Question 1

Organisms benefit from having homologous pairs of chromosomes because

Accepted Answer

A)  if a mutation occurs, only the functional copy will be passed on to offspring. 
B)  a deleterious allele can be masked by the presence of a functional copy. 
C)  possessing two copies of chromosomes enables cells to more easily divide. 
D)  genetic variation is introduced into gametes through independent assortment. 
A)  if a mutation occurs, only the functional copy will be passed on to offspring. 
B)  a deleterious allele can be masked by the presence of a functional copy. 
C)  possessing two copies of chromosomes enables cells to more easily divide. 
D)  genetic variation is introduced into gametes through independent assortment.

Question 2

You are studying snails and find that individuals have shells that coil either to the right or to the left. Which of the following is/are the most plausible explanation(s) for this variation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Different alleles at a single locus produce the different phenotypes. 
B)  Individuals are genetically identical, but certain environmental conditions trigger the production of each coil type. 
C)  This is a quantitative trait, meaning that many loci contribute to the phenotypic differences. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c 
A)  Different alleles at a single locus produce the different phenotypes. 
B)  Individuals are genetically identical, but certain environmental conditions trigger the production of each coil type. 
C)  This is a quantitative trait, meaning that many loci contribute to the phenotypic differences. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c

Question 3

How could the presence or absence of a transcription factor in a gene's environment affect the expression of that gene?

Accepted Answer

The presence or absence of a transcripti

Question 4

Which of the following are examples of mobile genetic elements?

Accepted Answer

A)  transposons 
B)  plasmids 
C)  pseudogenes 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c 
A)  transposons 
B)  plasmids 
C)  pseudogenes 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c

Question 5

Transcription factors and hormones can both influence gene expression. Describe how they differ.

Accepted Answer

Transcription factors and hormones both

Question 6

Traits that are more sensitive to environmental stimuli would have

Accepted Answer

A)  more phenotypic plasticity. 
B)  a higher chance of mutation. 
C)  more genetic polymorphisms. 
D)  fewer loci that control them. 
A)  more phenotypic plasticity. 
B)  a higher chance of mutation. 
C)  more genetic polymorphisms. 
D)  fewer loci that control them.

Question 7

You are studying crickets and notice that individuals have one of two distinctive wing phenotypes (short-winged or long-winged). From this, you can confidently conclude that

Accepted Answer

A)  long- and short-winged crickets have different alleles at a locus controlling wing size. 
B)  only one genetic locus must contribute to the wing phenotype. 
C)  the trait must be polyphenic. 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above 
A)  long- and short-winged crickets have different alleles at a locus controlling wing size. 
B)  only one genetic locus must contribute to the wing phenotype. 
C)  the trait must be polyphenic. 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above

Question 8

The human genome consists of

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 50% protein-coding segments. 
B)  more protein-coding genes than other organisms. 
C)  the same amount of mobile genetic elements and pseudogenes. 
D)  approximately the same amount of pseudogenes as protein-coding genes. 
A)  more than 50% protein-coding segments. 
B)  more protein-coding genes than other organisms. 
C)  the same amount of mobile genetic elements and pseudogenes. 
D)  approximately the same amount of pseudogenes as protein-coding genes.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  MicroRNAs bind DNA and block transcription. 
B)  MicroRNAs bind mRNA and block translation. 
C)  MicroRNAs bind ribosomal RNA and block translation. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  MicroRNAs bind DNA and block transcription. 
B)  MicroRNAs bind mRNA and block translation. 
C)  MicroRNAs bind ribosomal RNA and block translation. 
D)  all of the above

Question 10

Which of the following could be considered part of the environment that could influence gene expression?

Accepted Answer

A)  signals from other cells 
B)  contact with neighboring cells 
C)  products from other genes 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c 
A)  signals from other cells 
B)  contact with neighboring cells 
C)  products from other genes 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c

Question 11

Which of the following could not be described as a phenotype?

Accepted Answer

A)  a sequence of nucleotides 
B)  a molecule produced by a gene 
C)  a developmental process 
D)  a morphological structure 
A)  a sequence of nucleotides 
B)  a molecule produced by a gene 
C)  a developmental process 
D)  a morphological structure

Question 12

A mature RNA transcript differs from a primary RNA transcript in that

Accepted Answer

A)  exons are spliced out of the mature transcript. 
B)  introns are spliced out of the mature transcript. 
C)  exons are added to the mature transcript. 
D)  introns are added to the mature transcript. 
A)  exons are spliced out of the mature transcript. 
B)  introns are spliced out of the mature transcript. 
C)  exons are added to the mature transcript. 
D)  introns are added to the mature transcript.

Question 13

Discuss the importance of somatic and germline mutations for evolution.

Accepted Answer

Somatic mutations occur in the non-repro

Question 14

Meiosis is a form of cell division that

Accepted Answer

A)  occurs only in eukaryotes. 
B)  cuts the number of chromosomes in half. 
C)  produces two identical daughter cells. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a and c 
A)  occurs only in eukaryotes. 
B)  cuts the number of chromosomes in half. 
C)  produces two identical daughter cells. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a and c

Question 15

Mutations can affect an organism's phenotype without altering the protein-coding sequence by influencing

Accepted Answer

A)  when a protein is made. 
B)  where a protein is made. 
C)  the amount of protein made. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c 
A)  when a protein is made. 
B)  where a protein is made. 
C)  the amount of protein made. 
D)  a and b 
E)  a, b, and c

Question 16

Craig Venter and colleagues found how many instances where the corresponding nucleotides in homologous chromosomes didn't match each other?

Accepted Answer

A)  453 
B)  13,000 
C)  870,000 
D)  3,200,000 
A)  453 
B)  13,000 
C)  870,000 
D)  3,200,000

Question 17

Organisms vary considerably in genome size. Which of the following explains most of this variation?

Accepted Answer

A)  differences in the number of protein-coding genes 
B)  differences in the number of ribosomal RNA genes 
C)  differences in the number of pseudogenes 
D)  differences in the number of mobile genetic elements 
A)  differences in the number of protein-coding genes 
B)  differences in the number of ribosomal RNA genes 
C)  differences in the number of pseudogenes 
D)  differences in the number of mobile genetic elements

Question 18

Which of these statements about the effect of environment on gene expression is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Signal molecules produced by one cell can affect gene expression in other cells. 
B)  The environment that can affect a gene only refers to conditions immediately surrounding the cell. 
C)  Genes in one part of an organism can be exposed to different environments than other parts. 
D)  Some phenotypic traits are relatively unaffected by differences in environmental conditions. 
A)  Signal molecules produced by one cell can affect gene expression in other cells. 
B)  The environment that can affect a gene only refers to conditions immediately surrounding the cell. 
C)  Genes in one part of an organism can be exposed to different environments than other parts. 
D)  Some phenotypic traits are relatively unaffected by differences in environmental conditions.

Question 19

Cis-acting elements often code for

Accepted Answer

A)  proteins. 
B)  microRNA. 
C)  binding sites. 
D)  transcription factor. 
A)  proteins. 
B)  microRNA. 
C)  binding sites. 
D)  transcription factor.

Question 20

Describe one reason histone proteins are important in cells.

Accepted Answer

Histone proteins are crucial in cells be

Organisms benefit from having homologous pairs of chromosomes because

You are studying snails and find that individuals have shells that coil either to the right or to the left. Which of the following is/are the most plausible explanation(s) for this variation?

How could the presence or absence of a transcription factor in a gene's environment affect the expression of that gene?

Which of the following are examples of mobile genetic elements?

Transcription factors and hormones can both influence gene expression. Describe how they differ.

Traits that are more sensitive to environmental stimuli would have

You are studying crickets and notice that individuals have one of two distinctive wing phenotypes (short-winged or long-winged). From this, you can confidently conclude that

The human genome consists of

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Which of the following could be considered part of the environment that could influence gene expression?

Which of the following could not be described as a phenotype?

A mature RNA transcript differs from a primary RNA transcript in that

Discuss the importance of somatic and germline mutations for evolution.

Meiosis is a form of cell division that

Mutations can affect an organism's phenotype without altering the protein-coding sequence by influencing

Craig Venter and colleagues found how many instances where the corresponding nucleotides in homologous chromosomes didn't match each other?

Organisms vary considerably in genome size. Which of the following explains most of this variation?

Which of these statements about the effect of environment on gene expression is false?

Cis-acting elements often code for

Describe one reason histone proteins are important in cells.

The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

From Natural Philosophy to Darwin: a Brief History of Evolutionary Ideas

What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

The Ways of Change: Drift and Selection

Beyond Alleles: Quantitative Genetics and the Evolution of Phenotypes

The History in Our Genes

From Genes to Traits: the Evolution of Genetic Networks and Development

Natural Selection: Empirical Studies in the Wild

Sex: Causes and Consequences

After Conception: the Evolution of Life History and Parental Care

The Origin of Species

Macroevolution: the Long Run

Intimate Partnerships: How Species Adapt to Each Other

Brains and Behavior

Human Evolution: a New Kind of Ape

Evolutionary Medicine

Filters

Exam 5: Raw Material: Heritable Variation Among Individuals

Organisms benefit from having homologous pairs of chromosomes because

You are studying snails and find that individuals have shells that coil either to the right or to the left. Which of the following is/are the most plausible explanation(s) for this variation?

How could the presence or absence of a transcription factor in a gene's environment affect the expression of that gene?

Which of the following are examples of mobile genetic elements?

Transcription factors and hormones can both influence gene expression. Describe how they differ.

Traits that are more sensitive to environmental stimuli would have

You are studying crickets and notice that individuals have one of two distinctive wing phenotypes (short-winged or long-winged). From this, you can confidently conclude that

The human genome consists of

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Which of the following could be considered part of the environment that could influence gene expression?

Which of the following could not be described as a phenotype?

A mature RNA transcript differs from a primary RNA transcript in that

Discuss the importance of somatic and germline mutations for evolution.

Meiosis is a form of cell division that

Mutations can affect an organism's phenotype without altering the protein-coding sequence by influencing

Craig Venter and colleagues found how many instances where the corresponding nucleotides in homologous chromosomes didn't match each other?

Organisms vary considerably in genome size. Which of the following explains most of this variation?

Which of these statements about the effect of environment on gene expression is false?

Cis-acting elements often code for

Describe one reason histone proteins are important in cells.

The Whale and the Virus: How Scientists Study Evolution

From Natural Philosophy to Darwin: a Brief History of Evolutionary Ideas

What the Rocks Say: How Geology and Paleontology Reveal the History of Life

The Tree of Life: How Biologists Use Phylogeny to Reconstruct the Deep Past

The Ways of Change: Drift and Selection

Beyond Alleles: Quantitative Genetics and the Evolution of Phenotypes

The History in Our Genes

From Genes to Traits: the Evolution of Genetic Networks and Development

Natural Selection: Empirical Studies in the Wild

Sex: Causes and Consequences

After Conception: the Evolution of Life History and Parental Care

The Origin of Species

Macroevolution: the Long Run

Intimate Partnerships: How Species Adapt to Each Other

Brains and Behavior

Human Evolution: a New Kind of Ape

Evolutionary Medicine

Filters