Inheritance

Question 1

What is the process by which parents pass on their characteristics to their offspring?

Answer 1

Inheritance

Inheritance is a fundamental concept in genetics.

Question 2

What is the study of inheritance called?

Answer 2

Genetics

Genetics encompasses the study of genes and heredity.

Question 3

Where are the genes from the father located?

Answer 3

Inside the sperm nucleus

Sperm carry genetic material from the father.

Question 4

Where are the genes from the mother located?

Answer 4

Inside the egg nucleus

Eggs carry genetic material from the mother.

Question 5

What forms when the nucleus of the sperm joins with the nucleus of the egg?

Answer 5

A fertilised egg or zygote

This marks the beginning of a new individual’s development.

Question 6

How many genes do offspring receive from each parent?

Answer 6

Half from the father and half from the mother

This results in a combination of traits from both parents.

Question 7

What do nearly all cells contain that is crucial for inheritance?

Answer 7

A nucleus

The nucleus houses the genetic material necessary for inheritance.

Question 8

What are chromosomes?

Answer 8

Thread-like structures that carry genes

Chromosomes are essential for the organization of DNA.

Question 9

How many chromosomes do humans have?

Answer 9

46

This total is referred to as the diploid number.

Question 10

What is the diploid number?

Answer 10

The full number of chromosomes in a somatic cell

For humans, this number is 46.

Question 11

How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

Answer 11

23 pairs

Each pair consists of one chromosome from each parent.

Question 12

True or False: Different species have the same number of chromosomes.

Answer 12

False

Different species have varying numbers of chromosomes.

Question 13

How many pairs of chromosomes do cats have?

Answer 13

19 pairs

This is an example of variation in chromosome number among species.

Question 14

How many pairs of chromosomes do fruit flies have?

Answer 14

4 pairs

This illustrates a significant difference in chromosome count compared to humans.

Question 15

Fill in the blank: A gene is a small section of ______ on a chromosome.

Answer 15

DNA

Genes are the basic units of heredity.

Question 16

What is a gene?

Answer 16

A gene is a segment of DNA that carries genetic information affecting growth and appearance

Examples include genes for eye color, hair color, and height.

Question 17

What is DNA?

Answer 17

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, a long thread-like molecule that makes up chromosomes.

Question 18

What is the structure of a DNA molecule?

Answer 18

A DNA molecule is a polymer made up of thousands of repeated units called nucleotides.

Question 19

What are the components of a single nucleotide?

Answer 19

A single nucleotide is made up of three molecules:
* phosphate
* sugar
* base

Question 20

What forms the backbone of the DNA strand?

Answer 20

The backbone of the DNA strand is formed by the sugar and phosphate molecules.

Question 21

How is DNA structurally organized?

Answer 21

DNA consists of two strands of nucleotides twisted into a double helix.

Question 22

What do the sugars and phosphates represent in the DNA structure?

Answer 22

The sugars and phosphates make up the uprights of the ladder-like structure of DNA.

Question 23

What do the bases form in the DNA structure?

Answer 23

The bases form the rungs of the ladder in the DNA structure.

Question 24

What is base pairing in DNA?

Answer 24

Base pairing refers to the specific pairs of bases held together by hydrogen bonds.

Question 25

Which bases pair together in DNA?

Answer 25

The bases pair as follows: * Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) * Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G)

Question 26

What holds the two chains of nucleotides together in DNA?

Answer 26

The two chains are held together by hydrogen bonds between paired bases.

Question 27

What is the significance of the hydrogen bonds in DNA?

Answer 27

Although weak individually, the many hydrogen bonds collectively maintain the shape of the double helix.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: A single gene is made of a short length of _______.

Answer 28

DNA

Question 29

True or False: DNA is a single-stranded molecule.

Answer 29

False

Question 30

What shape does the DNA molecule resemble?

Answer 30

The DNA molecule resembles a spiral staircase.

Question 31

What is the role of enzymes in cells?

Answer 31

Enzymes control all the chemical reactions in the cells.

Question 32

What are all enzymes classified as?

Answer 32

Proteins.

Question 33

How does DNA influence enzyme production?

Answer 33

DNA codes for proteins, determining which enzymes are produced in each cell.

Question 34

What determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein?

Answer 34

The coding DNA.

Question 35

What bases are found in DNA?

Answer 35

A, T, C, and G.

Question 36

How is each amino acid coded in DNA?

Answer 36

By a sequence of three bases.

Question 37

How many different amino acids are there?

Answer 37

About 20.

Question 38

What is the sequence of bases in DNA that codes for proteins called?

Answer 38

The genetic code.

Question 39

What is the function of messenger RNA (mRNA)?

Answer 39

Carries a copy of the base sequence on DNA out of the nucleus to the ribosomes.

Question 40

What process does mRNA use to copy DNA?

Answer 40

The 'rule of base pairing.'

Question 41

What type of RNA picks up amino acids and carries them to the ribosomes?

Answer 41

Transfer RNA (tRNA).

Question 42

What happens at the ribosomes during protein synthesis?

Answer 42

Ribosomes assemble amino acids into protein molecules.

Question 43

How are amino acids joined together in a protein?

Answer 43

By peptide bonds.

Question 44

What determines the specific order of amino acids in a protein?

Answer 44

The sequence of bases on the mRNA.

Question 45

What is the significance of the shape of a completed protein?

Answer 45

It determines the protein's function, such as the active site of an enzyme.

Question 46

What can cause mutations in proteins?

Answer 46

Changes to the base sequence of coding DNA.

Question 47

What can changes in non-coding DNA affect?

Answer 47

The formation of mRNA and the switching of genes on and off.

Question 48

Fill in the blank: The vital role of _______ is to carry the code to the ribosomes.

Answer 48

mRNA

Question 49

True or False: Only coding DNA affects protein synthesis.

Answer 49

False.