Genetics Answers

1. What is the name given to the process of passing genetic information from parents to
offspring?
Tick one box.
evolution

✓ inheritance
meiosis
variation

2. Complete the labels on the diagram by choosing key words from the box below.

Key Words

chromosome DNA gene nucleus

gene

nucleus chromosome
DNA

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 Genetics Answers
3 a. How many chromosomes does a human body cell contain?

46 or 23 pairs

b. How many chromosomes does a human gamete (sperm or egg cell) contain?

23

4. Crick, Franklin, Watson and Wilkins are scientists known for their work on the structure
of DNA.
What contribution did each make? Write their names into the table below.

Scientific Contribution Scientists Involved

produced X-ray data of DNA Franklin and Wilkins

built the first model of DNA Watson and Crick

5. Fill the gaps to complete the sentences, using the key words from the box below.

Key Words
characteristic different environmental
genetic species variation

All living things show variation, which means they are different. Some living things look
different because they are different species, e.g. a cow and a daisy.

Some living things can look different even if they are the same species. These differences
are called characteristic features. They can be genetic or environmental.

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 Genetics Answers
Figure 1 Figure 2

6 a. What type of variation is shown in Figure 1?

Tick one box.

✓ continuous
discontinuous

b. Which two characteristic features show this type of variation?

Tick two boxes.
hair colour
✓ height
✓ IQ
shoe size

7 a. What type of variation is shown in Figure 2?

Tick one box.
continuous
✓ discontinuous

b. Which two characteristic features show this type of variation?

Tick two boxes.

✓ blood type
✓ eye colour
handspan
mass

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