Traits and Reproduction Review

A student makes a claim that screech owls with camouflage coloration are more likely to survive and leave offspring than screech owls without camouflage coloration due to natural selection. The student makes the following chart based on collected data:

What evidence supports the student’s claim?

• Camouflage coloration determines the size of the owl and its ability to fight off predators.

• Owls without camouflage coloration have more offspring, so they can repopulate the species.

• The size of the owl is directly related to the average lifespan of the owl, so larger owls live longer.

• Owls with camouflage coloration live longer than owls without this trait.

There are two bears that both have the same proteins for ear shape in their cells. The bears have different parents. 

What can you say about the bears' ear shape?

• They will have the same ear shape since their proteins for ear shape are the same so the proteins will connect in the same way.

• 
  They will have the same ear shape since all bears have the same ear shape.

• They will have different ear shapes because even with the same proteins for ear shape, the proteins can connect in different ways.

• They will have different ear shapes since only offspring from the same parents have the same ear shape.

Use the information and your knowledge of science to answer the questions. 

Humans often use methods of artificial selection, such as selective breeding, to produce horses with specific traits.

 

Part A   Which statement best describes how selective breeding helps horse breeders produce the most desirable traits for racing?

• Selective breeding produces horses with a higher rate of survival due to an increase in the genetic diversity of the horse offspring.

• Selective breeding produces horses with a higher rate of survival due to an increase in the genetic diversity of the horse offspring.

• 
  Selective breeding uses two horse parents with the desired traits to increase the chances of passing the desired traits on to offspring.

• Selective breeding uses two horse parents with unknown traits to produce offspring with genetic variations and different traits.

A baby crawfish has a long tail. Its mother has a long tail while its father has a short tail. 

Which of these statements explains why the baby has a long tail?

• 
  The baby crawfish inherited one copy of the gene for tail length from its mother and one copy from its father. Those genes connect together to make its long tail.

• The baby crawfish inherited one copy of the gene for tail length from its mother and one copy from its father. That gene combination instructs for proteins that connect in ways that make a long tail.

• The baby crawfish inherited its copies of the gene for tail length 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 a long tail.

• The baby crawfish inherited its copies of the gene for tail length from its mother and not from its father. Those genes connect together to make a long tail.

The shape of a protein molecule directly determines its_____________.

• 
  movements through the cytoplasm

• functions inside and outside of cells

• roles in building water molecules

• circulation throughout the body

Mitosis and meiosis both produce new cells through cell division.  However, the division process differs due to the kind of cell being produced.  

How is meiosis different from mitosis?

• Mitosis produces 4 daughter sex cells with half the number of chromosomes which divide twice.  Meiosis produces 2 daughter body cells with the full number of chromosomes which divide once.

• Mitosis produces 2 daughter sex cells with half the number of chromosomes which divide twice.  Meiosis produces 4 daughter body cells with the full number of chromosomes which divide twice.

• Meiosis produces 4 daughter sex cells with half the number of chromosomes which divide twice.  Mitosis produces 2 daughter body cells with the full number of chromosomes which divide once.

• Meiosis produces 2 daughter sex cells with the full number of chromosomes which divide once.  Mitosis produces 4 daughter body cells with half the number of chromosomes which divide twice.

  
  

What causes a variation in traits?

• 
  Two exact copies of the same protein molecule

  
  

• A variation in protein molecules within an individual’s cells.

• Having the same connections among protein molecules.

• 
  A variation in cells within an individual’s protein molecule.

Two goldfish have different parents. One fish has a split tail and the other does not. 

Why do the goldfish have tails with different shapes?

• Each goldfish has a different tail shape because offspring from different parents will have different tail shapes.

• Each goldfish has a different tail shape because they have different versions of the gene for tail shape that connect together to make different tail shapes.

• The goldfish have different versions of the gene for tail shape. The genes are split inside one goldfish’s tail but not inside the other’s.

• The goldfish have different versions of the gene for tail shape, which instruct for different proteins that connect in different ways to make different tail shapes.

  
  

Sh’qira reads an article about a family of wildcats. One of them had a mutation for tooth sharpness. 

Which of these statements about the wildcat with the mutation is true?

• 
  There must have been a change in the wildcat’s genes.

• The wildcat must have sharper teeth.

• 
  There will be no change to the wildcat’s teeth.

• The wildcat must have less sharp teeth.

Which of the following do proteins with several connectors create?

• high silk flexibility

• medium silk flexibility

• low silk flexibility

• no silk flexibility