Inheritance and Evolution questions

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Inheritance and Evolution question collection

Review Inheritance and Evolution questions for Biology, with correct answers shown and coverage across DNA, genes and alleles; genetic crosses and inheritance; variation and mutation.

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Question 1

What is meant by the genome of an organism?
  1. Its entire genetic material
  2. All proteins made by one cell
  3. Only the genes on one chromosome
  4. All traits caused only by environment

Question 2

How is DNA best described?
  1. As a polymer made from nucleotide units
  2. As a lipid that stores long-term energy
  3. As a protein that catalyses respiration
  4. As a carbohydrate in cell walls

Question 3

Which molecule carries genetic information in most organisms?
  1. DNA
  2. Glycogen
  3. Haemoglobin
  4. Cellulose

Question 4

What is a gene?
  1. A section of DNA that codes for a sequence of amino acids
  2. A whole chromosome
  3. A type of cell organelle
  4. A process that occurs during respiration

Question 5

Why can different versions of the same gene produce different phenotypes?
  1. Different alleles can code for proteins with different effects
  2. Alleles always make identical proteins
  3. Genes are not involved in phenotype
  4. Proteins are inherited only from the father

Question 6

Most human body cells contain how many chromosomes?
  1. 46
  2. 23
  3. 92
  4. 44

Question 7

In humans, what are gametes?
  1. Haploid cells with 23 chromosomes
  2. Diploid cells with 46 chromosomes
  3. Body cells formed by mitosis
  4. Cells that cannot carry genes

Question 8

Why does sexual reproduction increase genetic variation?
  1. Offspring inherit a mix of alleles from two parents
  2. Offspring are genetic clones of one parent
  3. No mutation can occur in sexual reproduction
  4. All gametes are genetically identical

Question 9

Why does asexual reproduction usually produce genetically identical offspring?
  1. There is one parent and no fusion of gametes
  2. Two parents each contribute half the genes
  3. Chromosome number doubles in every generation
  4. Genes are removed before cell division

Question 10

What does a dominant allele do?
  1. Is expressed in the phenotype when only one copy is present
  2. Is only expressed when two copies are present
  3. Always produces a harmful phenotype
  4. Is found only in male gametes

Question 11

Why can two brown-eyed parents have a blue-eyed child?
  1. Both parents can carry a recessive blue-eye allele
  2. Eye colour is controlled only by environment
  3. Dominant alleles never pass to offspring
  4. Blue eye alleles are not inherited

Question 12

In humans, which combination usually gives a male biological sex?
  1. XY
  2. XX
  3. YY
  4. XO

Question 13

What is selective breeding?
  1. Choosing parents with desired traits so offspring are more likely to show them
  2. Changing genes directly in a laboratory
  3. Cloning an adult using embryo transfer
  4. Allowing only natural selection with no human choice

Question 14

What is a common risk of selective breeding?
  1. Reduced genetic variation and increased chance of inherited defects
  2. Guaranteed resistance to all diseases
  3. Instant formation of new species
  4. Removal of all recessive alleles

Question 15

What does genetic engineering involve?
  1. Inserting a gene from one organism into another organism's DNA
  2. Crossing two organisms naturally to mix all genes
  3. Growing only cloned plants from cuttings
  4. Using fertilisers to change inherited characteristics

Question 16

Why might genetically engineered crop plants be useful?
  1. They can be made resistant to some pests or herbicides
  2. They no longer need photosynthesis
  3. They can survive without water permanently
  4. They remove all need for selective breeding

Question 17

What is natural selection?
  1. Better-adapted individuals survive and reproduce more successfully
  2. All individuals survive and reproduce equally
  3. Organisms choose new genes when conditions change
  4. Evolution happens without inheritance

Question 18

How do new resistant strains of bacteria evolve?
  1. Mutations create variation, and resistant bacteria survive antibiotic treatment
  2. Bacteria intentionally develop resistance when exposed
  3. Antibiotics cause all bacteria to mutate identically
  4. Resistant bacteria always grow slower and disappear

Question 19

What do fossils provide evidence for?
  1. How organisms and species have changed over time
  2. Exact DNA sequences of all extinct organisms
  3. Daily weather in ancient ecosystems
  4. Future mutations in current species

Question 20

How can isolation of populations contribute to speciation?
  1. Different environments select different traits until populations can no longer interbreed
  2. Isolation prevents any evolution from occurring
  3. Isolation makes all populations genetically identical
  4. Isolation immediately doubles chromosome number in every generation

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Review Inheritance and Evolution questions for Biology, with correct answers shown and coverage across DNA, genes and alleles; genetic crosses and inheritance; variation and mutation.

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