Basic Genetics
What are segments of DNA that determine traits called?
a) Chromosomes
b) Genes
c) Proteins
d) Ribosomes
b) Genes
What did Gregor Mendel study to understand inheritance?
a) Humans
b) Pea plants
c) Fruit flies
d) Bacteria
b) Pea plants
How many chromosomes do humans inherit from each parent?
a) 23
b) 46
c) 22
d) 44
a) 23
What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?
a) It carries amino acids to the ribosome.
b) It copies DNA and carries the instructions to the ribosome.
c) It forms the structure of the ribosome.
d) It directly assembles amino acids into proteins.
b) It copies DNA and carries the instructions to the ribosome.
What is a mutation?
a) A type of protein
b) A change in the DNA sequence
c) A cell that carries oxygen
d) A process that removes genes
b) A change in the DNA sequence
What is the term for two identical alleles for a trait? (BB or bb)
a) Heterozygous
b) Homozygous
c) Dominant
d) Recessive
b) Homozygous
What is an example of codominance?
a) A red and a white flower producing pink flowers
b) A person with AB blood type
c) A tall and short parent having a medium-height child
d) A person having freckles
b) A person with AB blood type
What process creates gametes with half the number of chromosomes?
a) Mitosis
b) Meiosis
c) Fertilization
d) DNA replication
b) Meiosis
In transcription, DNA is copied into:
a) tRNA
b) rRNA
c) mRNA
d) A protein
c) mRNA
How can a mutation be beneficial?
a) By increasing an organism’s chance of survival
b) By always causing diseases
c) By removing all genetic variation
d) By preventing reproduction
a) By increasing an organism’s chance of survival
The physical expression of a trait is called:
a) Genotype
b) Phenotype
c) Chromosome
d) Allele
b) Phenotype
A child inherits one dominant (B) and one recessive allele (b). What is the phenotype if B = brown eyes?
a) Blue
b) Brown
c) Green
d) Hazel
b) Brown
Which structure carries genetic information in cells?
a) Ribosome
b) Mitochondria
c) Chromosome
d) Cytoplasm
c) Chromosome
Which base is found in RNA but not in DNA?
a) Adenine
b) Guanine
c) Thymine
d) Uracil
d) Uracil
What process allows beneficial mutations to spread in a population?
a) Evolution
b) Natural selection
c) Photosynthesis
d) Respiration
b) Natural selection
If B = brown eyes and b = blue eyes, what is the phenotype of someone with Bb?
a) Brown eyes
b) Blue eyes
c) Green eyes
d) No eye color
a) Brown eyes
Which of the following is NOT an example of Mendelian inheritance?
a) Brown vs. blue eye color
b) Blood type AB
c) Tall vs. short pea plants
d) Purple vs. white pea flowers
b) Blood type AB
What is the purpose of mitosis?
a) To produce gametes
b) To grow and repair tissues
c) To reduce chromosome numbers
d) To create genetic variation
b) To grow and repair tissues
A mutation in a gene may result in:
a) No change at all.
b) A different protein being made.
c) A disease or disorder.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
A neutral mutation will most likely:
a) Provide an advantage
b) Cause a disease
c) Have no effect on the organism
d) Stop evolution
c) Have no effect on the organism
What chart is used to predict genetic outcomes?
a) Line graph
b) Punnett Square
c) Chromosome map
d) Phylogenetic tree
b) Punnett Square
What is an example of incomplete dominance?
a) A red and a white flower producing pink flowers
b) A person with AB blood type
c) A tall and short parent having a medium-height child
d) A person having freckles
a) A red and a white flower producing pink flowers
How many unique cells does meiosis produce?
a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8
b) 4
Which type of mutation involves an extra DNA base being added?
a) Substitution
b) Insertion
c) Deletion
d) Replication
b) Insertion
How do mutations contribute to evolution?
a) They prevent genetic changes.
b) They introduce new traits that may become more common over time.
c) They only cause harmful effects.
d) They stop natural selection.
b) They introduce new traits that may become more common over time.