Mendelian Genetics Quiz

Mutations that occur in germ cells, which are involved in sexual reproduction (e.g., eggs and sperm).

The rate of mutations per nucleotide per replication is higher in these cells compared to germ cells.

An alteration to the DNA sequence in a somatic cell.

A cell division process that produces four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

The sex cells of an organism (e.g., sperm and egg).

A hypothesis that proposes that mutations arise in response to the needs of an organism, suggesting environmental factors can directly induce mutations.

A hypothesis that suggests that mutations are random, but that organisms with beneficial mutations are more likely to survive and reproduce.

A technique used to study mutations by replicating bacterial colonies on different media, revealing differences in mutation patterns.

A trait influenced by multiple genes and the environment, making it measurable along a continuum (e.g., height, weight).

A factor in an individual's surroundings that increases the chance of developing a specific condition.

True-breeding strains of organisms, produced through inbreeding, where all individuals are homozygous.

The phenomenon where variation in a trait is due to the combined effects of multiple genes and the environment.

A bell-shaped curve representing the distribution of continuous traits in a population.

A graphical representation of how a phenotype changes across a range of environmental conditions.

The study of how genes and the environment interact to produce variation in phenotypes.

The combined influence of multiple genes and environmental factors on a complex trait, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact contribution of each gene individually.

The unequal impact of environmental factors on different genotypes, leading to variations in phenotypes.

A principle stating that offspring tend to have phenotypes closer to the population average than their parents' extreme phenotypes.

The extent to which genetic differences among individuals contribute to variation in a trait within a population.

A relationship that suggests the mean height of offspring will be closer to the population average than their parents' height. This is because offspring inherit a mix of genes, not just the extreme traits of their parents.

The phenotypic expression of a complex trait is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

During meiosis, genetic material is rearranged, breaking down combinations of genes that might have led to extreme phenotypes in the parents.

The phenotypic expression of a complex trait is not only influenced by genetic factors but also by environmental factors, which are not inherited.

The phenotype of an individual is a result of the interaction between their genotype and the environment.

The average phenotype of offspring will equal the population's mean phenotype if environmental influences are not passed down.

When heritability is 100%, environmental factors don't contribute to variation in a trait.

When heritability is 0%, genetic differences have no impact on variation in a trait.

Heritability refers to a specific trait in a population across their environments at a particular time.

The transfer of information between individuals through learning or imitation.

Heritability impacts how quickly a population's traits change through selective breeding.

Heritability determines how closely the mean of offspring resembles the mean of their parents.

When genes are on separate chromosomes, the ratio of nonrecombinant (nonparental) gametic types is 1:1:1:1. This is due to independent assortment.

Genes located very far apart on a chromosome are more likely to experience one or more crossovers during meiosis, resulting in a 1:1 ratio of nonrecombinant to recombinant gametes.

When genes are very close together on a chromosome, crossing over rarely occurs between them. Therefore, only nonrecombinant chromosomes are produced during meiosis.

A measure of the genetic distance between genes on a chromosome, represented as a percentage. It reflects the frequency of recombination events during meiosis.

A value of 0% recombination frequency indicates that genes are so close together that crossing over never occurs between them.

A recombination frequency of 50% is observed when genes are so far apart that crossing over between them almost always takes place. This is similar to independent assortment.

A diagram that shows the relative positions of genes along a chromosome, with distances measured in map units.

A unit of distance in a genetic map, representing the distance between genes that yields a 1% recombination frequency.

Over short distances (less than 15 map units), map units are additive, meaning the distances between adjacent genes can be added to calculate the distance between genes at the ends.

The original generation of plants in a cross, characterized by having homozygous alleles for a specific trait. They are 'true-breeding' meaning offspring will always show the same trait.

The offspring produced by crossing two individuals from the P1 generation. They are all heterozygous, carrying one allele from each parent.

The second generation of offspring, resulting from intercrossing individuals from the F1 generation. This generation shows the segregation of traits originally masked in the F1.

A type of cross where the female and male parents have their roles reversed. For example, in one cross, the male parent is yellow-seeded and the female is green-seeded. In the reciprocal cross, the male parent is green-seeded and the female is yellow-seeded.

An allele or trait that is expressed even when a different allele for the same trait is present. Only one copy of the dominant allele is needed to express the phenotype.

An allele or trait that is only expressed when two copies are present. Two copies of the recessive allele are needed to express the phenotype.

The separation of paired alleles during gamete formation (meiosis), so that each gamete receives only one allele from each pair

A process where an organism receives a copy of each chromosome from its mother and father. These pairs of chromosomes can have different alleles for the same traits.