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8th Grade Genetics March 14, 2025

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the basic unit of DNA called?

a)

gene

b)

nucleotide

c)

chromosome

d)

protein

2.

What are the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA?

a)

adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine

b)

adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine

c)

adenine, thymine, uracil, guanine

d)

cytosine, thymine, guanine, uracil

3.

Describe the shape of a DNA molecule.

a)

Single strand

b)

Triple helix

c)

Circular loop

d)

Double helix

4.

How many chromosomes do humans typically have?

a)

48

b)

50

c)

46

d)

44

5.

What is the difference between a gene and a chromosome?

a)

A gene is a complete set of chromosomes found in a cell.

b)

A chromosome is a single DNA molecule that does not contain genes.

c)

A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a protein, while a chromosome is a structure that contains many genes.

d)

A gene is a type of chromosome that contains multiple proteins.

6.

What is the process by which DNA is copied called?

a)

Replication

b)

Translation

c)

Transcription

d)

Mutation

7.

What is a dominant allele?

a)

A dominant allele is an allele that expresses its trait in the presence of another allele.

b)

An allele that only expresses its trait when paired with another dominant allele.

c)

An allele that does not affect the phenotype of an organism.

d)

An allele that is always recessive regardless of other alleles.

8.

What is a recessive allele?

a)

A recessive allele is always expressed in the phenotype.

b)

A recessive allele is dominant over other alleles.

c)

A recessive allele is an allele that only expresses its trait when two copies are present.

d)

A recessive allele requires only one copy to show its trait.

9.

What inheritance pattern is shown when a trait is expressed in the offspring even if only one parent contributes the allele?

a)

Recessive inheritance

b)

Dominant inheritance

c)

Incomplete dominance

d)

Codominant inheritance

10.

What is the term for the physical expression of a gene?

a)

Chromosome

b)

Phenotype

c)

Allele

d)

Genotype

11.

What is a Punnett square used for?

a)

To measure the height of plants in a field.

b)

A Punnett square is used to predict genetic variations in offspring from parental genotypes.

c)

To determine the color of flowers in a garden.

d)

To calculate the age of an organism.

12.

How can environmental factors influence genetic traits?

a)

Genetic traits are solely determined by DNA without any external influence.

b)

Environmental factors have no impact on genetic traits.

c)

Environmental factors can only affect physical appearance, not genetic traits.

d)

Environmental factors can affect genetic traits by influencing natural selection and causing epigenetic changes.

13.

A mutation is harmful to an organism if it

a)

changes the phenotype of an organism

b)

changes the DNA segment

c)

reduces the organism's chance of survival

d)

makes the organism better able to avoid predators

14.

A physical appearance is

a)

genotype

b)

heterozygous

c)

phenotype

d)

codominance

15.

Two identical alleles for a trait is known as

a)

homozygous

b)

heterozygous

c)

mutation

d)

codominance

16.

Which of the following alleles is homozygous (purebred) recessive?

a)

TT

b)

Tt

c)

tt

d)

ts

17.

Y= yellow pod

y= green pod


What is the percentage of yellow pod when you cross a hybrid pod plant with a purebred green pod plant?

a)

25%

b)

50%

c)

75%

d)

100%

18.

How many pairs of chromosomes exist in each of your cells?

a)

10

b)

12

c)

19

d)

23

19.

This scientist studied pea plants and was considered to be the "Father of Genetics".

a)

Reginald Punnett

b)

Gregor Mendel

c)

Charles Darwin

d)

Rosalind Franklin

20.

What is the probability of producing a tall pea plant from a cross between two hybrid tall pea plants?

a)

25%

b)

50%

c)

75%

d)

100%