Biology — Transfer Task Assessment

Look at the map legend. Which color represents the HIGHEST number of newborns with sickle cell anemia?

• White
• Light pink
• Medium red
• Dark red / maroon

Which region of the world shows the MOST dark-colored countries on the map, meaning the highest numbers of newborns with sickle cell anemia?

• North America and Europe
• East Asia and Australia
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• South America

True or False: According to the map, countries in Northern Europe and East Asia are dark red, meaning sickle cell anemia is just as common there as in sub-Saharan Africa.

• True
• False

The map shows medium to dark shading in India, Saudi Arabia, and parts of the Mediterranean. What does this tell us about who can carry the sickle cell allele?

• Only people whose ancestors came from Africa can carry the sickle cell allele.
• The sickle cell allele is found in many different populations around the world, not just one group.
• The sickle cell allele only appears in tropical climates.
• The sickle cell allele was introduced to these regions only through recent migration.

A student looks at the map and says: “This proves sickle cell is an African disease.” What is wrong with that statement?

• Nothing — the statement is completely accurate.
• The map shows the highest numbers in Africa, but medium shading also appears in India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean — sickle cell is a genetic disorder found in many populations worldwide.
• The student is wrong because sickle cell is actually most common in India.
• The map does not show enough information to draw any conclusions.

Sickle cell anemia is caused by a muation in the HBB gene

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

Sickle cell anemia is autosomal recessive. Which statement best explains what that means?

• Only one mutated copy of the gene is needed to have the disease.

• A person must inherit two mutated copies — one from each parent — to have the disease.

• The gene is located on the X or Y chromosome.

• The disease skips every other generation.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

What does Carrier mean in genetics?

• A person who has one copy of a mutated allele and can pass it on without usually showing the disease
• A trait that is always visible whenever it is inherited
• The complete set of observable physical characteristics of an organism
• A gene found only on the sex chromosomes

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

Which definition best matches the term Genotype?

• The outward physical appearance of an organism
• The combination of alleles an organism has for a trait
• A pattern of inheritance found only in males
• A mutation that changes every generation

In genetics, what is a Phenotype?

• The genetic code written in DNA letters only
• The observable traits or characteristics of an organism
• A recessive allele hidden by a dominant one
• A chromosome pair that determines biological sex

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-1

NGSS.HS-LS4-4