One of the largest and oldest organisms on Earth is located in Fishlake National Forest in Utah. Pando is an 80,000-year-old grove of aspen trees that covers 100 acres. Although it looks like a forest, DNA analysis of several of the “trees” has confirmed it is really just one huge organism. Therefore, the “trees” must have been reproduced

• sexually and have genetic variability

• asexually and have genetic variability

• sexually and are genetically identical

• asexually and are genetically identical

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Many female mammals, such as dogs, give birth to litters consisting of multiple offspring. All of the characteristics described below are reproductive adaptations that female dogs have for giving birth and caring for several offspring at once, except

• a specialized structure for internal development of several young

• several pairs of mammary glands that provide milk for their pups

• ovaries capable of releasing many gametes at one time for fertilization

• a pancreas that produces excess insulin to trigger the release of eggs

In humans, embryonic development during the first two months is more sensitive to environmental factors than during the remaining months. The best explanation for this statement is that

• during the first two months, organs are being formed and any unusual change during cell division can interfere with normal development

• the genes that control development function only during the first two months of development

• no changes occur in a developing fetus after the second month

• organ development is not affected by environmental factors after the second month

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-4

Which statement regarding these methods of reproduction is correct?

• They are both forms of asexual reproduction.

• They are both forms of sexual reproduction.

• Method A is a form of asexual reproduction and method B is a form of sexual reproduction.

• Method A is a form of sexual reproduction and method B is a form of asexual reproduction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

Which process takes place in both method A and method B?

• meiosis

• mitosis

• fertilization

• recombination

Many tiny plants can be seen developing asexually along the edge of the mother-of-thousands plant leaf, as shown in the photo below. The tiny plants eventually drop to the ground and grow into new plants of the same species. One way this form of reproduction differs from sexual reproduction is

• more genetic variations are seen in the offspring

• there is a greater chance for mutations to occur

• the offspring and the parents are genetically identical

• the new plants possess the combined genes of both parents

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

The diagram below represents some structures in the human female reproductive system. The processes of meiosis and fertilization are essential in human reproduction. Which row in the chart correctly identifies where in the female reproductive system these two processes occur?

• Meiosis: 1; Fertilization: 3

• Meiosis: 2; Fertilization: 5

• Meiosis: 3; Fertilization: 4

• Meiosis: 4; Fertilization: 5

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Scientists monitoring frog populations have noticed that the ratio of male frogs to female frogs varies when certain chemicals are present in the environment. The influence of estrogen, for example, has a noticeable effect. In the presence of a higher amount of estrogen, it would be most likely that

• fewer males would be found because they are much larger and fewer are produced

• fewer females would be found because they are more sensitive to pesticides

• more males would be found because estrogen promotes the development of male characteristics

• more females would be found because estrogen promotes the development of female characteristics

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

The process of embryonic development is represented in the diagram below. The three arrows in the diagram each represent a process known as

• mitotic cell division

• meiotic cell division

• fertilization of gamete cells

• differentiation of tissues

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-4

A German measles (rubella) epidemic during the years 1963 to 1965 resulted in approximately 30,000 babies being born with birth defects. The specific cause of these birth defects was most likely

• the development of rubella virus infections in embryos

• the failure of zygotes infected with rubella to develop

• mutations in the nerve cells of pregnant females at the time of the rubella epidemic

• an increase in the amount of time needed for healthy embryonic development

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-5