Two Wolves and Paw Size

to receive genes from a parent

• trait

• reproduction

• inherit

• feature

Two mice have different parents. They both have the same proteins for whisker thickness in their cells. What can you say about the mice's whisker thicknesses?

• They will have the same whisker thicknesses since all mice have the same whisker thickness.

• They will have the same whisker thicknesses since their proteins for whisker thickness are the same so the proteins will connect in the same way.

• They will have different whisker thicknesses because even with the same proteins for whisker thickness, the proteins can connect in different ways.

• They will have different whisker thicknesses since only offspring from the same parents have the same whisker thickness.

a specific form of a gene that provides instructions for making a particular protein molecule

• allele

• chromosome

• claim

• DNA

A shark pup has a pointed fin. Its mother also had a pointed fin, but its father had a rounded fin. Which of these statements explains why the shark pup has a pointed fin?

• The shark pup inherited one copy of the gene for fin shape from its mother and one copy from its father. That gene combination instructs for proteins that connect in ways that make its fin pointed.

• The shark pup inherited one copy of the gene for fin shape from its mother and one copy from its father. Those genes connect together to make its fin pointed.

• The shark pup inherited its copies of the gene for fin shape from its mother and not from its father. Those genes connect together to make its fin pointed.

• The shark pup inherited its copies of the gene for fin shape from its mother and not from its father. Just like its mother’s genes, those genes instruct for proteins that connect in ways that make its fin pointed.

Two cats have different parents. One cat has stiff fur, and the other cat has soft fur. Why do the cats have different fur softnesses?

• The cats have different versions of the gene for fur softness. The genes are softer in the fur of one of the cats.

• The cats have different versions of the gene for fur softness, which instruct for different proteins that connect in different ways to make different kinds of fur.

• Each cat has different fur softness because offspring from different parents will have different fur softness.

• Each cat has different traits for fur softness because they have different versions of the gene for fur softness that connect together to make different kinds of fur.

a long piece of DNA that contains many genes

• DNA

• chromosome

• feature

• fertilization

a proposed answer to a question about the natural world

• evidence

• feature

• claim

• chromosome

a characteristic that all members of a species have

• gene

• gene version

• trait

• feature

an instruction for making a protein molecule

• gene

• gene version

• trait

• molecule

a specific form of a gene that provides instructions for making a particular protein molecule

• protein

• trait

• nonfunctional protein

• gene version