Heredity and Genetics Quiz

Which statement most likely explains why Beth was born with black hair?

• Beth's favorite color is black.
• Beth's friends have black hair.
• Beth's parents have black hair.
• Beth's favorite singer has black hair. 

Tim's white female cat had a litter of 5 kittens. Two kittens were all white and three kittens were gray with black stripes. Which is most likely true about the father cat?

• The father cat is large.
• The father cat eats out of the same bowl as the mother cat.
• The father cat is also white.
• The father cat has a gray or black color pattern.

A dog with naturally long fur is shaved by her owner. She then becomes pregnant, and the father has long fur. Which will most likely be true about her offspring's fur?

• no fur
• long fur
• short fur
• medium length fur

Which best explains why children do not look identical to their mothers?

• They inherit all of their characteristics from their fathers.
• They inherit all of their characteristics from their grandparents.
• They inherit some of their characteristics from their brothers and sisters.
• They inherit some of their characteristics from their mother and some from their father.

Which of these is an inherited trait?

• Dimples
• Long Hair
• Favorite color
• Driving ability

Which is an example of a learned characteristic?

• The color of a dog's fur
• Color blindness of a person
• Ability of a mouse to run a maze
• A person's ability to roll their tongue

Which is a behavioral characteristic passed from parent to offspring in dogs?

• Fetching a stick
• Rolling over
• Barking
• Sitting on command

James and his father are both great athletes. Which characteristic did James most likely learn from his father?

• Height and weight
• Fast swimming stroke
• Large feet and hands
• Muscular body structure

Which is true about parents and their offspring?

• Characteristics are passed from parents to offspring, resulting in offspring being identical to parents.
• Characteristics are passed from parents to offspring, resulting in parents teaching offspring how to look and act.
• Most characteristics are chosen by offspring and not passed on by parents.
• Some characteristics are learned and not passed on by parents.

Matt is a tall, eleven-year-old boy. He has a scar on his right cheek. He is intelligent and an excellent drummer. Which of his traits did he most likely inherit?

• his height
• his scar on his right cheek
• his intelligence
• his ability to play the drums