Author: Biology Junction Team

Chapter 1 Quiz

 

Introduction to Biology
1. Science assumes that natural laws (such as the law of gravity):
apply uniformly through space and time
change with time
apply in a lab, but not nature
differ according to location2. A toad burrows into the mud to stay cool in the summer, this is an example of a living organism’s ability to:
reproduce
maintain homeostasis
have metabolism
be organized3. The smallest unit of life is the:
atom
organelle
molecule
cell

4. An organism found in the fish tank was green, unicellular and autotrophic – it would most likely be classified as a(n):
bacteria
fungi
plant
protist

5. Evolution occurs through the process of:
speciation
natural selection
adaptation
asexual reproduction

6. The tissues of the body are organized into:
cells
body systems
organs
organelles

7. Organisms that do not have a membrane bound nucleus are called:
prokaryotes
eukaryotes
heterotrophs
autotrophs

8. Creationism is not considered a theory because it violates which scientific principle:
experimental error
natural causality
falsifiability
both falsifiability and natural causality

9. All living things must:
move
reproduce
be symmetrical
breathe

10. A scientist is studying whether cows will produce more milk when given an experimental drug. He gives 100 female cows the drug and then tests their milk production. Which of the following would be a good control group?
100 male cows given the drug
100 male cows not given the drug
100 female cows not given the drug
100 goats

Score =
Correct answers:

 

 

 

POPULATION GENETICS PROBLEMS: HARDY-WEINBERG

POPULATION GENETICS PROBLEMS:  HARDY-WEINBERG EQUILIBRIUM

  1. A study on blood types in a population found the following genotypic distribution among the people sampled: 1101 were MM, 1496 were MN and 503 were NN. Calculate the allele frequencies of M and N, the expected numbers of the three genotypic classes (assuming random mating). Using X2, determine whether or not this population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

 

  1. A scientist has studied the amount of polymorphism in the alleles controlling the enzyme Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in a species of minnow.  From one population, 1000 individuals were sampled. The scientist found the following genotype frequencies: AA = .080, Aa = .280; aa = .640. From these data calculate the allele frequencies of the “A” and “a” alleles in this population. Use the appropriate statistical test to help you decide whether or not this population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

 

  1. The compound phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) tastes very bitter to most persons. The inability to taste PTC is controlled by a single recessive gene. In the American white population, about 70% can taste PTC while 30% cannot (are non-tasters). Estimate the frequencies of the Taster (T) and nontaster (t) alleles in this population as well as the frequencies of the diploid genotypes.

 

  1. In another study of human blood groups, it was found that among a population of 400 individuals, 230 were Rh+ and 170 were Rh-. Assuming that this trait (i.e., being Rh+) is controlled by a dominant allele (D), calculate the allele frequencies of D and d. How many of the Rh+ individuals would be expected to be heterozygous?

 

  1. Phenylketonuria is a severe form of mental retardation due to a rare autosomal recessive allele. About 1 in 10,000 newborn Caucasians are affected with the disease. Calculate the frequency of carriers (i.e., heterozygotes).

 

  1. For a human blood, there are two alleles (called S and s) and three distinct phenotypes that can be identified by means of the appropriate reagents. The following data was taken from people in Britain. Among the 1000 people sampled, the following genotype frequencies were observed SS = 99, Ss = 418 and ss = 483. Calculate the frequency of S and s in this population and carry out a X2 test. Is there any reason to reject the hypothesis of Hardy-Weinberg proportions in this population?

 

  1. A botanist is investigating a population of plants whose petal color is controlled by a single gene whose two alleles are codominant. She finds 170 plants that are homozygous brown, 340 plants that are homozygous purple and 21 plants whose petals are purple-brown. Is this population in HWE (don’t forget to do the proper statistical test)? Calculate “F” (inbreeding coefficient) and explain what is happening in this population.

 

Click HERE for answers (but don’t go here until you’ve actually tried to answer these questions!)