Genetics Quiz 2

Which of the following is the best way to determine whether two people are related?

• Compare their fingerprints.

• Compare their handwriting.

• Compare their blood types.

• Compare their genes.

Answer explanation

Comparing genes is the most reliable method to determine if two people are related, as genetic similarities indicate familial connections. Fingerprints and handwriting are unique to individuals, while blood types are not definitive for relationships.

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NGSS.HS-LS3-1

The picture represents the offspring of a large feline species. Which of the following would most likely be the animal's parent?

• Image A

• Image B

• Image C

• Image D

Answer explanation

Image D likely represents the parent of the offspring shown, as it depicts a large feline species that matches the characteristics of the offspring, such as size and fur pattern.

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NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In humans, B is the allele for brown eyes and b is the allele for blue eyes. Two brothers both have brown eyes, but one of them has both the B and b alleles while the other has two B alleles. Which statement about the brothers is true?

• They have the same genotype and phenotype.

• They have different genotypes and phenotypes.

• They have the same phenotype but different genotypes.

• They have the same genotype but different phenotypes.

Answer explanation

The brothers have the same phenotype (brown eyes) but different genotypes. One has genotype Bb (heterozygous) and the other has genotype BB (homozygous). Thus, they exhibit the same physical trait but differ genetically.

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NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Tigers and household cats are members of the same family, but their sizes are very different. Why is this so?

• climate

• preferred diet

• habitat size

• genetics

Answer explanation

The size difference between tigers and household cats is primarily due to genetics. Despite being in the same family, their genetic makeup influences their growth, behavior, and adaptations to their environments.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A plant is tall and has white flowers. Another plant of the same species is short with white flowers. If the plants are crossbred, what is the most likely outcome?

• short plants with white flowers

• short plants with dark leaves

• tall plants with white leaves

• tall plants with colored flowers

Answer explanation

The tall plant is likely homozygous for height, while the short plant is homozygous for shortness. Crossbreeding will produce offspring that inherit the short trait, resulting in short plants with white flowers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Where are chromosomes located inside an animal's body?

• Inside sperm or eggs only

• Inside the body but outside the cells

• Inside all types of cells

• Inside blood cells only

Answer explanation

Chromosomes are located inside all types of cells in an animal's body, including muscle, nerve, and blood cells, as well as reproductive cells like sperm and eggs. This makes 'Inside all types of cells' the correct answer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

Which of the following could be affected by the information in the DNA molecules of an organism?

• An organism's physical characteristics but not its behaviors.

• An organism's behaviors but not its physical characteristics.

• Neither an organism's physical characteristics nor its behaviors.

• Both an organism's physical characteristics and behaviors.

Answer explanation

DNA influences both an organism's physical traits, like size and color, and behaviors, such as mating rituals and feeding habits. Therefore, the correct choice is that DNA can affect both physical characteristics and behaviors.

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NGSS.MS-LS3-1

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Humans, butterflies, and trees are all living things. In which of these organisms would you find DNA molecules?

• In humans, butterflies and trees

• Only in humans and butterflies

• Only in humans

• In none of these organisms

Answer explanation

All living organisms, including humans, butterflies, and trees, contain DNA molecules. DNA is essential for the genetic information that defines each species, making 'In humans, butterflies and trees' the correct choice.

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NGSS.MS-LS3-1

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The skin cells of a mouse contain 40 chromosomes. How many chromosomes does a sperm cell of a male mouse contain?

• 10

• 20

• 40

• 80

Answer explanation

A mouse's skin cells are diploid, containing 40 chromosomes. Sperm cells are haploid, having half the number of chromosomes. Therefore, a sperm cell of a male mouse contains 20 chromosomes.

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NGSS.MS-LS3-2

In mussels, the allele for brown coloring (B) is dominant and the allele for blue coloring (b) is recessive. For which parental genotypes are 100% of the offspring expected to be blue?

• bb x bb

• Bb x Bb

• BB x bb

• BB x BB

Answer explanation

The only parental genotypes that produce 100% blue offspring are bb x bb. All offspring will inherit the b allele from both parents, resulting in a bb genotype, which is blue.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1