Question 1

Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20, 000 people.However, the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona.Explain in terms of natural selection why the trait is so much more common among the Hopis of Black Mesa.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Albinism is rare in most human populations,...

Question 2

List some traits of a species that make it ideal as a genetic model organism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List some traits of a species that...

Question 3

A change in the frequencies of genetic variants within a population over time leads to:
A)a genome.
B)a phenotype.
C)a genotype.
D)mutations.
E)evolution.

Accepted Answer

Evolution refers to the changes in the frequencies of genetic variants within a population over time, which can lead to new species arising from existing ones. The other answer choices are related to genetics, but they do not encompass the concept of population-level changes over time.

Question 4

A form of a gene that has a slightly different sequence than other forms of the same gene but encodes the same type of an RNA or protein, is called a(n):
A)locus.
B)allele.
C)homologous chromosome.
D)heterozygote.
E)homozygote.

Accepted Answer

A form of a gene that has a slightly different sequence than other forms of the same gene is called an allele. While alleles may encode slightly different versions of an RNA or protein, they essentially perform the same function as other versions of the gene. Other choices such as locus, homologous chromosome, heterozygote, and homozygote refer to different aspects of genetics but do not accurately describe the scenario described in the question.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a part of a single nucleotide?
A)Nitrogenous base
B)Sugar
C)Hydrogen bond
D)Phosphate
E)Nitrogenous base and sugar are both correct.

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bond is not a part of a single nucleotide. A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group.

Question 6

A measurable or observable trait or characteristic is called a:
A)phenotype.
B)genotype.
C)single-nucleotide polymorphism.
D)small interfering RNA.
E)gene bank.

Accepted Answer

A measurable or observable trait or characteristic is known as a phenotype. Phenotype is the physical manifestation of an individual's genetic makeup, or genotype. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is a variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide (A, T, C, or G) in the genome is altered. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a small RNA molecule that can inhibit gene expression. A gene bank is a collection of genetic material, such as DNA or RNA, stored for research purposes.

Question 7

Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20, 000 people.However, the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona.Explain in terms of natural selection why albinism is so rare in most human populations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Albinism is rare in most human populations,...

Question 8

Which of the following nitrogenous bases is found in RNA but not in DNA?
A)Guanine
B)Cytosine
C)Uracil
D)Adenine
E)Thymine

Accepted Answer

Uracil is found in RNA but not in DNA. Instead, DNA contains thymine.

Question 9

Who developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique that quickly amplifies samples of DNA?
A)Kary Mullis
B)James Watson
C)Walter Sutton
D)Thomas Hunt Morgan
E)Maurice Wilkins

Accepted Answer

Kary Mullis developed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 1983.

Question 10

Which of the following model organisms was initially used to discover a human gene SLC24A5 that helps to determine level of skin pigmentation?
A)Nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans)
B)Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
C)Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
D)Clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)
E)Corn (Zea mays)

Accepted Answer

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) was initially used to discover the human gene SLC24A5 that helps to determine the level of skin pigmentation.

Question 11

_____ combines molecular biology and computer science.
A)Single-nucleotide polymorphism
B)MicroRNAs
C)Polymerase chain reaction
D)Bioinformatics
E)Eukaryotics

Accepted Answer

Bioinformatics is the field that combines molecular biology and computer science to store, analyze, and interpret biological data, including DNA sequences, protein structures, and gene expression profiles. This field has become increasingly important as advances in sequencing technologies generate enormous amounts of genetic and genomic data. A and B refer to specific molecular entities, while C and E refer to specific biological processes or organisms, which are not necessarily related to the intersection of biology and computer science.

Question 12

Genetic information can be carried in which of the following biomolecules?
A)Proteins
B)DNA and not RNA
C)RNA and not DNA
D)Either DNA or RNA
E)Proteins and not RNA

Accepted Answer

Genetic information can be carried in both DNA and RNA. Proteins play a role in gene regulation and expression but do not directly carry genetic information in the same way that DNA and RNA do.

Question 13

Which of the following model organisms is a prokaryote?
A)Drosophila melanogaster
B)Mus musculus
C)Saccharomycetes cerevisiae
D)Escherichia coli
E)Arabidopsis thaliana

Accepted Answer

Escherichia coli is a prokaryotic model organism, while the other options are eukaryotic model organisms.

Question 14

Permanent, heritable changes in genetic information (DNA)are called:
A)evolution.
B)defects.
C)phenotypes.
D)alleles.
E)mutations.

Accepted Answer

Mutations are changes in the genetic information (DNA) that can be passed on to the next generation and can result in heritable changes in phenotypes. Evolution refers to changes in the frequency of alleles in a population over time. Defects and phenotypes are not necessarily always related to genetic changes. Alleles are alternative forms of a gene that can arise through mutation, but they do not necessarily represent permanent, heritable changes in genetic information.

Question 15

Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20, 000 people.However, the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona.In light of this example and others that you might be aware of, critique the idea that a particular allele is either always beneficial (adaptive)or always harmful (maladaptive).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Albinism is rare in most human populations,...

Question 16

A giraffe reaches for food from the high branches of trees.Over a period of generations of this type of activity, the necks of giraffes increase in length.Which incorrect notion of inheritance would this example BEST represent?
A)Blending inheritance
B)Pangenesis
C)Inheritance of acquired characteristics
D)Preformationism
E)Cell theory

Accepted Answer

This example represents the incorrect notion of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which suggests that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime can be passed down to its offspring. In reality, genetic material (DNA) is what determines an organism's traits, not its activities or experiences during its lifetime.

Question 17

Within cells, genes are located on structures called:
A)genomes.
B)chromosomes.
C)phenotypes.
D)genotypes.
E)alleles.

Accepted Answer

Genes are located on structures called chromosomes. Genomes refer to the entire DNA sequence of an organism, phenotypes refer to the physical traits of an organism, genotypes refer to the genetic makeup of an organism, and alleles are alternative forms of a gene.

Question 18

Albinism in humans is sometimes caused by a mutation in the OCA2 gene.Albinism is a _____ while the mutant DNA sequence in the OCA2 gene that causes albinism is a _____.
A)genome; allele
B)allele; chromosome mutation
C)allele; genome
D)mutation; trait
E)phenotype; genotype

Accepted Answer

Albinism is a phenotype because it is a visible characteristic or trait, while the mutant DNA sequence in the OCA2 gene is part of the genotype, which refers to the genetic makeup of an organism that leads to various traits.

Question 19

Which CORRECTLY shows the flow of genetic information during gene expression?
A)RNA $\rightarrow$ DNA $\rightarrow$ protein
B)Protein $\rightarrow$ DNA $\rightarrow$ RNA
C)DNA $\rightarrow$RNA$\rightarrow$ protein
D)DNA $\rightarrow$ protein $\rightarrow$ DNA
E)None of the above answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

During gene expression, DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated by ribosomes into protein. Therefore, the flow of genetic information is from DNA to RNA to protein, as shown in Choice C. Choice A and D have the incorrect order of protein synthesis, and Choice B has the incorrect direction of genetic information flow. Choice E is not an option.

Question 20

_____ is a change in genetic variant frequencies of a population over time.
A)Blending inheritance
B)Preformation
C)Genome
D)Evolution
E)Phenotype

Accepted Answer

Evolution is defined as a change in genetic variant frequencies of a population over time.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Genetics

List some traits of a species that make it ideal as a genetic model organism.

A change in the frequencies of genetic variants within a population over time leads to:

A form of a gene that has a slightly different sequence than other forms of the same gene but encodes the same type of an RNA or protein, is called a(n) :

Which of the following is NOT a part of a single nucleotide?

A measurable or observable trait or characteristic is called a:

Albinism is rare in most human populations, occurring at a frequency of about 1 in 20, 000 people.However, the trait occurs at a frequency of 1 in 200 in certain Hopi villages of Black Mesa in Arizona.Explain in terms of natural selection why albinism is so rare in most human populations.

Which of the following nitrogenous bases is found in RNA but not in DNA?

Who developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) , a technique that quickly amplifies samples of DNA?

Which of the following model organisms was initially used to discover a human gene SLC24A5 that helps to determine level of skin pigmentation?

_____ combines molecular biology and computer science.

Genetic information can be carried in which of the following biomolecules?

Which of the following model organisms is a prokaryote?

Permanent, heritable changes in genetic information (DNA) are called:

A giraffe reaches for food from the high branches of trees.Over a period of generations of this type of activity, the necks of giraffes increase in length.Which incorrect notion of inheritance would this example BEST represent?

Within cells, genes are located on structures called:

Albinism in humans is sometimes caused by a mutation in the OCA2 gene.Albinism is a _ while the mutant DNA sequence in the OCA2 gene that causes albinism is a _.

Which CORRECTLY shows the flow of genetic information during gene expression?

_____ is a change in genetic variant frequencies of a population over time.