7th Grade Science Test- Genetics
Parents normally pass certain traits to their offspring and these traits are as a result of inherited genes. The study of genetics is important as it gives us a fresh look at how to cure some genetic diseases or show on the possibility of getting them. This is a quiz about Mendel, his contributions, Punnett Squares, Probability, and Genetics. Give it a try and see how much you understand genetics as a seventh grader.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
The passing of physical characteristics from parent to offspring is __________.
- A.
Genetics
- B.
Traits
- C.
Fertilization
- D.
Heredity
Correct Answer
D. HeredityExplanation
Heredity is the passing of physical characteristics from parent to offspring. It involves the transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next, which determines the traits and characteristics that an individual inherits. Through heredity, traits such as eye color, hair texture, and height are passed down from parents to their children. This process is governed by genetics, which is the study of how traits are inherited and expressed.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Mendel wondered why different pea plants had _________ ____________?
- A.
Different Genes
- B.
Pollen
- C.
Different Characteristics
- D.
Many parents
Correct Answer
C. Different CharacteristicsExplanation
Mendel wondered why different pea plants had different characteristics. He observed that certain traits, such as flower color or seed shape, varied among the pea plants. This led him to hypothesize that these traits were determined by different genes, which were inherited from the parents and influenced the characteristics of the offspring. Mendel's experiments with pea plants laid the foundation for our understanding of genetics and the inheritance of traits.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is happening when pollen from one plant is put into another?
- A.
Cross Pollination
- B.
Brushing
- C.
Fertilization
- D.
None of the Above
Correct Answer
A. Cross PollinationExplanation
Cross pollination occurs when pollen from one plant is transferred to the reproductive organs of another plant. This can happen through various means, such as wind, insects, birds, or other animals. The transfer of pollen allows for the fertilization process to occur, leading to the production of seeds and the continuation of plant reproduction. Unlike self-pollination, which occurs within the same plant, cross pollination promotes genetic diversity and can result in stronger and more adaptable offspring.Rate this question:
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- 4.
If a Purebred Tall Plant and a Purebred short plant are crossed when will be the outcome of the F1 generation?
- A.
100% Purebred Short
- B.
75% Tall and 25% Short
- C.
100% Tall
- D.
100% Purebred Tall
Correct Answer
C. 100% TallExplanation
When a purebred tall plant and a purebred short plant are crossed, the outcome of the F1 generation will be 100% tall. This is because the tall trait is dominant over the short trait.Rate this question:
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- 5.
A wrinkled seed shape is the Recessive Allele, what is the Dominant Allele?
- A.
Smooth
- B.
Round
- C.
Pinched
- D.
Yellow
Correct Answer
B. RoundExplanation
The given question is asking for the dominant allele that corresponds to the recessive allele of a wrinkled seed shape. From the options provided, "Round" is the most suitable answer. This is because the trait of having a round seed shape is dominant over the trait of having a wrinkled seed shape. Therefore, if an organism inherits the allele for round seed shape, it will exhibit the round seed shape phenotype.Rate this question:
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- 6.
When the Dominant Allele is Green Pod Color and the Recessive Allele is a Pinched Pod Shape is it possible for an organism to have both of the traits?
- A.
Yes
- B.
No
- C.
I don't know
Correct Answer
A. YesExplanation
Yes, it is possible for an organism to have both the traits of Green Pod Color and Pinched Pod Shape. This is because the traits are controlled by different genes and are not mutually exclusive. An organism can inherit the dominant allele for Green Pod Color and the recessive allele for Pinched Pod Shape from its parents, resulting in the expression of both traits simultaneously.Rate this question:
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- 7.
When a capital letter is used, what kind of allele is being represented?
- A.
Recessive Allele
- B.
Codominance
- C.
Punnett Squares
- D.
Dominant Allele
Correct Answer
D. Dominant AlleleExplanation
When a capital letter is used, it represents a dominant allele. Dominant alleles are expressed in the phenotype even if there is only one copy of the allele present in the genotype. This means that if an individual has at least one copy of the dominant allele, the trait associated with that allele will be visible. In contrast, recessive alleles are only expressed in the phenotype if an individual has two copies of the recessive allele. Codominance refers to a situation where both alleles in a heterozygous individual are fully expressed, resulting in a phenotype that shows characteristics of both alleles. Punnett squares are a tool used to predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring in a genetic cross.Rate this question:
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- 8.
After Mendel died scientists began to recognize the importance of his ideas. They called him a name. What was the name that they called him?
- A.
Father of Genes
- B.
Father of Heredity
- C.
Father of Genetics
- D.
Father of Traits
Correct Answer
C. Father of GeneticsExplanation
After Mendel died, scientists recognized the significance of his ideas and referred to him as the "Father of Genetics." This title acknowledges Mendel's groundbreaking work in understanding the principles of heredity and how traits are passed down from one generation to another. His experiments with pea plants laid the foundation for the field of genetics and revolutionized our understanding of inheritance.Rate this question:
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- 9.
If a coin is tossed 10 times, what is the probability that it will land on heads? (answer is a percent)
- A.
50 times
- B.
5 times
- C.
50%
- D.
100%
Correct Answer
C. 50%Explanation
The probability of a coin landing on heads is always 50% because there are only two possible outcomes: heads or tails. Since the coin is tossed 10 times, the probability of it landing on heads for each toss remains the same, resulting in a 50% chance overall.Rate this question:
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- 10.
When colored chips are pulled out of a bag AND NOT put back in, is the probability still independent?
- A.
Yes
- B.
No
- C.
I don't know
Correct Answer(s)
A. Yes
B. NoExplanation
The probability is still independent when colored chips are pulled out of a bag and not put back in. This is because the outcome of one event does not affect the probability of the other event. In other words, the probability of pulling out a specific colored chip remains the same regardless of whether previous chips of the same color were removed or not.Rate this question:
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- 11.
If the probability of something is 75% will the event really occur 75% of the time?
- A.
Yes
- B.
No
- C.
I don't know
- D.
It could but it does not all the time
Correct Answer(s)
B. No
D. It could but it does not all the timeExplanation
The answer "No, it could but it does not all the time" suggests that just because the probability of something happening is 75%, it does not guarantee that the event will occur 75% of the time. Probability is a measure of the likelihood of an event occurring, but it does not determine the actual outcome. In some cases, the event may occur more or less frequently than the predicted probability.Rate this question:
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- 12.
A penny is tossed 6 times and has landed on heads each time. Knowing those results is the penny going to land on heads the next toss?
- A.
Yes
- B.
No
- C.
50% chance of heads and 50% chance of tails
Correct Answer
C. 50% chance of heads and 50% chance of tailsExplanation
The previous outcomes of the penny landing on heads do not affect the outcome of the next toss. Each toss of the penny is an independent event, and the probability of getting heads or tails remains the same for each toss. Therefore, there is a 50% chance of getting heads and a 50% chance of getting tails on the next toss.Rate this question:
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- 13.
If Tall is the dominant trait and short is the recessive trait what letter(s) do you represent a short plant with?
- A.
Ss
- B.
Ss
- C.
Tt
- D.
Tt
Correct Answer
C. TtExplanation
The letter "t" represents the recessive trait for short plants. Since short is the recessive trait, it is only expressed when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, which is represented by the lowercase letter "t". Therefore, the correct answer is "tt".Rate this question:
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- 14.
A Punnett Square shows all the possible combinations of what?
- A.
Genes
- B.
Alleles
- C.
Coin Tosses
- D.
Probability
Correct Answer
B. AllelesExplanation
A Punnett Square shows all the possible combinations of alleles. Alleles are different forms of a gene that can occupy the same position on a chromosome. Punnett Squares are used to predict the probability of certain traits or genetic disorders in offspring by combining the alleles from two parent organisms. By filling in the squares with the different alleles from each parent, the possible combinations of alleles and their likelihood can be determined.Rate this question:
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- 15.
If a pea plant has a gray seed coat color, is that the pea plants phenotype of genotype?
- A.
Phenotype
- B.
Genotype
- C.
Neither
- D.
Both
Correct Answer
A. PhenotypeExplanation
The gray seed coat color is an observable trait of the pea plant, which is known as the phenotype. The phenotype is the physical expression of the genetic makeup of an organism, and in this case, the gray seed coat color is a visible characteristic of the pea plant. The genotype, on the other hand, refers to the genetic composition or the specific alleles present in an organism's DNA. Without information about the specific alleles or genes responsible for the gray seed coat color, we cannot determine the genotype. Therefore, the correct answer is phenotype.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Black is the dominant color of bunny's fur, it can be expressed using what genotype combination?
- A.
Bb
- B.
BB
- C.
Bb
- D.
Just A and C
- E.
Just A and B
Correct Answer
E. Just A and BExplanation
The dominant color of the bunny's fur is black. This can be expressed using the genotype combinations Bb and BB. The genotype bb would result in a different color, so it is not included as a valid option. Therefore, the correct answer is "Just A and B."Rate this question:
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- 17.
When an organism has two different alleles for a trait they are said to be ________________. (two possible answers)
- A.
Heterozygous
- B.
Homozygous
- C.
Hybrid
- D.
Purebred
Correct Answer(s)
A. Heterozygous
C. HybridExplanation
When an organism has two different alleles for a trait, they are said to be heterozygous or hybrid. Heterozygous means that the organism has two different alleles for a particular trait, while hybrid refers to the combination of two different genetic backgrounds. Both terms indicate that the organism carries two different versions of the gene for a specific trait.Rate this question:
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- 18.
If a heterozygous chicken has both black and white feathers, they have neither a dominant or recessive trait. What is having neither a dominant or recessive trait called?
- A.
A black and white chicken
- B.
A White chicken with black
- C.
Neither black or white feathers
- D.
Codominance
Correct Answer
D. CodominanceExplanation
Codominance is the correct answer because it refers to a situation in which both alleles of a gene are expressed equally in the phenotype of a heterozygous individual. In this case, the black and white feathers are both expressed in the chicken, indicating codominance rather than a dominant or recessive trait.Rate this question:
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- 19.
Mendel decided to cross pea plants with ____________ traits.
Correct Answer
contrasting, differentExplanation
Mendel decided to cross pea plants with contrasting, different traits because he wanted to study the inheritance patterns and determine how traits are passed down from one generation to the next. By crossing plants with traits that were visibly different from each other, such as tall plants with short plants, he was able to observe and analyze the patterns of inheritance and develop his laws of inheritance.Rate this question:
- 20.
In pea plants, the dominant trait for Seed Color is Yellow. What is the Recessive trait?
Correct Answer
Green, Anything but YellowExplanation
The recessive trait for Seed Color in pea plants is Green. This means that if a pea plant has two copies of the recessive allele for seed color, it will have green seeds. The dominant allele for seed color is Yellow, so if a pea plant has at least one copy of the dominant allele, it will have yellow seeds. The phrase "Anything but Yellow" is just another way of saying that any other color besides yellow is the recessive trait.Rate this question:
- 21.
When Mendel crossed the pea plants the trait that seemed to disappear happened to reappear. During what generation did it reappear?
Correct Answer
Explanation
The trait that seemed to disappear and then reappear in Mendel's pea plant crosses is known as a recessive trait. This trait is masked or hidden in the first generation (F1) when two different traits are crossed, but reappears in the second generation (F2) when the plants with hidden traits are crossed with each other. This phenomenon is explained by Mendel's laws of inheritance, specifically the law of segregation, which states that each individual has two copies of a gene, and these copies separate during the formation of gametes.Rate this question:
- 22.
Mendel's experiments demonstrated that parents traits to not always go to their _________.
Correct Answer
offspringExplanation
Mendel's experiments demonstrated that parents' traits do not always go to their offspring. This means that the characteristics or traits of the parents are not always passed on directly to their children. Instead, there is a process of inheritance where certain traits may be dominant or recessive, resulting in variations in the offspring's traits. Mendel's experiments with pea plants showed that traits could be inherited independently, leading to the development of his laws of inheritance.Rate this question:
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