Genetics Midterm Exam
Genetics Midterm Exam
Genetics Midterm Exam
Part A. Multiple Choice. Select the best response for each statement. (½ X 50 = 25 mks)
1. When an area of a chromatid is exchanged with the matching area on a chromatid of its
homologous chromosome, occurs.
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a) crossing over c) hybridization
b) pollination d) fertilization
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2. The process described in question 1 above results in a .
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a) female genotype c) genetic recombination
b) male genotype d) phonotype replication
4. Mendel’s law of segregation states that during meiosis, the factors that control each trait
separate, and from each pair is/are passed to the offspring.
a) one factor c) two factors
b) the dominant trait d) the recessive trait
5. The law of independent assortment states that the inheritance of alleles for on trait is not
affected by the inheritance of alleles for a different trait if the genes for the traits are on .
a) separate chromosomes c) the same chromosome
b) homologous chromosomes d) homozygous chromosomes
7. A white mouse, whose parents are both white, produces only brown offspring when mated
with a brown mouse. The white mouse is most probably .
a) homozygous recessive c) homozygous dominant
b) heterozygous d) haploid
8. Pea plants were chosen for the first genetic studies because .
a) they are easy and fast to grow d) all of the above
b) the come with many distinct traits e) none of the above
c) their reproduction can be controlled
10. Using the stamen of a purple flower pea plant to pollinate the stigma of the white pea flower
plant is referred to as .
a) self pollination c) fertilization
b) cross pollination d) assortment
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11. In determining the colour of watermelon skin, G represents solid green colour, g represents
striped colour. If two Gg plants are crossed, what will be the phenotypic ratio of the
offspring?
a) 3 green :1 striped c) 1 GG: 2 Gg: 1 gg
b) 3 striped: 1 green d) Impossible to determine
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13. An allele that is fully expressed or described as the stronger trait regardless of being pure or
hybrid is referred to as .
a) dominant c) homologous
b) recessive d) heterozygous
15. Chromosomes that code for traits that are not determining gender or carried on the gender
chromosomes, are called .
a) autosomes b) X and Y c) Somatic d) Trisomy
16. A man carries the gene for cystic fibrosis has the genotype Cc, but is normal. The
percentage of his gametes that carry the cystic fibrosis allele, c, is .
a) 25% b) 50% c) 75% d) 100%
17. The gamete that contains the genes carried by the father is the .
a) sperm b) ovum c) zygote d) embryo
18. Pairs of chromosomes which are the same size, same location of centromere, carrying the
same genes (though different alleles) are called .
a) analogous c) hybridizations
b) homologous d) homozygous
19. Genes that result in death, such as Tay Sachs and Huntington’s disease are called .
a) homologous c) killer genes
b) deleterious genes d) recessive traits
20. Mary is 50 years old and has been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. Her father was
killed accidentally at a young age. Her mother is 80 years old and normal. Huntington’s
disease is a dominant trait. What is Mary’s genotype? Use H for Huntington’s, h for normal.
a) HH b) Hh c) hh d) Cannot determine
24. Studying the probability of two traits occurring at any one time would result in .
a) A pedigree c) A trihybrid cross
b) A monohybrid cross d) A dihybrid cross
26. A male with hemophilia (recessive allele) would have the following genotype:
a) XhXH b) XHYh c) XhXh d) XhY
28. In tomato plants the following alleles are possible: R = round shaped tomatoes, r = pear
shaped tomatoes, T = tall vines and, t = short vines. A tomato plant with short vines and
round fruit has which possible genotypes?
a) RrTt only b) RRtt or Rrtt c) RrTT only d) RrTt or RRTT
29. Y=yellow seeds, y = green seeds; S = smooth seeds, and s = rough seeds in pea plants.
Two heterozygous pea plants for both traits are crosses. 9 out of 16 of their offspring will
probably be:
a) yellow, rough c) green, rough
b) yellow, smooth d) green, smooth
30. When a red snap dragon is crossed with a white snap dragon, all the offspring are pink. This
is an example of inheritance.
a) dominance c) incomplete dominance
b) co-dominance d) multiple allelic
33. When examining someone’s eye, we notice many different coloured pigments. The fact that
the pigments do not blend and more than one may be seen together, indicates .
a) simple dominant alleles c) incomplete dominance of the alleles
b) co-dominance of the alleles d) cross over occurs
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34. Appaloosa horses are spotted with white hairs and grey hairs. When two appaloosa horses
mate, 25% of their offspring are grey, 25% are white, and 50% are appaloosa. This trait is
controlled by .
a) co-dominant alleles c) multiple alleles
b) incompletely dominant alleles d) many genes
38. Tom has type B blood. His mother is type O blood. What is Tom’s genotype?
a) BO c) IBi
b) B d) IBIB
39. A man, heterozygous for blood type A, marries a woman heterozygous for type B blood. The
chance that their child will have type O blood is .
a) 0% c) 50%
b) 25% d) 75%
40. Blood type can be used to prove a man is the father of a child.
a) this statement is true b) this statement is false
41. The blood types A, B, AB, and O are the result of inheritance.
a) polygenic c) sex-linked
b) autosomal recessive d) autosomal dominant
Use the diagram below to answer the next eight questions (43-50).
This pedigree chart represents Sammy’s extended family tree. Sammy is the oldest child in his
family and he has inherited an extremely rare degenerative disease. In this pedigree use "A" to
represent the dominant allele and "a" to represent the recessive allele.
I Sammy’s Pedigree
Chart
II
III
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IV
43. Which type of inheritance pattern is most likely indicated by the pedigree shown?
a) Autosomal dominant disorder c) autosomal recessive disorder
b) sex-linked inheritance d) both b & c
48. What was the likelihood of Sammy being born with this disorder?
a) 0% b) 25% c) 50% d) 75%
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Part B. Long Response. Answer as indicated in the space provided. (45)
In Mendels pea plants the allele for tall (T) plants was dominant over the allele for short
(t) plants. Use this information to answer questions 1-7.
1. List the possible genotypes for a tall plant and a short plant . (1)
2. Complete the punnett square for a cross between a homozygous recessive male plant and a
homozygous dominant female plant. (2)
4. Mendel then crossed two of the offspring from the F1. Use a punnett square to show the
genotypes of the F2 generation. (2)
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5. What is the genotypic ratio and the phenotypic ratio
for the F2 generation. (2)
6. You suspect that the purple plants you bought from a breeder are hybrid for white colour.
You perform a test cross. If you have a hybrid plant, what probability of white flowers would
you expect? Draw a punnett square to support your answer. (4)
7. How did Mendel ensure that when he was cross pollinating plant A with pollen from plant B,
that it received pollen only from plant B and not from any other plant? (1)
8. Why is it necessary for gametes to be produced through meiosis rather than mitosis? (1)
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9. In pea plants, the allele for tall stems (T) is dominant over the allele for short stems (t) and
round seeds (R) is dominant over wrinkled seeds (r). If the alleles for stem length and seed
texture segregate independently, what is the expected ratio of phenotypes of offspring from
a cross between a heterozygous pea plant for both traits with a homozygous recessive pea
plant for both traits? Use a punnett square to show your dihybrid cross. (4)
Phenotypic ratio
11. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is potential lethal. Individuals with FH have a 50%
chance of passing the disorder on to offspring. Individuals who are homozygous recessive
have 6 times (very high level) the normal cholesterol level in their blood. Heterozygous
individuals have 2 times (high level) the cholesterol level. Use the pedigree below to assist
in your answers to the questions that follow. The pedigree symbols with circles in them
represent homozygous recessive individuals.
I 1 2
II 1 2 3 4
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III 1 2 3 4
a) What are the benefits of being able to see the transmission of a trait over a family’s
history? (1)
b) If this was your family represented by the pedigree, and you learned you had the same
genotype as individual I-2, how could this information be beneficial to you? (1)
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12. Sickle cell anemia results in the blood cells taking on a sickle shape, it is predominant in the
African-American populations. This causes the blood cells to stick together and clog
vessels. This results in lower oxygen levels and increases the risk of stroke. Children who
are homozygous for this condition may die very young. Heterozygous individuals seem to be
less likely to get ill from malaria. Individuals who are normal for blood do not have an issue
with anemia, but will get seriously ill if infected with malaria. Yet the allele for sickle cell
remains relatively high in the African-American population. Explain. (3)
Use the diagram on the right to answer the next three Karyotype
questions.
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15. What happened during meiosis to cause this disorder? Explain. (2)
16. How does incomplete dominance differ from co-dominance? Use an example of each type
of inheritance, and how it is manifested (shown) in your explanation. (2)
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17. In our classroom traits activity we looked at several traits like eye color, earlobe shape, hitch
hiker’s thumb etc. Which allele for each trait would you expect to be the most common, the
dominant or recessive? Explain. (1)
18. In the “Probability and Inheritance Lab” we tossed one coin, then two coins and then two
coins with “R” and “r” on respective sides. Mendel’s laws are:
Law of Dominance
Law of Segregation
Law of Independent Assortment
a) In the first part we flipped one coin. Explain which of Mendel’s laws this represents and
how. (1)
b) In the second part we flipped two coins at the same time. Explain which of Mendel’s laws
this represents and how. (1)
c) In the third part we flipped two coins, one with “R” on both sides and another with “r” on
both sides. Explain which of Mendel’s laws this represents and how. (1)
19. In the “Pipe Cleaner Baby” lab, the male offspring with one allele for the trait had
haemophilia while the females with one allele for the trait were “carriers.” Explain why this
disease only affects males in this way. (2)
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20. Briefly describe the chromosomal disorders you researched (powerpoint). Explain the
following: The cause at the chromosomal level, the inheritance pattern, symptoms and/or
complications and treatment/prevention. (3)
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21. Briefly describe the chromosomal disorders you researched (poster). Explain the following:
The cause at the chromosomal level, the inheritance pattern, symptoms and/or
complications and treatment/prevention. (3)
The following question is an opinion based question. You will not be graded on what your
opinion is but, rather, on your ability to support your opinion based on previous knowledge, your
view of life and family, and knowledge acquired in this course.
22. You and your older brother (you are both about 20 years old) have just found out that your
father has been diagnosed with Huntington Disease. This is an incurable disorder that
causes a slow progressive deterioration of the brain, resulting in death. Symptoms show in
the affected individual around age 30 – 50. It is an autosomal dominant disorder, for which
a genetic screening test has been developed. A DNA test can reveal with 100% certainty as
to whether or not one will develop the disease. How would you respond to this information
and what future decisions might this impact. Be sure to explain the basis for your decision in
a logical manner, taking as many factors as possible into consideration. (3)
23. Provide a question you expected on the test that was not asked. Provide the correct answer
for UP TO three bonus marks. One mark awarded to a question/answer that is recall type.
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Two marks awarded to a question/answer that is recall but requires details. 3 marks are
reserved for high-level thinking question/answer.
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