Genetics and Evolution

Question 1

What is genetics?

Answer 1

The study of the ways characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next

Question 2

What are the types of characteristics?

Answer 2

⇒Inherited characteristics
⇒Non-inherited characteristics

Question 3

What is an inherited characteristic?

Answer 3

It is passed on from one parent to the child by genes
e.g. Hair colour, blood type, petal colour

Question 4

What is a non-inherited characteristic?

Answer 4

It is not passed on from parents
e.g. playing piano, accent, speaking a language

Question 5

What are chromosones?

Answer 5

⇒They are thread-like structures made up of DNA and protein. ⇒Found in the nucleus.
⇒Humans have 46 chromosones (23 pairs)

Question 6

What is a gene?

Answer 6

It is a short section of DNA in a chromosone

Question 7

What is an allele?

Answer 7

2 different types of the same gene
e.g. dominant traits, recessive traits

Question 8

What is a dominant trait?

Answer 8

It will show in a child if only one parent has the dominant gene

Question 9

What is a homozygous trait?

Answer 9

When the ‘letters’ are either both capital or both small
e.g. DD, hh

Question 10

What is a recessive trait?

Answer 10

It will only show if both parents pass on the recessive gene to the child

Question 11

What is a heterozygous trait?

Answer 11

When the ‘letters’ are different
e.g. Dd, Hh, Bb

Question 12

What is a genotype?

Answer 12

genetic makeup of an organism (letters)

Question 13

What is a phenotype?

Answer 13

The physical makeup of an organism( appearance)

Question 14

What is the success criteria of a genetic cross?

Answer 14

1. Phenotype (M) + Phenotype (F)
2. Genotype (M) + Genotype (F)
3. Gametes
4. Offspring genotype + phenotype
5. Ratio + percentage

Question 15

What is the chance a child will be a male or female?

Answer 15

50% chance

Question 16

Which parent determines the sex of a cell?

Answer 16

Father

Question 17

What is a mutation?

Answer 17

A change in a gene or chromosone. Leads to variation in a population

Question 18

What is the relationship of mutations to an organism?

Answer 18

They can be helpful or harmful
-Harmful: Cystic fibrosis

Question 19

What are the causes of mutations?

Answer 19

Environmental factors
-Smoking
-UV lights
-Radiation (x-rays)

Question 20

What is variation?

Answer 20

the differences in characteristics between individuals of the same species

Question 21

What is evolution?

Answer 21

the change in species over a long period of time

Question 22

What is a species?

Answer 22

a group of organisms that can produce fertile offspring

Question 23

What is natural selection?

Answer 23

the concept that species with characteristics helpful for survival will pass them on to offspring

Question 24

What is diversity?

Answer 24

The variety of living organisms that exist on earth, also called biodiversity

Question 25

What is an adaptation?

Answer 25

a characteristic of on organism that helps it to survive in its environment

Question 26

What is meant by survival of the fittest?

Answer 26

Only the species that fit best into their environment will survive

Question 27

How does evolution happen?

Answer 27

1. More offspring are produced than needed. This leads to competition
2. All populations of organisms contain genetic variations
3. Those best adapted to their environment survive and pass on adaptations to their offspring
4. New adaptations happen as the environment changes
5. New species form over long periods of time

Question 28

Who was Charles Darwin?

Answer 28

A British scientist who traveled the world on sea voyages, studying wildlife. He made suggestions as to how evolution happens, which became the thoery of evolution.

Question 29

Name one observation and his conslusion (Charles Darwin)

Answer 29

opt.1. He noticed that animals frequently create more than they require for survival. He concludes it is challenging for living things to adapt to and survive in their enviroment

opt.2. Inherited variations occur in populations. He concludes that sexual reproduction allows for variation and the offspring become better adapted, pass on good characteristics and overall have a good chance of survival.

Question 30

What did Darwin’s observations and conslusions lead to?

Answer 30

The theory of evolution