Genetics

Gregor Mendel is best known for his work with pea plants and for helping uncover many of the mysteries of genetics. One of his major findings stated that there were specific, physical units of inheritance that are transmitted during reproduction. What is the the name given to these units of inheritance which can be found on chromosomes?

• centromeres

• cytoplasm

• genes

• nucleotides

A portion of DNA, known as a ________, is responsible for the inheritance of a trait, like eye color or blood type in humans.

• chromosome

• codon

• gene

• nucleotide

Mitosis is responsible for growth, repair, and maintenance in an organism because

• it occurs at a slower rate than meiosis.

• the chromosome number is reduced by half.

• exact duplicates of each mother cell are produced.

• it is the only process that involves replication of genetic material.

In rabbits, white fur is a recessive trait. Based on this fact, what statement BEST describes this rabbit's genotype?

• It must have the genotype Bb.

• It is homozygous for fur color.

• It cannot have the genotype bb.

• It is heterozygous for fur color.

Which statement is true for asexual reproduction?

• Genetic information from two parents is copied and passed on to form offspring with new genetic information.

• Genetic information from a single parent is copied and passed on to form offspring with new genetic information.

• Genetic information from two parents is copied and passed on to form offspring with identical genetic information.

• Genetic information from a single parent is copied and passed on to form offspring with the same genetic information.

In this field of sunflowers, variation exists. Some flowers are tall, others short, and finally some plants are an intermediate height. The tallest plants shade the shorter; the taller plants are pollinated first. Over time, we might expect this field of sunflowers to be mostly tall. According to this scenario, we would classify the production of the sunflowers in what area of this Venn diagram?

• A

• B

• C

In sexually reproducing organisms, genes are transferred via _______________?

• budding

• regeneration

• egg and sperm

• diploid body cells

Check out the illustration above. Using the CORRECT terminology, matched with the correct lettered structures, explain how all are related to inheritance.

• This cell (B) contains chromosomes (A) in the nucleus (C). The chromosomes are made up of genes (D) that are made of short strands of DNA (E).

• In every cell on Earth (B), DNA (A) is found in the nucleus (C). The DNA is organized into genes (D) which build chromosomes (E), which we inherit from our parents.

• This is a cell (B) with a nucleus (C) containing DNA (A). The DNA is organized into chromosomes (D). A section of the chromosome that codes for a trait is called a gene (E).

• This is a cell (B) with a nucleus (C) that contains 46 chromosomes (A). The chromosomes are makeup of many genes (E) that, in turn, are made up of long strands of tightly coiled DNA (D).

Organisms can reproduce asexually or sexually. Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are identical to the parent while sexual reproduction produces offspring that are not identical to either parent. Review the list of terms and phrases. Select all associated with sexual reproduction?

• mitosis

• fertilization

• regeneration

• egg and sperm

• chromosomes from parents

The genetic information contained in the cells resulting from meiosis

• has no role in determining traits of organisms

• determines the traits of the parent organism that produces the cells

• determines the traits of offspring resulting from sexual reproduction

• determines the traits of offspring resulting from asexual reproduction