IB Biology Genetics Questions (IB Topic 3) for Mader 10th edition

1. Define: gene, genome, allele, and loci (singular “locus”).

2. What are the two molecular components of chromosomes?
3. Define: dominant allele, recessive allele, genotype, phenotype, homozygous, and
heterozygous.
4. What is the difference between the genotype and the phenotype of an individual?
5. Do Practice Problems 1 (p. 468).
6. What is a Punnett square?
7. What is a testcross and when is it useful?
8. Do Practice Problems 2 (p. 470).
9. What are the expected results of these crosses: homozygous dominant X homozygous
recessive; homozygous dominant X heterozygous; heterozygous X heterozygous;
heterozygous X homozygous recessive? Which of these are a testcross?
10. Define: autosome, autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, and carrier.
11. What is a pedigree chart and when is it used?
12. Construct a pedigree chart of widow’s peak hairlines in an extended family using the
following information: The grandfather has a widow’s peak. The grandmother doesn’t.
Their two sons have widow’s peaks, but their daughter doesn’t. One son marries a woman
with a widow’s peak and they have two boys with widow’s peaks. The other son marries a
woman with a straight hairline and they have two boys with straight hairlines. The
daughter marries a man who has a widow’s peak and they have two girls, one with a
widow’s peak and one without. Is widow’s peak a dominant or recessive trait? Identify as
many of the genotypes of the family members as you can.
13. Do Practice Problems 4 (p. 475) and 5 (p. 476).
14. Explain multiple alleles and codominance. How are the ABO blood groupings an example
of these?
15. Do Practice Problems 6, # 3 and 4 (p. 478).
16. Review sickle-cell disease. What kind of mutation causes the defective hemoglobin?
What advantage does the heterozygous condition confer? What is the relationship
between the frequency of the sickle-cell allele and the distribution of malaria?
17. A man and a woman both have sickle-cell trait. What are their chances of having a child
who has sickle-cell disease? who has sickle-cell trait? who is normal?
18. Read “Summarizing the Concepts” p. 480; Do “Testing Yourself” #3, 5, 6, 8 – 13, 15, 16 p.
481; “Additional Genetics Problems” #1, 2, 7 p. 481.
19. Describe karyotyping and give one application of it.
20. Describe non-disjunction and explain how this can result in Down syndrome.
21. What are the sex chromosomes? Which of these are found in an egg and which in a
sperm?
22. Define sex linkage.
23. Describe the sex-linked disorders of colour blindness and hemophilia.
24. Can females be either homozygous or heterozygous for a sex-linked gene? Can males be
either homozygous or heterozygous for a sex-linked gene?
25. Can a carrier be male or female? Is a carrier homozygous or heterozygous?
26. Why are sex-linked disorders more common in males?
27. Do Practice Problems # 1, 2, and 3 on p. 494.
28. Read “Summarizing the Concepts” p. 498; Do “Testing Yourself” #7, 10, 12, 13, 16 - 18 p.
498 – 499; “Additional Genetics Problems” #1 – 7 p. 499
29. What is recombinant DNA (rDNA)? Describe the procedure used to create rDNA.
Include the terms plasmids, restriction enzymes, ligase, and host cells.
30. What is PCR and what does it do?
31. What does gel electrophoresis do and how is it used in DNA profiling (DNA
fingerprinting)?
32. Describe two uses of DNA profiling.
33. What is genetic screening?
34. Discuss three advantages and/or disadvantages of genetic screening.
35. Give two examples of the current uses of transgenic organisms (genetically modified
plants or animals). Discuss the potential benefits and possible harmful effects for one
of these.
36. Define clone.
37. Outline the technique used for cloning animals such as Dolly the sheep.
38. Discuss the ethical issues of cloning humans.
39. What is the Human Genome Project?
40. What are three possible positive outcomes of this project?
41. Describe the process of gene therapy for a genetic disease such as SCID.
42. Read “Summarizing the Concepts” p. 535; Do “Testing Yourself” #1 – 5, 7 – 9, 12 -17 p.
536