Test Your Knowledge About Human Genetics! Trivia Quiz
The study of human genetics is one that has brought about breakthroughs in the medical field. Genes consist of DNA and are part of a larger structure called the chromosome. There are ways in these modern days of replacing bad DNA with good and avoiding some genetics issues one might get. Test your knowledge of human genetics by taking this trivia quiz.
- 1.
Which of the choices best describes macroevolution?
- A.
Individuals with one genotype reproduce more than individuals with another genotype in a population
- B.
Many individuals move into a new area
- C.
Mutation creates new alleles that are dominant
- D.
A new species emerges
Correct Answer
D. A new species emerges -
- 2.
DNA analysis to determine genetic indentity applies
- A.
Mendel;s law of independent assortment and the product rule
- B.
Mendel;s law of segregation and the product rule
- C.
The central dogma
- D.
The law of polymorphism
Correct Answer
A. Mendel;s law of independent assortment and the product rule -
- 3.
A suspect's guilt seems highly likely when a very rare combination of markers is
- A.
Found in the population the suspect comes from and at the crime scene
- B.
Not found in the population the suspect comes from, but present at the crime scene
- C.
Found in the suspect's DNA but not at the crime scene or in the opopulation the suspect comes from
- D.
Found in the population the suspect comes from, in the suspect's DNA, and at the crime scene
Correct Answer
D. Found in the population the suspect comes from, in the suspect's DNA, and at the crime scene -
- 4.
Which choice describes a biological population?
- A.
A bird, a lizard, and an insect in a cage at a zoo
- B.
An all-male army
- C.
People living in an apartment building
- D.
Pebbles on a beach
Correct Answer
C. People living in an apartment building -
- 5.
All of the genes in a population comprise its
- A.
Genotype
- B.
Gene pool
- C.
Gene frequency
- D.
Gene frequency
Correct Answer
B. Gene pool -
- 6.
CODIS is
- A.
A fifteen-base DNA sequence used in DNA profiling
- B.
A type of mutation used in forensic applications
- C.
A system for crime laboratories to share DNA profiles
- D.
The last name of the person who invented DNA profiling
Correct Answer
C. A system for crime laboratories to share DNA profiles -
- 7.
Principles of population genetics must be applied to determine identity based on DNA profiling because
- A.
VNTR's are not found in all populations
- B.
Individuals are their own populations
- C.
Random mating does not occur in all populations
- D.
Alleles are invariant between all human populations
Correct Answer
C. Random mating does not occur in all populations -
- 8.
If one person in 50 is a carrier of an autosomal recessive disorder in a population, the cahnce tha an unrelated man and woman are both carriers is
- A.
1/50
- B.
1/100
- C.
1/2500
- D.
1/25000
Correct Answer
C. 1/2500 -
- 9.
Who invented DNA profiling?
- A.
Godfrey Hardy
- B.
William Weinberg
- C.
Alec Jeffreys
- D.
Godfrey Hardy and William Weinberg
Correct Answer
C. Alec Jeffreys -
- 10.
Mitochondrial DNA is helful in obtaining a DNA profile for very degraded genetic material because
- A.
Cells have many mitochondira, and therefore several copies of mtDNA sequences.
- B.
The mitochondrial outer membrane protects it from being damaged
- C.
Mitochondria contain oxidative enzymes ha protect the DNA
- D.
MtDNA consists of a single helix, so it cannot be unwound
Correct Answer
A. Cells have many mitochondira, and therefore several copies of mtDNA sequences. -
- 11.
In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, 75 percent of the individuals have a dominant allele for a particular genen (p+0.75) and 25 percent have a recessive allele (q=0.25). The proportion of homozygous recessive individuals in the F1 generation will be
- A.
2.5%
- B.
6.25%
- C.
18.75%
- D.
25%
Correct Answer
B. 6.25% -
- 12.
If the incidence of an autosomal recessive condition is 1/3600 live births, what is the carrier frequency?
- A.
.0003
- B.
.029
- C.
.286
- D.
.684
Correct Answer
B. .029 -
- 13.
Which of the folowing would not alter a gene's frequency in a population?
- A.
Mutation
- B.
Migration
- C.
Random mating
- D.
Inbreeding
Correct Answer
C. Random mating -
- 14.
Frequency of an X-linked recessive allele in males equals
- A.
P^2
- B.
2pq
- C.
Q^2
- D.
Q
Correct Answer
C. Q^2 -
- 15.
If the incidence of Tay-Sachs is 1/3600 Ashkenazim births, what is the heterozygote (carrier) freuency?
- A.
.0003
- B.
.029
- C.
.286
- D.
.684
Correct Answer
B. .029 -
- 16.
In order to identify (or rule out identity) from a DNA sample that is a mixture, the investigator should know
- A.
How long the DNA has been exposed to the environment.
- B.
How the person perished.
- C.
The population groups to which the person of interest belongs or belonged.
- D.
The genome sequence of the suspect or missing person.
Correct Answer
C. The population groups to which the person of interest belongs or belonged. -
- 17.
VNTRs and STRs differ in that
- A.
A VNTR repeat is shorter than an STR repeat.
- B.
A VNTR repeat is longer than an STR repeat.
- C.
a VNTR is a type of copy number variant and an STR is not.
- D.
An STR is a type of copy number variant and a VNTR is not.
Correct Answer
B. A VNTR repeat is longer than an STR repeat. -
- 18.
Frequency of an X-linked recessive allele in males equals
- A.
P^2
- B.
2pq
- C.
Q^2
- D.
Q
Correct Answer
D. Q -
- 19.
The allele T is in 85 percent of a population (p=0.85). According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, what percentage of the population will have the recessive allele t (q=?)?
- A.
15%
- B.
50%
- C.
85%
- D.
100%
Correct Answer
A. 15% -
- 20.
A "cold hit" refers to
- A.
A DNA profile made from frozen DNA, such as from a wooly mammoth.
- B.
Identifying a suspect from DNA alone.
- C.
A technology to preserve DNA.
- D.
Using CODIS to identify the victim of a crime.
Correct Answer
B. Identifying a suspect from DNA alone. -
- 21.
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is possible only if the population is
- A.
Small, with no migration out of in, and females outnumbering males.
- B.
large, with random mating and no migration, mutation, genetic drift, or natural selection.
- C.
Small, with nonrandom mating and no migration, mutation, genetic drift, or artificial selection.
- D.
Large, with nonrandom mating, mutation, genetic drift, and natural selection.
Correct Answer
B. large, with random mating and no migration, mutation, genetic drift, or natural selection. -
- 22.
In the Hardy-Weinberg equation, 2pq refers to
- A.
The proportion of heterozygotes in a population.
- B.
The number of homozygous dominant individuals in a population.
- C.
The most common phenotype in a population.
- D.
Individuals who are homozygous recessive.
Correct Answer
A. The proportion of heterozygotes in a population. -
- 23.
Principles of population genetics must be applied to determine identity based on DNA profiling because
- A.
VNTRs are not found in all populations.
- B.
Individuals are their own populations.
- C.
Random mating does not occur in all populations.
- D.
Alleles are invariant between all human populations.
Correct Answer
C. Random mating does not occur in all populations. -
- 24.
Gene flow is the
- A.
Migration of individuals between populations.
- B.
transfer of genes within a population.
- C.
Variation of alleles within a population.
- D.
movement of alleles between populations.
Correct Answer
D. movement of alleles between populations. -
- 25.
In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of recessive alleles will _______ over time.
- A.
Increase
- B.
Decrease
- C.
Remain the same
- D.
Increase and then decrease
Correct Answer
C. Remain the same -
- 26.
For a very rare inherited disease, the frequency of heterozygotes in a population is
- A.
Half that of the dominant allele.
- B.
Double that of the recessive allele.
- C.
Very close to 0.
- D.
Near 1.
Correct Answer
B. Double that of the recessive allele. -
- 27.
The parts of the genome that are used in markers of identity in DNA profiling
- A.
Are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and therefore not affected by natural selection acting on a phenotype.
- B.
Are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and therefore not affected by natural selection acting on a genotype.
- C.
Are not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and therefore not affected by natural selection acting on a phenotype.
- D.
are not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and therefore not affected by natural selection acting on a genotype.
Correct Answer
A. Are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and therefore not affected by natural selection acting on a phenotype. -
- 28.
Which group is used to calculate the frequency of an allele in a population?
- A.
Homozygous recessives
- B.
The most fertile individuals
- C.
Homozygous dominants
- D.
Heterozygotes
Correct Answer
A. Homozygous recessives -
- 29.
If the incidence of an autosomal recessive condition is 1/3,600 live births, what is the carrier frequency?
- A.
.0003
- B.
.29
- C.
.286
- D.
.684
Correct Answer
B. .29 -
- 30.
DNA profiling was less useful in identifying remains from the 2004 tsunami than in criminal cases because
- A.
The DNA after the tsunami was too wet to analyze.
- B.
Rescuers could not get to the scene of the tsunami in time to collect DNA.
- C.
The tsunami left few bodies with collectible DNA.
- D.
Not enough repeats were profiled.
Correct Answer
C. The tsunami left few bodies with collectible DNA. -
- 31.
A social characteristic that can create clines is
- A.
Religion
- B.
Marriage
- C.
Language
- D.
Geographic barries
Correct Answer
C. Language -
- 32.
A small group of islanders leave "island A" and travel to "island B." After several generations on island B, a researcher finds that a large percentage of the population is left-handed. Left-handedness is a relatively rare trait on island A. A genetic event that explains this is
- A.
A population bottleneck
- B.
Genetic load
- C.
A founder effect
- D.
Natural selection
Correct Answer
C. A founder effect -
- 33.
The frequency of the allele that causes sickle cell disease is higher in some populations than in others because
- A.
The gene mutates at different frequences in different parts of the world
- B.
The incidence o malaria differs in different parts of the world
- C.
Sickle cell disease screening is better in developed countries
- D.
Heterozygotes are resistant to cholera
Correct Answer
B. The incidence o malaria differs in different parts of the world -
- 34.
Darwin thought that all natural selection was negative. However, we have since learned that positive selection is a powerful force, and it
- A.
Creates new gene variants that enhance the phenotype
- B.
Retains gene variants or combinations that promote successful reproduction
- C.
Enables people to resist infectious diseases
- D.
Enables us to alter our genotypes
Correct Answer
B. Retains gene variants or combinations that promote successful reproduction -
- 35.
The population of HIV variants in a person's body changes during the course of infection due to
- A.
Natural selection
- B.
Mutation
- C.
Migration
- D.
Genetic drift
Correct Answer
A. Natural selection -
- 36.
In human populations, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is seen
- A.
In small, isolated communities
- B.
In popoulations with many immigrants
- C.
In communities founded by a small number of people
- D.
Infrequently and in large communities with random mating
Correct Answer
D. Infrequently and in large communities with random mating -
- 37.
___in the mycobacterium tuberculosis population reduced the incidence and virulence of tuberculosis in the early twentieth century
- A.
Natural selection
- B.
Mutation
- C.
Migration
- D.
Nonrandom mating
Correct Answer
A. Natural selection -
- 38.
Many alleles cause PKU. A unique mutation found only in Yemenite Jews is probably
- A.
More ancient than other PKU mutations
- B.
A result of genetic drift
- C.
Due to a strong heterozygote advantage
- D.
Identical to the original allele
Correct Answer
B. A result of genetic drift -
- 39.
To determine the evolutionary history of a gene, geneticists assume that the most prevalent alleles in a population
- A.
Are dominant
- B.
Have mutated the most
- C.
Are the oldest
- D.
Are the most recently acquired
Correct Answer
C. Are the oldest -
- 40.
A sharp cline may indicate
- A.
A sudden increase in the mutation rate
- B.
A population bottleneck
- C.
A geographical obstacle, such as a moutain
- D.
Exposure to a devasting infectious disease
Correct Answer
C. A geographical obstacle, such as a moutain -
- 41.
Resistance of sickle cel disease carriers to malaria illustrates
- A.
Genetic drift
- B.
A population bottleneck
- C.
Balanced polymorphism
- D.
A founder effect
Correct Answer
C. Balanced polymorphism -
- 42.
In the science fiction film When Worlds Collide, 100 individuals are selected to leave a doomed Earth in a spaceship to re-establish humanity elsewhere. This scenario illustrates
- A.
A founder's effect
- B.
A mutation effect
- C.
A population funnel
- D.
A deleterious allele
Correct Answer
A. A founder's effect -
- 43.
Memers of two populations in different parts of the world have the same form of inherited breast cancer. The affected individuals in each population have only one specific mutation, but it is different between the two populations. An explanation for this mutation difference among these populations is
- A.
A founder eefect
- B.
Mutations associated with religion
- C.
Random mating
- D.
Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium
Correct Answer
A. A founder eefect -
- 44.
A founder effect within a founder effect occurred among the
- A.
Old Order Amish of Pennsylvania
- B.
Ashkenazi Jewish people of Eastern Europe
- C.
Pingelapese people of Micronesia
- D.
French Canadians of Quebec
Correct Answer
D. French Canadians of Quebec -
- 45.
The gradual change in specific human mitochondrial DNA sequences along a river illustrates
- A.
A founder effect
- B.
Genetic lad
- C.
A population bottleneck
- D.
A cline
Correct Answer
D. A cline -
- 46.
A more recently developed cancer treatment is
- A.
Releasing control over apoptosis.
- B.
Stimulating telomerase activity.
- C.
Stimulating cells to return to a stem-like state of specialization.
- D.
Inhibiting angiogenesis.
Correct Answer
D. Inhibiting angiogenesis. -
- 47.
Cancer cells
- A.
divide uncontrollably and then die.
- B.
Are particularly sensitive to extracellular signals.
- C.
divide uncontrollably and are immortal.
- D.
Are impossible to grow in culture.
Correct Answer
C. divide uncontrollably and are immortal. -
- 48.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
- A.
Are X-linked.
- B.
Are incompletely penetrant.
- C.
are translocations.
- D.
Cause several types of leukemia
Correct Answer
B. Are incompletely penetrant. -
- 49.
The connection between stem cells and cancer is that
- A.
All stem cells are also cancer cells.
- B.
cells may become cancerous by expressing "stemness" genes.
- C.
Stem cells rescue cells that have become cancerous.
- D.
Stem cells become cancerous if a person smokes.
Correct Answer
B. cells may become cancerous by expressing "stemness" genes. -
- 50.
A breast cancer test for HER2 considers
- A.
Genotype
- B.
phenotype.
- C.
Gene expression.
- D.
Mutation rate.
Correct Answer
A. Genotype -
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2022Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Dec 09, 2011Quiz Created by
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