populations
-traits are inherited
-offspring with traits that increase their probability of survival survive to reproduce
Gregor Mendel - CORRECT ANSWER - -principles of heredity
-discovered basic principles of heredity
-conclusions not widely known in the scientific community until 35 yrs after their publication
-laid the foundation for our modern understanding of heredity
-generally recognized today as the father of genetics
-
3 Laws of Heredity - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. The law of independent segregation: Each
individual carries two copies of an inherited trait (e.g., alleles), which segregate equally in the
following generation.
2. The law of independent assortment: Different inherited traits sort independently of one another
(e.g., pea plant height and flower colour)
3. The law of dominance: For a trait, one allele is dominant and appears in a 3:1 ratio.
Identification of dominant and recessive genes.
Walther Flemming: chromosomes - CORRECT ANSWER - -Examined salamander
embryos
-First to publish on the movement of chromosomes during cell division in 1879
-Published description of mitosis
-"Solved" the separation of chromosomes from mother to daughter cells
-His observations that chromosomes double is significant to the later-discovered theory of
inheritance
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Typical definition of Genetics - CORRECT ANSWER - The study of genes, heredity, and
genetic variation
What is a gene? - CORRECT ANSWER - •Basic unit of heredity
•Sequence of DNA that codes for a product (RNA or protein) and it's regulatory regions
•Located on chromosomes
What is an allele? - CORRECT ANSWER - One of two or more versions of a gene
What is a genome? - CORRECT ANSWER - •The complete set of genetic material in a
cell (including mitochondrial, chloroplast, plasmid DNA)
•Includes genes as well as non-coding DNA regions
Genes vs Traits/phenotypes - CORRECT ANSWER - •Genes are inherited
•Traits/phenotype are not directly inherited
•Traits/phenotype
•Observable characteristic
•Manifest as a result of the genes an individual carries, and the environment that influences the
expression of the genes
•Heritable trait - when a particular trait can be passed genetically
Central dogma - CORRECT ANSWER - DNA -> RNA -> Protein
,Since all organisms are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor this implies? -
CORRECT ANSWER - the coding system for genetic information is the same in all living
organisms
ATCG
Model Genetic Organisms - CORRECT ANSWER - Organisms with characteristics that
make them useful for genetic analysis
-six have been the most intensively studied genetically
Six most intensively studied organisms - CORRECT ANSWER - Fruit fly, E. coli
(bacterium), Nematode, Arabidopsis thaliana, house mouse, bakers yeast
Common characteristics of model organisms - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Short generation
time
2. Production of numerous progeny
3. The ability to carry out controlled genetic crosses
4. The ability to be reared in a laboratory environment
5. The availability of numerous genetic variants
6. An accumulated body of knowledge about their genetic systems
How have model organisms advanced our knowledge of human genetics? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Helped identified that certain alleles/genes are responsibly for certain
phenotypes.
Example of early genetics - CORRECT ANSWER - domestication of plants and animals
Pangenesis - CORRECT ANSWER - -each part of the body contains genetic information
for that particular part
-specific particles called gemmules carry info from parts of the body to the reproductive organs
(via blood) then passed to the embryo at the moment of conception
,Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics / Lamarckian Inheritance - CORRECT
ANSWER - -traits acquired in a person's lifetime become incorporated onto the person's
hereditary info and are passed onto offspring
ex. those who develop musical abilities may pass it done to there children
Preformationism - CORRECT ANSWER - -inside egg or sperm is a tiny version of an
adult (homunculus)
-this little man simple enlarges in the course of development
-offspring is genetically solely of the mother or of the father
Blending inheritance - CORRECT ANSWER - -each traits of offspring are a blend or
mixture of parental traits
-suggested genetic material blends like colored traits
What led to the proposal of the Weismann : Germ-plasm theory - CORRECT ANSWER -
-tested the idea of acquired inheritance of acquired traits by cutting of the tails of mice for 22
generations
-this did not alter their tail length thus no evidence to support inheritance of acquired
characteristics
Weismann : Germ-plasm theory - CORRECT ANSWER - cells in reproductive organs
carry a complete set of genetic info that is passed to the egg and sperm
Schleiden and Schwann - CORRECT ANSWER - The Unified Cell Theory
-Q: What are living things made of?
-all life composed of cells and the cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function in living
organisms
Abiognesis - CORRECT ANSWER - -cells arise spontaneously
-disproved: cells arise only from pre-existing cells
, Darwin - CORRECT ANSWER - -put forth the theory of evolution through natural
selection
-recognized the weakness in his theory: lack of understanding of heredity
Key Ideas of Darwin - CORRECT ANSWER - -variation of traits within populations
-traits are inherited
-offspring with traits that increase their probability of survival survive to reproduce
Gregor Mendel - CORRECT ANSWER - -principles of heredity
-discovered basic principles of heredity
-conclusions not widely known in the scientific community until 35 yrs after their publication
-laid the foundation for our modern understanding of heredity
-generally recognized today as the father of genetics
-
3 Laws of Heredity - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. The law of independent segregation: Each
individual carries two copies of an inherited trait (e.g., alleles), which segregate equally in the
following generation.
2. The law of independent assortment: Different inherited traits sort independently of one another
(e.g., pea plant height and flower colour)
3. The law of dominance: For a trait, one allele is dominant and appears in a 3:1 ratio.
Identification of dominant and recessive genes.
Walther Flemming: chromosomes - CORRECT ANSWER - -Examined salamander
embryos
-First to publish on the movement of chromosomes during cell division in 1879
-Published description of mitosis
-"Solved" the separation of chromosomes from mother to daughter cells
-His observations that chromosomes double is significant to the later-discovered theory of
inheritance
