Genetics & Mutations
What is a mutation?
A) A type of protein
B) A change in DNA sequence
C) A process of cell division
D) A type of gene
B) A change in DNA sequence
What is natural selection?
A) Organisms randomly changing over time
B) Organisms adapting to their environment for survival
C) Organisms choosing their traits to become best suited for their environment
D) Organisms living forever
B) Organisms adapting to their environment for survival
What is an adaptation?
A) A trait that increases survival or reproduction
B) A random change in DNA
C) A type of mutation
D) A behavior that animals learn over time
A) A trait that increases survival or reproduction
What does “phenotype” mean?
A) A gene
B) Observable organism traits
C) DNA sequence
D) A type of mutation
B) Observable organism traits
What is one potential benefit of cloning animals?
A) Clone animals to replace extinct species only
B) Make animals live forever
C) Create new species instantly
D) Produce disease-resistant, high-quality livestock
D) Produce disease-resistant, high-quality livestock
How can a structural gene change affect a protein?
A) It can change the protein's shape & function
B) It always makes the protein larger
C) It removes the protein from the cell
D) It stops the protein from being made completely
A) It can change the protein's shape & function
In the beetle example we read, which color of beetle survived better and why?
A) Green beetles survived better because they were faster
B) Brown beetles survived better because they were camouflaged from birds
C) Green beetles survived better because they were stronger
D) Brown beetles survived better because they were camouflaged from birds
D) Brown beetles survived better because they were camouflaged from birds
How does natural selection lead to adaptation?
A) It removes all traits from a population
B) It causes organisms to change their traits instantly
C) It favors traits that help survival and reproduction
D) It stops traits from changing
C) It favors traits that help survival and reproduction
What is an “allele”?
A) A cell
B) A type of protein
C) A mutation
D) A type of gene
D) A type of gene
What did police use to catch the Golden State Killer that raises privacy questions?
A) Ancestry DNA databases
B) Fingerprints only
C) Eyewitness testimony
D) Phone records
A) Ancestry DNA databases
Which is an example of a neutral mutation and why?
A) A mutation that changes an amino acid and harms the protein
B) A mutation in a noncoding region that doesn't affect the protein
C) A mutation that makes the protein more effective
D) A mutation that causes disease
B) A mutation in a noncoding region that doesn't affect the protein
How does differential survival lead to more individuals with a beneficial trait?
A) Beneficial traits make individuals less likely to reproduce
B) Individuals with beneficial traits survive and reproduce more, passing the trait on
C) Beneficial traits disappear over time
D) All traits stay the same in a population
B) Individuals with beneficial traits survive and reproduce more, passing the trait on
Why might an adaptation be harmful in another environment?
A) Adaptations are always helpful everywhere
B) Thick fur is good in cold but harmful in heat
C) Adaptations never change
D) All traits work well in all environments
B) Thick fur is good in cold but harmful in heat
What is the difference between harmful, beneficial, and neutral mutations?
A) Harmful decreases fitness (disease), beneficial increases fitness (camouflage), neutral has no effect (silent mutation)
B) All mutations are harmful
C) All mutations are beneficial
D) Mutations never affect fitness
A) Harmful decreases fitness (disease), beneficial increases fitness (camouflage), neutral has no effect (silent mutation)
What is one ethical concern about using CRISPR on human embryos?
A) It has no risks
B) It always cures diseases safely; there are no inequalities
C) Creating inequality and “designer” traits without consent
D) It is cheaper than other methods
C) Creating inequality and “designer” traits without consent
How could a harmful mutation affect an organism’s survival?
A) It does not affect the organism
B) It always helps the organism survive better
C) It makes the organism grow faster
D) It can produce a nonfunctional protein, reducing survival
D) It can produce a nonfunctional protein, reducing survival
If a new predator sees green beetles more easily, what happens over generations?
A) Brown beetles reproduce more and are more common
B) Green beetles increase in number, and brown beetles become extinct
C) Both colors stay the same
D) Green beetles become faster at escaping, and brown beetles become prey
A) Brown beetles reproduce more and are more common
How could beetle coloration be an adaptation to a forest?
A) Coloration only affects mating, not survival
B) Coloration does not affect survival
C) Beetles change color every day
D) Brown color camouflages, increasing survival
D) Brown color camouflages, increasing survival
What is “differential reproduction”?
A) All individuals produce the same number of offspring
B) Some individuals produce more offspring because of advantageous traits
C) Organisms reproduce without variation
D) Reproduction stops in populations
B) Some individuals produce more offspring because of advantageous traits
From the de-extinction case study, what is one ecological benefit and one risk?
A) Benefit: restore ecosystem functions; Risk: unintended ecological disruption
B) Benefit: animals live longer; Risk: none
C) Benefit: create new species; Risk: animals become extinct faster
D) Benefit: animals become stronger; Risk: animals become weaker
A) Benefit: restore ecosystem functions; Risk: unintended ecological disruption
Using the beetle example, how could a mutation changing beetle color be harmful, beneficial, or neutral?
A) Color changes only affect mating, not survival or nutritional needs
B) All color changes are harmful
C) Harmful: more visible to predators, Beneficial: camouflage, Neutral: no change
D) Color changes always benefit beetles as they adapt easily
C) Harmful: more visible to predators, Beneficial: camouflage, Neutral: no change
Which is evidence that natural selection has occurred?
A) Fossil records show trait changes over time
B) All individuals in a population are identical to each other
C) Traits never change in populations
D) Organisms choose their traits
A) Fossil records show trait changes over time
Which statement connects genetic variation, natural selection, and adaptation?
A) Variation in beetle color and predation rates favors brown beetles, increasing their frequency and causing adaptation
B) All beetles are the same color with no predation rates, increase in reproduction, or adaptation
C) Natural selection removes all variation, equaling predation and survival
D) Adaptation happens without variation
A) Variation in beetle color and predation rates favors brown beetles, increasing their frequency and causing adaptation
How do genetic variation and environmental pressures change traits in a population?
A) Traits stay the same regardless of the environment
B) Environment changes traits instantly, increasing reproduction
C) Variation never affects populations; reproduction is random
D) Variation provides different traits; the environment selects traits that increase reproduction
D) Variation provides different traits; the environment selects traits that increase reproduction
Should people have full ownership of their genetic data?
A) No, because genetic data is not private
B) Yes, privacy and risk of discrimination are concerns
C) Yes, but only if they share it publicly
D) No, because genetic data is not important
B) Yes, privacy and risk of discrimination are concerns