Genetics Vocabulary Practice (Difficult)

Ava is observing different plants in her garden. She notices that some plants have tall stems while others have short stems. What term describes these observable characteristics of the plants?

• Genotype

• Dominant Trait

• Phenotype

• Recessive Trait

Answer explanation

The observable characteristics of the plants, such as tall or short stems, are referred to as their phenotype. This term encompasses all physical traits, distinguishing it from genotype, which refers to genetic makeup.

When Anika and Elijah, who have different eye colors, have children, what eye color trait is most likely to be observed in their first generation of offspring?

• Recessive Trait

• Dominant Trait

• Hybrid

• Purebred

Answer explanation

In genetics, dominant traits are expressed over recessive traits. Since Anika and Elijah have different eye colors, the eye color trait that appears in their first generation of offspring is most likely the dominant trait.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

During a biology class, Priya asked her teacher who is known as the father of genetics?

• Charles Darwin

• Gregor Mendel

• Albert Einstein

• Isaac Newton

Answer explanation

Gregor Mendel is known as the father of genetics for his pioneering work on inheritance patterns in pea plants, establishing the foundational principles of heredity.

In a biology class, Avery learned about segments of DNA that are capable of synthesizing a protein. What are these segments called?

• Alleles

• Genes

• Chromosomes

• Traits

Answer explanation

The segments of DNA that are capable of synthesizing a protein are called genes. Alleles refer to different versions of a gene, chromosomes are structures that contain genes, and traits are characteristics influenced by genes.

Anika and Sophia are breeding plants in their garden. They cross-pollinate two plants with different traits. What do you call the offspring of these plants?

• Purebred

• Hybrid

• Homozygous

• Heterozygous

Answer explanation

The offspring of two plants with different traits are called hybrids. This term refers to the result of cross-pollination between two genetically distinct plants, leading to a mix of traits from both parents.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Avery has a garden where she grows roses. She notices that the roses have been the same color for many generations. What term describes these roses?

• Hybrid

• Purebred

• Heterozygous

• Dominant

Answer explanation

The term 'purebred' describes plants or animals that have been bred for many generations to maintain specific traits, such as color. Since Avery's roses have consistently been the same color, they are considered purebred.

Hannah is studying genetics and wants to know what the different forms of a gene are called. Can you help her?

• Genotype

• Phenotype

• Alleles

• Traits

Answer explanation

The different forms of a gene are called alleles. While genotype refers to the genetic makeup and phenotype refers to observable traits, alleles are the variations that can exist for a particular gene.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Avery is studying genetics and comes across a plant with one allele for tall stems and one allele for short stems on its homologous chromosomes. What is this mixed pair of alleles called?

• Homozygous Trait

• Heterozygous Trait

• Dominant Trait

• Recessive Trait

Answer explanation

The plant has one allele for tall stems and one for short stems, making it a mixed pair. This condition is called a heterozygous trait, as opposed to homozygous, where both alleles are the same.

Anika is studying genetics and wants to know what an identical pair of alleles on homologous chromosomes for any given trait is called. Can you help her?

• Heterozygous Trait

• Homozygous Trait

• Dominant Trait

• Recessive Trait

Answer explanation

An identical pair of alleles on homologous chromosomes is called a homozygous trait. This means both alleles for a specific gene are the same, distinguishing it from heterozygous traits, which have different alleles.

Hannah noticed that her friend Kai has blue eyes and is taller than most of their classmates. What is a physical attribute of an organism, such as hair color or height, called?

• Genotype

• Phenotype

• Characteristic

• Alleles

Answer explanation

A physical attribute of an organism, like height or eye color, is called a characteristic. The term 'phenotype' refers to the observable traits, while 'genotype' and 'alleles' relate to genetic makeup.