Biology questions

Mendelian Genetics W1

1) Differentiate between Dominant and Recessive alleles

Dominant alleles show if the offspring inherits at least one dominant trait. Dominant alleles always cover
or block the recessive alleles. They appear easily. An example of dominant traits in Mendel’s traits are
round seeds, purple flowers, yellow seeds, green pods, tall plants, and axial flower. Recessive alleles
show if the offspring inherits at least two recessive traits. They are always blocked by the dominant
alleles. They don’t appear easily. An example of recessive traits in Mendel’s experiment are short plants,
white flowers, green seeds, yellow pods, and terminal flowers.

2) Why did Mendel use pea plants for his experiments?

Mendel chose to work with pea plants for his experiment because they grow fast, mature quickly, produce
many offspring. They have male and female reproductive organs, which mean they are self-fertilizers.
They only have two forms for each trait. They also produce true-breeding generations.

3) Why is it important that Mendel's experiments used a true-breeding plant.

They have two identical genes for the allele, so in a genetic cross. Each parent contributes only one form
of a gene, which makes the inheritance more detectable.

4) Differentiate between the three laws that Mendel made

The first law is the Law of Dominance. This law states that if the dominant and recessive traits appear,
the dominant will cover up the recessive allele, and will appear alone. The second is the Law of
Segregation. This law states that in a crossing experiment, the two alleles for one trait must be separated
in order to form a gamete. The third law is called Law of Independent Assortment. This law states that
each member of an allele separates independently of the other pairs. A dominant allele for one trait does
not guarantee inheritance of a dominant allele for a different trait.

5) Describe Mendel’s experiment and state its outcomes

Mendel grew pea plants from true breeding wrinkled-seeded and true breeding round-seeded plants. He
then pollinated them together. He prevented self-fertilization by removing the anthers of round-seeded
plant. The outcome was that the offspring were all round seeds. In his second experiment for F1, he
allowed the plants to self-fertilize. 75% were round seeds and 25% were wrinkled seeds.

Studying Heredity-W2

1) Differentiate between Punnett squares, test-cross, pedigrees, and probabilities.

A Punnett square is a diagram that predicts the outcome of a genetic cross by considering all possible
combinations of the gametes. A Pedigree is family history that shows how a trait is inherited over several
generations. A test cross is a cross between an individual carrying the dominant trait with an individual
carrying the recessive trait. A probability is a likelihood that a specific event will occur.

2) State the meaning of a monohybrid cross. Give examples

A Monohybrid is a cross between two contrasting traits between two individuals (TT x tt).

3) How to determine if the organism is a carrier, normal, or infected?

To determine if the organism is a carrier is normal, carrier, or infected you must look if it’s shaded or not.
If it is completely shaded, then the organism must be infected. If the organism is half-shaded, then it must
be a carrier. If the organism is not shaded at all, then it is normal. A square is for males. A circle is female.

4) How to determine if the trait is autosomal or sex-linked?

If the trait is autosomal, then it will appear on both sexes. If the trait is sex-linked, then it usually appears
only males.

5) What is the probability of two parents each carrying a recessive gene for an inherited
disease producing a child that will have that disease?

The probability that the child will carry that disease is 25% because both parents aren’t affected. Each
parent will have one recessive trait for that disease, and for the disease to appear it must have at least
two recessive traits.

6) Explain how the parents of an individual who expresses a recessive gene can both not
express the gene.

Only individuals with the genotype (aa) will express the recessive trait. Therefore, the offspring must
receive one recessive allele from each parent to exhibit a recessive allele.

Complex patterns of heredity

1) Differentiate between Incomplete dominance on Co-dominance

Incomplete dominance is when two alleles are not completely expressed. It is a mixture between the
two alleles. An example of this is A, B, AB, O blood type. Heterozygous phenotype is intermediate
between two homozygous phenotypes. On the other hand, Co-dominance is when both alleles are
expressed equally. The two alleles will be blended. In co-dominance both alleles are seen in the
phenotype.

2) State the meaning of a Monohybrid cross and give examples.

Traits are controlled by more than two alleles for a certain gene. Human blood groups are controlled
by three alleles AB-A-B-O.

3) How can males and females be affected by diseases?

A female must carry the disease two times to be infected. However, the male must carry the disease only
one time to infected. This is because diseases always appear on the X chromosome. Males have only 1
X chromosome, while females have 2 X chromosomes.

4) What are polygenic traits. State examples

Polygenic traits arise from interactions of multiple pairs of genes. They often show a wide range of
phenotypes. An example of polygenic traits are eye color, hair color, and skin color for humans.
 Ecosystems

1) Differentiate between abiotic factors and biotic factors

Abiotic factors are the physical aspects of an environment. They are the non-living aspect in a habitat.
While the biotic factors are all the living organisms in a habitat.

2) Difference between Biodiversity and Biomass.

Biodiversity is a measurement of the number of different species. The more stable the biodiversity
is, the more stable the community is. Biomass is the mass of organism in a habitat.

3) What are ecosystems. Who are the most plentiful?

An ecosystem consists of a community and all the physical aspects of its habitat. Ecosystems tend to
contain more plants than animals. The most plentiful organisms in an ecosystem are bacteria and
protists.

4) State the meaning of succession. State its types

A succession is the regular progression of species replacement. Primary succession is the first type of a
succession. It occurs when in areas where plants have not grown before. Secondary succession occurs
in areas where there have not been previous growth, such as abandoned fields or burnt-down forests.

5) Differentiate between Producers and Consumers

Producers get are the first organisms to get the solar energy from the sun. They are independent, which
means they make their own food using the method of photosynthesis. They also use cellular respiration
like every other organism. Producers are in the lowest level of the trophic level. They contain the most
energy. They also build carbohydrates. On the other hand, consumers are dependent, which means they
depend on producers on food. Consumers are organisms that obtain their energy from other animals or
plants. They use the process of cellular respiration. They have two types, primary consumer, which are
the herbivores, and the secondary consumers, which are the carnivores, omnivores, and detritovores,
and omnivores. They obtain their energy to build molecules.

6) Differentiate between Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores, and Detritivores.

Herbivores are primary consumers. They are in the second trophic level. They get their energy from
plants and other primary producers. Carnivores are secondary consumers. They are in the third trophic
level. They eat herbivores and meat. Omnivores are secondary consumers. They are in the third trophic
level. They are both herbivores and carnivores, which means they eat plants and meats. Detritovores
obtain their energy from dead bodies and wastes. They are produced in all trophic levels.

7) Differentiate between food webs and food chains

Food webs are interconnected groups of food chains. Food chain is the path of energy through the trophic
levels of an ecosystem.

8) What is the meaning of energy pyramid and how is energy affected by it.

An energy pyramid is a diagram in which each trophic level is represented by a block, with the lowest
trophic level on the bottom (producer). The width of each block is determined by the amount of energy
stored in the organisms. The energy was stored by the organism at each trophic level is about 10% the
energy stored by the organisms in the level below. The diagram takes the shape of a pyramid.
 Recycling of materials in ecosystems

1) How do humans alter the water cycle?

Humans alter the water cycle of withdrawing huge quantities of water for agriculture, which leads to
groundwater depletion. Clearing vegetation for agriculture, mining, roads, and buildings. Covering
lands with buildings or concrete, which increases surface runoff, and prevent water from becoming
groundwater. Addition of nutrients from chemicals and nutrients.

2) How d humans alter the carbon cycle?

Humans alter the carbon cycle by cutting off tress, therefore, trees cannot remove CO2 from the air.
Burning fossil fuels, which releases large amount of CO2 in the air.

3) How do humans alter the nitrogen cycle?

Humans alter the nitrogen cycle by burning fuel, using inorganic fertilizers, destroying forests and
grasslands.

4) What happens during water cycle?

Evaporation happens when water is turned to water vapor (gas) Transpiration occurs when water
evaporates from leaves into the atmosphere. Condensation occurs when water vapor turns into liquid,
forming clouds. Precipitation occurs when water droplets become large enough to fall into the earth as
rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Surface runoff occurs when rain or snow flow into streams or rivers.

5) What happens during carbon cycle?

Producers convert CO2 to sugar. Sugar is then converted to CO2. Some carbon is buried. Humans
extraction of fossil fuels brings carbon to Earth’s surface, where it can be combusted. Carbon in the
atmosphere is dissolved in water and exchanged.

6) How can we turn N2 into a usable form for plants?

Nitrogen fixation converts N2 into ammonia (NH3). Nitrification converts ammonia into nitrites (NO2) and
nitrates (NO3). Assimilation occurs when plants absorb ammonia and nitrate. Animals get nitrogen by
eating plants. Ammonification occurs when decomposer bacteria take plant and animal waste and convert
it to ammonia (NH3). Denitrification occurs when ammonia is converted into nitrates (NO3) and nitrites
(NO2) and then N2 again.
 Interactions between communities

1) What are the three types of interactions between organisms. Explain

The three types of interactions between organisms are predation, competition, and symbiosis. Predation
occurs when the predator captures, kills, and consumes the prey. It is a short-term association.
Competition occurs between two or more organisms who attempt to use the same limited resource, such
as water, shelter, food, wife, or land. It is also a short-term association. Symbiosis is a close association
between two organisms in which at least one organism benefits from the interaction. It is a long-term
association.

2) Differentiate between Commensalism, Parasitism, and Mutualism. Give examples.

Commensalism is an interaction between two organisms in which one benefits, and the other is un-
harmed or unaffected. It is often expressed as (+,0). An example of commensalism is the relationship
between a human and a tree, or a bird and a tree. The tree is unaffected or unharmed, while the
human and the bird are benefited. Parasitism is an interaction between two organisms in which one
organism benefits, and the other is harmed. It is often expressed by (+, -). An example of parasitism
is the relation between a flea and a human. The flea is benefited, while the human is harmed or
affected. Mutualism is an interaction between two organisms in which both organisms are benefited. It
is often expressed as (+, +). An example of mutualism is the relationship between a flower and a bee.
Both organisms are benefited. The flower is pollinated and the bee is feed on their pollens.

3) How can organisms survive from predation?

The prey’s survival depends on its ability to avoid being captured, which includes speed. Preys can also
protect themselves from predators by using camouflage, mimicry, poison, or venom. The predator’s
survival depends on their ability to capture the prey, which include strength and speed. Predators can
also use camouflage and mimicry.

4) State the difference between camouflage and mimicry.

Camouflage is the blending of an organism with its environment to avoid danger. Mimicry is when the
organism resembles another species to scare off other organisms. Both can be used by predators and
prey.

5) Why does evolution favor adaptations?

Evolution favors adaptation because it helps in regulating the population size.

6) State the difference between evolution and co-evolution

Co-evolution is a relationship between two organisms that depend on each other. Evolution is the
changing or the developments in habitats and species.

7) What is the meaning of natural selection?

It is the tendency of adapting to an environment, which led to close match between plants.

8) What are the basic abiotic factors needed for survival?

The basic abiotic factors that are needed for survival are food, water, shelter, and air.

9) What are lichens?

Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner. It can produce
food for the lichen. The photobiont is usually green or cyanobacterium.