Chapter 5: Genetics

Question 1

Heredity

Answer 1

The passing of characteristics from parents to offspring

Question 2

Trait

Answer 2

A characteristic an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes

Question 3

Genetics

Answer 3

The scientific study of heredity

Question 4

Gene

Answer 4

The set of information that controls a trait

Question 5

Alleles

Answer 5

The different forms of a gene

Question 6

Dominant

Answer 6

causes a trait to always show up if that allele is present

Question 7

Recessive

Answer 7

are hidden whenever a dominant allele is present

Question 8

Probability

Answer 8

A number that describes how likely an event is to occur

Question 9

Phenotype

Answer 9

An organism’s physical appearance or visible traits

Question 10

Genotype

Answer 10

An organism’s genetic makeup or allele combinations

Question 11

Homozygous

Answer 11

An organism whose Genotype has 2 identical alleles for a trait

Question 12

Heterozygous

Answer 12

An organism whose Genotype has 2 different alleles for a trait.

Question 13

Meiosis

Answer 13

The process by which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half

Question 14

Protein Synthesis

Answer 14

The process by which proteins are made

Question 15

Mutation

Answer 15

Any type of change in a gene or chromosome

Question 16

Who was Gregor Mendel?

Answer 16

A friar in the mid nineteenth century, who wondered why different pea plants had different characteristics.

Question 17

What are the four steps of how proteins are produced from RNA?

Answer 17

Step 1: Messenger RNA Production
Step 2: Messenger RNA Attaches to a Ribosome
Step 3: Transfer RNA Attaches to Messenger RNA
Step 4: Protein Production Continues

Question 18

What is the function of tRNA in the protein synthesis process?

Answer 18

Carries the message (genetic code from DNA) from the cytoplasm to the ribosome and carries amino acids to the ribosome and adds them to the mixture that will become a protein

Question 19

Which of the nitrogen bases can only be found in RNA?

Answer 19

adenine, ctyosine, uracil, and guanine

Question 20

How are DNA and RNA different from each other?

Answer 20

RNA has one strand, while DNA had two
RNA is made of a different sugar molecule than DNA
RNA has different nitrogen bases than DNA

Question 21

What is the Chromosome Theory of Inheritance?

Answer 21

That genes are carried from parents to their offspring on chromosomes

Question 22

Which of the nitrogen bases are only found in DNA?

Answer 22

adenine, ctyosine, thymine, guanine

Question 23

On what conditions can a mutation be passed from parent to offspring?

Answer 23

A mutation can only be passed on to the offspring and effect its phenotype if the mutation occurs in the sex cells of the parent.

Question 24

If a coin is being tossed 100 times, how many heads are expected? How many tails?

Answer 24

50 heads, 50 tails

Question 25

What plant did Mendel use for his experiments in heredity?

Answer 25

Peas

Question 26

What traits did Mendel observe in his pea plants?

Answer 26

Height, Flower color, Seed color, and Seed shape

Question 27

Can two organisms have the same phenotype but have different genotypes?

Answer 27

Yes

Question 28

What does the phrase “independent events” mean with regards to probability?

Answer 28

When you toss a coin the outcome of the toss doesn’t affect the outcome of the next toss

Question 29

What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis

Answer 29

Copies the genetic code from the DNA and carries the message to the cytoplasm

Question 30

Explain codominance, how is it different from the usual dominant or recessive phenotypes?

Answer 30

When alleles are neither dominant nor recessive. It is different because both alleles will be expressed in the offspring