Genetics Vocabulary Quiz

What is a Punnett Square used for in genetics?

• To determine the blood type of an individual

• To predict the outcome of a particular cross or breeding experiment

• To identify genetic mutations

• To measure the physical characteristics of an organism

Which term describes the physical appearance of an organism?

• Genotype

• Phenotype

• Allele

• Chromosome

What does it mean if an organism is homozygous for a trait?

• It has two different alleles for a trait

• It has two identical alleles for a trait

• It expresses a recessive trait

• It can only pass on one type of allele for a trait

Which of the following best defines a genotype?

• The physical appearance of an organism

• The set of genes in our DNA which is responsible for a particular trait

• The variations of a gene that can cause different traits

• The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics

What is the difference between dominant and recessive alleles?

• Dominant alleles are always more common in the population than recessive alleles

• Dominant alleles mask the effects of recessive alleles when both are present

• Recessive alleles produce traits that are more advantageous than dominant alleles

• Recessive alleles are always inherited from both parents

If an organism has two different alleles for a trait, it is considered to be:

• Homozygous

• Heterozygous

• Hemizygous

• Homologous

Which pattern of inheritance did Gregor Mendel discover through his experiments with pea plants?

• Non-Mendelian inheritance

• Polygenic inheritance

• Mendelian inheritance

• Mitochondrial inheritance

In a Punnett Square, what does each box represent?

• A possible genotype of the parents

• A potential phenotype of the offspring

• A potential genotype of the offspring

• The actual genotype of the parents

Which term refers to an organism's genetic makeup, including both the visible and non-visible traits?

• Phenotype

• Genotype

• Allele

• Trait

What does it mean for a trait to be recessive?

• The trait is expressed only when two dominant alleles are present

• The trait is expressed without any alleles present

• The trait is not expressed when a dominant allele is present

• The trait is always expressed, regardless of the alleles present