Biology (inheritance, variation and evolution)

• What process do cells in reproductive organs undergo to form gametes?

  Meiosis
• What are the main types of reproduction?

  • Sexual Reproduction
  • Asexual Reproduction
• What is the main advantage of sexual reproduction?

  It creates variation in the population
• Why is variation important in a population?

  It helps some individuals survive threats
• What do sexually reproducing species produce annually?

  Lots of flowers
• How does sexual reproduction contribute to genetic resistance?

  It allows for genetic diversity in populations
• What role do mutations play in variation?

  They allow new traits to arise in populations
• What are the advantages of asexual reproduction?

  • Requires only one parent
  • Quicker than sexual reproduction
  • Produces large numbers of offspring
• Why is asexual reproduction beneficial for immobile organisms?

  It allows reproduction without finding a mate
• Which organisms can reproduce both sexually and asexually?

  • Many plants
  • Some animals
• How is the malarial parasite transmitted?

  By mosquitoes feeding on human blood
• How does the malarial parasite reproduce in humans?

  Asexually
• How do daffodil bulbs reproduce?

  By producing lateral bulbs
• What do strawberry plant runners do?

  They form new plants along the soil
• What should you consider when determining the best reproduction method in a scenario?

  • New environmental factors
  • Availability of mates
  • Need for rapid population increase
• What is the genetic material in organisms called?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
• Where is DNA found in cells?

  In the nucleus
• What is the genome?

  The entire genetic material of an organism
• Why is understanding the human genome important?

  It aids in disease research and treatment
• How many pairs of chromosomes are in each human cell?

  23 pairs
• What are alleles?

  Variations of a gene
• What is a dominant allele?

  An allele that is always expressed
• What is a recessive allele?

  An allele expressed only when homozygous
• What is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous?

  • Homozygous: Two identical alleles
  • Heterozygous: Two different alleles
• What is a Punnett square used for?

  To predict offspring characteristics
• What does a Punnett square show?

  • Possible combinations of genes
  • Genotypes of offspring
• In a cross between red (R) and white (r) flowers, what is the genotype of a homozygous red flower?

  RR
• What is the chance of producing a heterozygous red flower from a cross of RR and rr?

  50%
• What is the phenotype of a plant with genotype Rr?

  Red flower
• What is the chance of producing a white flower from a cross of RR and rr?

  25%
• What are the key terms related to genetic inheritance?

  • Gene: A small section of DNA
  • Alleles: Variations of a gene
  • Genotype: Genetic makeup of an organism
  • Phenotype: Observable characteristics
  • Dominant: Always expressed allele
  • Recessive: Expressed only when homozygous
• What genotype does a red flowered plant have?

  Homozygous dominant genotype (RR)
• What genotype does a white flowered plant have?

  Homozygous recessive genotype (rr)
• What do the letters in the genotypes represent?

  Alleles for flower color traits
• What is the significance of the Punnett square in genetics?

  • Shows possible genotypes of offspring
  • Illustrates combinations of parental gametes
  • Helps predict genetic outcomes
• What is the chance of producing a homozygous dominant red flower from the cross?

  25%
• What is the chance of producing a heterozygous red flower from the cross?

  50%
• What is the chance of producing a white flower from the cross?

  25%
• What does a 3:1 ratio of red to white flowers indicate?

  Probability of flower color outcomes
• What does it mean that red flowered plants are three times more likely to be produced?

  Higher probability, not exact numbers