Exam 1: Introduction to Genetics
Which of the following examples of scientist and their contribution is matched INCORRECTLY?
D
Identify a FALSE statement from the descriptions of genetics.
D
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an important model system for studying inheritance in animals and genetic control of animal development, including humans.Evaluate fruit flies as a model system for human biology.What are their strengths and weaknesses as a model system?
Strengths-Fruit flies have proven to be an excellent model system for studying aspects of biology that they share with humans.Fruit flies are simpler in structure and physiology than humans and have a much simpler genome.They are small and easy to raise, they have a short generation time, and they produce a large number of offspring.Their chromosomes have been mapped and their genomes analyzed extensively.It is relatively easy to isolate and study mutants that are defective in specific processes of interest.These characteristics make them ideal for genetic studies of biological processes. Weaknesses-Some aspects of fruit fly genetics and development are not shared with humans.Therefore, some features discovered in fruit flies will not apply directly to humans.Also, humans have many features that fruit flies lack.Fruit flies will not serve well as a model system for studying these features of human biology.
Permanent, heritable changes in genetic information (DNA)are called:
The complete genetic makeup of an organism is referred to as its:
Many good ideas in science ultimately turn out to be incorrect.The author mentions several such ideas in the history of genetics.In your own words, state one idea in the history of genetics that turned out to be incorrect.
Which of the following is NOT a part of a single nucleotide?
Describe a discovery in genetics or an area of current research that you are concerned about that might have a negative impact on your life in the future.Explain why you think it might have a negative impact on you personally.
List and describe two significant events in the history of genetics that occurred during the twentieth century.
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an important model system for studying inheritance in animals and genetic control of animal development, including humans.If researchers ultimately want to understand a biological process in humans, why might they want to study the process in fruit flies first?
What is a technique for rapidly amplifying a small piece of DNA?
Describe one way in which discoveries in genetics will likely impact your life in the future.
How do gene mutations differ from chromosome mutations? What characteristic do they both have in common?
What is the complete set of genetic instructions for an organism called?
Recently, geneticists have associated particular single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)in humans with an increased risk for a heart attack.How do you think this study and similar studies, which have found other SNPs associated with other diseases, will impact medical practice in the future? What is a current limitation in using this type of information clinically?
Why might bacteria be good model organisms for studying the basics of inheritance? Describe two advantages over studying genetics in mice, dogs, or humans.
The three-dimensional structure of DNA was first deciphered based on the work of:
Why was it particularly surprising when albinism was found to be in a very high frequency among the Hopi Native Americans?
Many good ideas in science ultimately turn out to be incorrect.Two of these are the inheritance of acquired characteristics and blending inheritance.Summarize the evidence that ultimately caused the idea to be rejected by modern geneticists.
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