Genetics basics
In the nucleus
What is a mutation?
A mutation is a random change to the sequence of bases.
How many parents are needed for asexual reproduction?
One
How many parents are needed for sexual reproduction?
Two
Who was the scientist that studied pea plants?
Gregor Mendel
True or false: Mutations are always harmful.
False.
What is the result of reproduction?
Offspring
Does sexual reproduction occur quickly or slowly?
Give two examples of traits.
Examples: hair color, height, hair texture
True or false: Mutations are never random.
False.
Describe the genetic variation of a population created via asexual reproduction.
There is no genetic variation. The population is genetically identical.
Describe the genetic variation of a population created via sexual reproduction.
There is variation amongst the species.
What is a genotype?
The combination of alleles (ex: Bb, tt, PP).
Name one thing that can cause a mutation.
Examples: Radiation, chemicals, viruses
Describe the process of budding.
A bud grows out of the side of a parent plant and once it separates, it becomes its own plant.
Name an organism that reproduces sexually.
What is the name of the four nitrogenous bases?
Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine
What are the four types of mutations?
Insertion/addition, deletion, substitution, inversion
Name the four types of asexual reproduction.
Budding, runners and tubers, binary fission, fragmentation/regeneration
Name a benefit of being a genetically diverse population.
(Open ended) Example: The population is more likely to survive different events instead of being wiped out all at once.