Question 1

Which of the following best describes a hypothesis in the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

A tentative explanation that can be tested and is falsifiable.

Question 2

A scientist observes that a certain plant grows faster when exposed to blue light compared to red light. She proposes that blue light increases the rate of photosynthesis. Which step of the scientific method is she performing?

Accepted Answer

Formulating a hypothesis.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is correct?

Accepted Answer

A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

Question 4

During an experiment, a student measures the effect of different fertilizer types on plant height. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

Plant height

Question 5

Which of the following best explains the difference between a control group and an experimental group in a scientific experiment?

Accepted Answer

The control group does not receive the experimental treatment, while the experimental group does.

Question 6

A DNA molecule is composed of two strands held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases. Which of the following base pairs is correct according to the rules of base pairing?

Accepted Answer

Adenine pairs with Thymine

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the process of transcription in a eukaryotic cell?

Accepted Answer

The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.

Question 8

If a DNA sequence is $5'	ext{-}ATGCGT-3'$, what is the complementary sequence on the other strand?

Accepted Answer

$3'	ext{-}TACGCA-5'$

Question 9

Which of the following best describes a genotype?

Accepted Answer

The genetic makeup of an organism for a specific trait.

Question 10

A heterozygous individual for a gene has which of the following genotypes?

Accepted Answer

Aa

Question 11

In Mendel's pea plant experiments, the allele for tall plants (T) is dominant over the allele for short plants (t). If two heterozygous tall plants (Tt) are crossed, what is the expected phenotypic ratio of their offspring?

Accepted Answer

3 tall : 1 short

Question 12

Which of the following statements about homologous chromosomes is correct?

Accepted Answer

They carry the same genes but may have different alleles.

Question 13

During meiosis, crossing over occurs. What is the significance of this process?

Accepted Answer

It increases genetic variation among gametes.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Accepted Answer

Mitosis produces two identical diploid cells, while meiosis produces four genetically unique haploid cells.

Question 15

A population of 100 individuals has the following genotypes for a gene: 36 AA, 48 Aa, and 16 aa. What is the frequency of the A allele in the population? (Use the formula $p = \frac{2N_{AA} + N_{Aa}}{2N_{total}}$)

Accepted Answer

$0.6$

Question 16

Which of the following best defines a gene pool?

Accepted Answer

The total collection of alleles in a population at any one time.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a real-world application of population genetics?

Accepted Answer

Tracking the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria.

Question 18

A researcher is studying a population of beetles. She finds that a mutation in a gene increases resistance to a pesticide. Over several generations, the frequency of this mutation increases in the population. Which evolutionary mechanism is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why genetic variation is important in a population?

Accepted Answer

It increases the chances that some individuals will survive environmental changes.

Question 20

In a dihybrid cross between two heterozygous pea plants (YyRr x YyRr), what is the expected phenotypic ratio of the offspring? (Assume independent assortment.)

Accepted Answer

9:3:3:1

General Biology Exam 1 Study Guide: Scientific Method, Genetics, and Population Genetics

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