Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary focus of Mendelian genetics as introduced in a Principles of Genetics course?

Accepted Answer

The investigation of the patterns of inheritance of traits from parents to offspring using the laws established by Gregor Mendel.

Question 2

A student is analyzing a pedigree for a rare autosomal recessive disorder. If both parents are heterozygous carriers, what is the probability that their child will be affected by the disorder? Use the Punnett square and provide the answer as a fraction.

Accepted Answer

$\frac{1}{4}$

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of independent assortment as described by Mendel's Second Law?

Accepted Answer

Two genes located on different chromosomes segregating independently during gamete formation.

Question 4

In a dihybrid cross between two heterozygous pea plants (YyRr x YyRr), what is the expected phenotypic ratio among the offspring for the traits of seed color (Y = yellow, y = green) and seed shape (R = round, r = wrinkled)?

Accepted Answer

9:3:3:1

Question 5

A geneticist is studying a population where the frequency of a dominant allele (A) is $p = 0.7$ and the frequency of the recessive allele (a) is $q = 0.3$. According to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what is the expected frequency of heterozygotes (Aa) in the population?

Accepted Answer

$2pq$

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is acting on the population.

Question 7

A patient is diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, a disease caused by a single nucleotide mutation in the beta-globin gene. This is an example of which type of genetic mutation?

Accepted Answer

Point mutation

Question 8

Which of the following best explains why cancer is considered a genetic disease?

Accepted Answer

It results from the accumulation of mutations in genes that control cell growth and division.

Question 9

A researcher is studying gene linkage and observes that two genes are inherited together more frequently than expected by independent assortment. What is the most likely explanation for this observation?

Accepted Answer

The genes are located close together on the same chromosome.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Determining the frequency of a disease-causing allele in a human population to inform public health strategies.

Question 11

If a woman who is a carrier for an X-linked recessive disorder has children with a man who does not have the disorder, what is the probability that their son will be affected?

Accepted Answer

$\frac{1}{2}$

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the concept of gene expression regulation?

Accepted Answer

The mechanisms that control when and how much a gene is transcribed and translated.

Question 13

A couple has a child with cystic fibrosis, an autosomal recessive disorder. Neither parent has the disease. What is the genotype of both parents?

Accepted Answer

Both are heterozygous carriers.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about classical genetics is correct?

Accepted Answer

It involves the study of inheritance patterns and the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis.

Question 15

A population of 1,000 individuals has 360 individuals with the homozygous recessive genotype (aa). Assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what is the frequency of the recessive allele (a)?

Accepted Answer

$0.6$

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the principle of segregation as proposed by Mendel?

Accepted Answer

Alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation so that each gamete receives only one allele.

Question 17

A woman with blood type AB has a child with a man with blood type O. What are the possible blood types of their child?

Accepted Answer

A or B

Question 18

Which of the following is a key difference between classical and modern genetics?

Accepted Answer

Classical genetics is based on observable traits and inheritance patterns, while modern genetics incorporates molecular biology techniques to study DNA and gene function.

Question 19

A genetic counselor is working with a family where both parents are carriers for Tay-Sachs disease, an autosomal recessive disorder. What is the probability that their next child will be unaffected (either carrier or non-carrier)?

Accepted Answer

$\frac{3}{4}$

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the role of population genetics in understanding evolution?

Accepted Answer

It studies the distribution and change of allele frequencies under the influence of evolutionary processes such as selection, mutation, migration, and genetic drift.

Principles of Genetics – Syllabus and Study Guide

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