Deck 3: Genes, Environment, and Development

Question 1

Which is the most genetically complex structure?

A) A gene
B) A chromosome
C) A zygote
D) A sperm

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a major claim of Darwin's theory of evolution?

A) There is genetic variation in a species.
B) Some genes aid in adaptation to the environment more than other genes do.
C) New species emerge on their own and are not related to earlier species.
D) Genes that aid in adaptation to the environment are more likely to be passed on to future generations.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The main point of evolution is that development

A) is driven solely by genetics.
B) of nonhumans can be easily explained, while human development is unexplainable.
C) involves an interaction between genetic and environmental forces.
D) seldom aids in adaptation.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

At conception, the genetic material of the mother's ovum and the genetic material of the father's sperm unite, creating a new cell called a(n)

A) embryo.
B) gamete.
C) juvenile cell.
D) zygote.

Question 5

All human babies, regardless of which culture they live in or which language is spoken around them, begin to babble at about the same age. This is an example of

A) species heredity.
B) natural selection.
C) mutation.
D) recessive genetics.

Question 6

The idea that some genes aid in adaptation more than others is known as

A) genetic counseling.
B) natural selection.
C) shared environmental influences.
D) crossing over.

Question 7

In Kettlewell's research, the proportion of dark-colored moths increased as _____ increased.

A) pollution
B) the use of outdoor lights
C) dark-colored beetles
D) the number of trees

Question 8

Which statement concerning the genetic code is FALSE?

A) Zygotes consist of many genes.
B) Genes consist of many DNA strands.
C) DNA strands consist of many zygotes.
D) Chromosomes consist of many genes.

Question 9

Following mitosis, each daughter cell has _____ number of chromosomes as that of the mother cell.

A) half of the
B) twice the
C) four times the
D) the same

Question 10

Conception is defined as the moment when the

A) egg is fertilized by a sperm.
B) ovum undergoes its first cell division.
C) sperm enters the fallopian tube.
D) ovary encounters a sperm.

Question 11

Dr. Spock is using a microscope to observe a reproductive germ cell. He suddenly remarks, "That cell just underwent meiosis!" What has Dr. Spock just seen?

A) One cell ingesting another cell
B) A cell dividing into new cells with twice as many chromosomes as the original reproductive cell
C) The process of fertilization
D) A cell dividing into new cells with half of the chromosomes of the original reproductive cell

Question 12

The belief that we inherit tried and true ways of adjusting to the environment from past generations is referred to as

A) crossing over.
B) incomplete dominance.
C) concordance.
D) cultural evolution.

Question 13

Which statement is TRUE?

A) Genes consist of thousands of chromosomes.
B) Chromosomes consist of thousands of genes.
C) Ovum consists of thousands of eggs.
D) Eggs consist of thousands of ovum.

Question 14

The typical outcome of a female reproductive cell that has undergone meiosis is

A) one egg and three nonfunctional cells.
B) two eggs and two nonfunctional cells.
C) three eggs and one nonfunctional cell.
D) four eggs.

Question 15

Kettlewell's research on the color of moths and their geographic location demonstrates the principle of

A) cultural evolution.
B) social learning theory.
C) natural selection.
D) concordance.

Question 16

The genetic endowment that most members of a particular species have in common is called

A) a phenotype.
B) the collective unconscious.
C) eugenics.
D) species heredity.

Question 17

Which best exemplifies the process of cultural evolution?

A) The fact that different eye shapes are found within individuals in the same ethnic group
B) Inheriting a stronger left arm than a right arm because in the past, this allowed for the faster cutting of grains and more food for families
C) The dramatic shift from Communism to Democracy seen in the Soviet Union in the 1980s
D) Greater height in current generations than in past generations because in past generations, food that needed to be gathered was closer to the ground

Question 18

A sperm cell and an ovum each contribute 23, rather than 46, chromosomes to a zygote because they

A) were produced through the process of meiosis.
B) were produced through the process of mitosis.
C) have undergone the process of crossing over.
D) have undergone the process of canalization.

Question 19

Mitosis is to meiosis as

A) egg is to sperm.
B) doubling is to halving.
C) chromosomes are to genes.
D) sex cell is to normal cell.

Question 20

Most dogs bark but don't speak, and most humans speak but don't bark. This is best explained by

A) species heredity.
B) meiosis.
C) individual heredity.
D) mitosis.

Question 21

A gene

A) is made of hormones and neurotransmitters.
B) can also be referred to as an ovum.
C) when combined with a second gene will produce a chromosome.
D) provides instructions for the production of proteins.

Question 22

We know that two people have precisely 50 percent of their genes in common if they are

A) fraternal twins.
B) identical twins.
C) parent and child.
D) grandchild and grandparent.

Question 23

The purpose of the Human Genome Project was to

A) map the sequence of strands of DNA in human chromosomes.
B) determine how many different bases were contained in human DNA.
C) identify the "double helix" shape of DNA.
D) verify the existence of dominant genes.

Question 24

Which statement concerning human sex chromosomes is true?

A) The X chromosome has more genes.
B) The Y chromosome has more genes.
C) The X and Y chromosome have the same number of genes.
D) The difference between the number of genes on the X and Y chromosome has not been established.

Question 25

Fraternal twin siblings share

A) precisely 50 percent of their genes.
B) on average about 50 percent of their genes.
C) on average about 25 percent of their genes.
D) nearly 100 percent of their genes.

Question 26

Statistically, for every 250 births, you would expect _____ pair(s) of identical twins.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 10
D) 20

Question 27

While Click and Clack are brothers and look somewhat alike, they have only about 50 percent of their genes in common. This would mean that Click and Clack are most likely

A) identical twins.
B) conjoined twins.
C) fraternal twins.
D) adopted.

Question 28

Most cells of a typical male contain

A) two X chromosomes.
B) two Y chromosomes.
C) one X and one Y chromosome.
D) neither an X nor Y chromosome.

Question 29

The majority of the human genome consists of what was once thought to be "_____" DNA.

A) protein-building
B) stem
C) junk
D) fragile

Question 30

As the genetic material in two cells pair up just prior to meiosis, parts of the chromosome are exchanged with a second chromosome. This is called

A) karyotyping.
B) concordance.
C) crossing over.
D) cloning.

Question 31

With regard to twins, monozygotic is to dizygotic as

A) common is to uncommon.
B) one egg is to two eggs.
C) nonshared environment is to shared environment.
D) fraternal is to identical.

Question 32

What was once thought to be "junk" DNA is now known to

A) function as templates for building proteins.
B) control phenotypes.
C) regulate activity of other genes.
D) determine genotypes.

Question 33

Scientists estimate that the average human cell contains about _____ genes.

A) 200-250
B) 20,000-25,000
C) 200,000-250,000
D) 2,000,000-250,000,000

Question 34

According to data generated by the Human Genome Project, all humans share about _____ out of 1,000 DNA bases.

A) 999
B) 499
C) 99
D) 6

Question 35

In order to produce fraternal twins you must have two

A) X chromosomes.
B) sperm.
C) Y chromosomes.
D) recessive genes.

Question 36

Identical twins occur when a(n) _____ divides to form two separate, individual cells.

A) gene
B) fertilized ovum
C) gamete
D) autosome

Question 37

It is estimated that about _____ percent of the human genome consists of what are traditionally defined as genes.

A) 3
B) 33
C) 63
D) 93

Question 38

Due to the nature of chromosomes, the odds of a couple producing two children with identical genes is a minimum of 1 in

A) 640.
B) 64,000.
C) 64,000,000.
D) 64,000,000,000.

Question 39

Which is NOT one of the genetic code bases of human DNA?

A) Adenine
B) Cytosine
C) Guanine
D) Phenylalanine

Question 40

In addition to the sex chromosomes, a typical human being has _____ pairs of autosomal chromosomes.

A) 46
B) 44
C) 23
D) 22

Question 41

During his groundbreaking genetic work with peas, 19th-century monk Gregor Mendel found that dominant characteristics

A) were uncommon in pea plants.
B) appeared more often in later generations than opposite traits.
C) resulted in very wrinkled peas.
D) disappeared within a few generations.

Question 42

What determines the chromosomal sex of a child?

A) Random chance
B) An X chromosome carried by the mother
C) An X or Y chromosome carried by the mother
D) An X or Y chromosome carried by the father

Question 43

The term _____ refers to the actual characteristics a person exhibits.

A) autotype
B) dominant inheritance
C) genotype
D) phenotype

Question 44

The activation of particular genes in particular cells of the body at particular times is called

A) genotyping.
B) gene expression.
C) phenotypical expression.
D) phenotyping.

Question 45

Which is the best example of a genotype?

A) Blonde hair
B) High IQ
C) Your general personality traits (e.g., being shy or aggressive)
D) The genes on your X chromosome

Question 46

Gene expression is affected by

A) only genetic factors.
B) only environmental factors.
C) both genetic and environmental factors.
D) neither genetic nor environmental factors.

Question 47

Fraga and colleagues (2005) study on aging and RNA in identical twins found that the pattern of genetic expression

A) was nearly identical in both very young and older twins.
B) was quite different in both very young and older twins.
C) was nearly identical in very young twins but differed in older twins.
D) differed in very young twins but was nearly identical in older twins.

Question 48

If a person needs one matching pair of genes in order to express a characteristic carried by a pair of genes, the characteristic is considered

A) recessive.
B) dominant.
C) a mutation.
D) polygenic.

Question 49

If blonde hair is dominant and designated as "B" and brunette hair is recessive and designated as "b," probability would predict that if a couple each with a "Bb" hair color genotype had four children, _____ would have blonde hair.

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four

Question 50

Genotype is most accurately described as

A) your inherited genes.
B) a visual representation of chromosomes.
C) the manner in which genes are expressed.
D) incomplete dominance.

Question 51

The fact that Orson is extremely obese appears to be completely due to one pair of genes that he received (one from mom and one from dad). In this case, Orson's obesity is best explained by

A) single gene-pair inheritance.
B) polygenetic effects.
C) dominant genes.
D) sex-linked traits.

Question 52

If you are told that you are about to see a karyotype, you should expect to look at a

A) set of identical twins.
B) phenotype.
C) photograph of a complete set of chromosomes.
D) full-term fetus.

Question 53

Jack desperately wants to have a son. He and his wife already have three children, all girls. Jack divorces his wife and remarries. He expects that his new wife will be more successful in providing him with a son. Which of the following is true?

A) Jack's chances of having a son are better with his new wife.
B) Jack's chances of having a son are worse with his new wife.
C) Jack's chances of having a son are not changed by a change in wife.
D) Jack will be unable to have a son no matter how many children he fathers.

Question 54

Tongue-curling is a(n) _____ trait.

A) recessive
B) polygenetic
C) dominant
D) incomplete dominance

Question 55

When a dominant gene is paired with a recessive gene, the characteristic associated with the dominant gene will be

A) repressed.
B) absent.
C) expressed.
D) dominated.

Question 56

It was noted in the text that the genetic "code" is best thought of as written in

A) mud.
B) stone.
C) erasable pencil.
D) indelible ink.

Question 57

Which of the following is true of a genotype?

A) The phenotype controls the expression of the genotype.
B) The expression of the genotype may be affected by environmental factors.
C) The genotype and phenotype are largely unrelated.
D) The genotype can be altered by experience.

Question 58

Who has the set of chromosomes found in a typical female?

A) (XX) Rose
B) (XY) Daisy
C) (YY) Lily
D) (XXY) Ivy

Question 59

When Topaz comments on Azure's "blue eyes," Topaz is describing an example of a(n)

A) karyotype.
B) genotype.
C) sex-linked trait.
D) phenotype.

Question 60

The activation of a particular gene in a particular cell at a particular time of life is referred to as gene

A) expression.
B) migration.
C) plasticity.
D) pruning.

Question 61

Color blindness and hemophilia are examples of

A) chromosomal abnormalities.
B) dominant inheritance.
C) polygenic inheritance.
D) sex-linked inheritance.

Question 62

Most complex human characteristics, such as personality and intelligence, are inherited via

A) a single gene pair.
B) sex-linked inheritance.
C) polygenic inheritance.
D) mutation of one or more genes.

Question 63

What might make a physician suspect that the person from whom she has just drawn blood has sickle-cell disease?

A) The blood is very dark in color.
B) There is an elevated level of phenylalanine in the blood.
C) The blood cells are not round.
D) The blood cell each contain only 45 chromosomes.

Question 64

Which disorder is the result of a chromosomal abnormality?

A) Hemophilia
B) Malaria
C) Sickle-cell disease
D) Down syndrome

Question 65

As a hemophiliac, Charles has a deficiency in his blood's ability to

A) form the desired round shape.
B) clot.
C) generate white cells.
D) fight infections.

Question 66

Sickle-cell disease likely arose as a mutation that was passed along because it protected individuals from

A) hemophilia.
B) malaria.
C) diabetes.
D) influenza.

Question 67

The key characteristic of polygenetic traits is that they ALWAYS involve

A) a mutation.
B) sex cells.
C) multiple pairs of genes.
D) recessive genes.

Question 68

As it suddenly appeared in the bloodline of the royal family of Europe, hemophilia is best explained in terms of

A) polygenic inheritance.
B) chromosomal abnormalities.
C) sex-linked inheritance.
D) a genetic mutation.

Question 69

A human trait is influenced by a single pair of genes, with "T" representing the dominant gene and "t" representing the recessive gene. Joe (genotype Tt) and Meg (genotype Tt) decide to have children. According to the principles of Mendelian heredity, what percentage of their children would exhibit the trait?

A) 25
B) 50
C) 75
D) 100

Question 70

Marcia has just given birth to a baby girl. She is concerned because she is a carrier for hemophilia. Which of the following is true?

A) Marcia has good cause for concern because hemophilia is most often transmitted to female offspring.
B) Marcia has little cause for concern because hemophilia is most often transmitted to male offspring.
C) Marcia has little cause for concern because hemophilia cannot be transmitted to offspring unless both parents are carriers.
D) Marcia should not worry because hemophilia almost always skips a generation.

Question 71

If green eyes are dominant and designated as "G" and gray eyes are recessive and designated as "g," probability would predict that if a couple each with a "Gg" eye color genotype had four children, _____ would have gray eyes.

A) none
B) one
C) two
D) four

Question 72

Michael is color blind. Whose genes caused this to happen?

A) Only his father's genes
B) Only his mother's genes
C) Either of his parents' genes could have caused this
D) Neither parent's genes, as color blindness is not inherited

Question 73

When looking at the unusual protrusion sticking out of a newborn's head, Dr. Natas says, "I am sure that the growth is due to some sudden change in the structure of the genes that was not passed on by the parents." This means that Dr. Natas suspects that the growth is due to

A) mutation.
B) some nutritional problem.
C) a recessive gene.
D) codominance.

Question 74

Children who have one dark-skinned parent and one light-skinned parent can have a skin tone that is somewhere between their mother's skin color and their father's skin color. This is an example of

A) incomplete dominance.
B) mutation.
C) polygenic inheritance.
D) codominance.

Question 75

Olive has very red eyes, while her husband Skye has very blue eyes. Interestingly, their son's eyes are best described as purple. The eye color of their child best exemplifies the concept of

A) incomplete dominance.
B) mutation.
C) polygenic inheritance.
D) codominance.

Question 76

The fact that type AB blood appears to be the result of a compromise between genes for type A and type B blood provides a good example of

A) incomplete dominance.
B) mutation.
C) polygenic inheritance.
D) codominance.

Question 77

Who is LEAST likely to have a chromosomal abnormality?

A) Tom, who has a total of 22 pairs of chromosomes
B) Dick, who has a total of 23 pairs of chromosomes
C) Harry, who has a total of 24 pairs of chromosomes
D) Sally, who has a total of 25 pairs of chromosomes

Question 78

Incomplete dominance occurs when

A) a recessive gene overpowers a dominant gene.
B) there is a compromise between the effect of two genes.
C) a dominant gene overpowers a recessive gene.
D) genetic effects are overpowered by environmental factors.

Question 79

A sex-linked characteristic most likely involves a problem with the _____ chromosome.

A) X
B) 3rd
C) 17th
D) 21st

Question 80

Which is the best example of codominance?

A) When a yellow flower and a blue flower are crossed and produce a yellow and blue flower
B) When a yellow flower and a blue flower are crossed and produce a green flower
C) When a yellow flower and a blue flower are crossed and produce a purely blue flower
D) When a yellow flower and a blue flower are crossed and produce no flower