Basics of Genetics Quiz

What is the primary focus of genetics as a branch of biology?

• Study of chemical reactions

• Study of genes and genetic variation

• Study of plant growth

• Study of animal behavior

Which of the following is considered a trait?

• The nucleus of a cell

• The height of a person

• The function of a protein

• The structure of a molecule

Why does DNA need to be condensed into chromosomes?

• To change its chemical properties

• To fit into the small nucleus

• To make it visible under a microscope

• To increase its length

What is a gene?

• A part of the nucleus

• A type of protein

• A segment of DNA coding for proteins

• A type of cell

What is an allele?

• A gene in a pair on homologous chromosomes

• A type of chromosome

• A type of protein

• A segment of RNA

What does the term 'locus' refer to in genetics?

• The function of a cell

• The shape of a protein

• The location of a gene on a chromosome

• The size of a chromosome

In a heterozygous organism, what is the relationship between the alleles?

• Both alleles are dominant

• One allele is dominant and the other is recessive

• Neither allele is expressed

• Both alleles are recessive

What is the genotype of an organism?

• The genetic makeup of an organism

• The location of genes on a chromosome

• The physical appearance of an organism

• The function of proteins in an organism

How does a dominant allele affect the phenotype of an organism?

• It changes the structure of DNA

• It has no effect

• It is always expressed as a recessive trait

• It masks the expression of a recessive allele

What is the phenotype of an organism?

• The number of chromosomes in a cell

• The sequence of DNA bases

• The physical appearance of an organism

• The genetic code of an organism