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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Population Genetics
Under the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Principle, allelic and genotype frequencies do not change in an ideal population, but this assumption is only valid under certain conditions.
A population must meet all of the following conditions to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except __________.
no natural selection
natural selection must occur
no migration
no mutations
Mating must be random
natural selection must occur
Under the Hardy-Weinberg Principle, there is no change in the frequency of alleles or genotypes in a population because there are no changes to the population, such as: natural selection, mutations, migration, or chance events. In addition, mating must be random. Therefore, is it easy to see that most populations do not meet the requirements of this principle.
Example Question #151 : Evolution And Genetics
Eye color in a certain species is decided by a single gene locus. Only two alleles influence eye color in a population of this species that exists in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The dominant allele codes for brown eyes, while the recessive allele codes for blue eyes.
If the frequency of the brown allele is , what percent of the population is heterozygous at this locus?
For problems of this type, we need to understand the Hardy-Weinberg equations:
Here, represents the frequency of the dominant allele, while c refers to the frequency of the recessive allele. and denote the proportion of homozygous dominant and recessive phenotypes, respectively. Finally, the proportion of heterozygotes is denoted by .
We already know that , and if only two alleles are present in the population, must be equal to .
Using the values for and , we can solve for the proportion of heterozygotes using the term of the Hardy-Weinberg equation.
Example Question #23 : Population Genetics
Gene flow occurs __________.
when two populations mix, but do not mate
when a population is split
when new individuals are added to a population
when natural forces act on existing variation
when new individuals are added to a population
Gene flow occurs when new individuals of the same species are added into a population. Think of it as new genes flowing into the existing gene pool.
This influx of new genes has the potential to disrupt the allele frequency in the given population; thus, no migration (gene flow) can occur in a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Autosomal And Sex Linked Inheritance
Which of the following is true about alleles?
Alleles are always dominant or recessive
Alleles are different forms of a given gene
Alleles are only inherited from the mother
All genes have two alleles
Every organism of a given species has a different set of alleles from every other individual of that species
Alleles are different forms of a given gene
Alleles are defined as "alternative forms of a given gene." Though Mendelian genetics tells us that the ideal model of a gene has only two alleles, dominant and recessive, we know this is not always the case, from things like codominance (blood type) and others. Some characteristics are defined by a combination of several alleles with varying weight of expression. Alleles on autosomes are inherited from both parents, but alleles in mitochondrial DNA are inherited from the mother only. Twins are an example of organisms with identical alleles, so the answers claiming that all organisms have different alleles is false.
Example Question #2 : Inheritance
In this pedigree, affected individuals have a disease causing the inability to walk forward, called Disease J. Assume all individuals whose alleles cannot be determined do not carry the allele for the disease (are not heterozygous).
How is Disease J inherited?
Autosomal recessive
Autosomal dominant
X-linked dominant
X-linked recessive
Autosomal dominant
The first generation shows an affected father and an unaffected mother. They produce both affected and unaffected children in the second generation, meaning that the disease cannot be recessive; if it were recessive, none of the second generation could be affected due to dominant alleles inherited from the mother. We can also conclude that the affected father is heterozygous.
Knowing that the trait is dominant, we must determine if it is autosomal or sex-linked. The trait can affect females, so it cannot be on the Y chromosome. The female in the second generation is affected, even though her mother is not, meaning she must be heterozygous. If the trait is on the X chromosome, it will be passed from the affected father to all female offspring, meaning that both females in the second generation would be affected. Because one female is not affected, she must have inherited an unaffected autosomal allele from the heterozygous father.
As such, the allele for the disease must be autosomal dominant.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Autosomal And Sex Linked Inheritance
If an autosomal trait skips a generation, it ___________; however, if an autosomal trait does not skip a generation, it ___________.
can be either recessive or dominant . . . must be recessive
must be recessive . . . can be either recessive or dominant
must be dominant . . . can be either recessive or dominant
can be either recessive or dominant . . . must be dominant
must be recessive . . . can be either recessive or dominant
If an autosomal trait skips a generation, it must be recessive; however, if an autosomal trait does not skip a generation, it can be either recessive or dominant.
These concepts can be easily seen when outlined via a pedigree analysis. A dominant trait cannot skip a generation; any presence of the allele will lead to expression, thus if the trait is not expressed in a given generation, it cannot be passed down (cannot skip). A recessive allele can be masked by carriers and reappear in a later generation.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Autosomal And Sex Linked Inheritance
Which of the following statements about X-linked traits is true?
They can be passed from father to son
There are more genetic diseases carried by the Y chromosome than the X chromosome
None of the other choices are correct
They generally affect more males than females
They generally affect more males than females
Because males only have one X chromosome, while females have two, they are more likely to be affected by a problematic X chromosome. Females can mask recessive X-linked alleles as carriers; males will express all alleles on their singular X chromosome.
Males only pass on a Y chromosome to their sons, so it is impossible for them to pass an X-linked trait to a son. Furthermore, Y chromosomes are virtually free of contributing to inheritance-linked diseases.
Example Question #4 : Understanding Autosomal And Sex Linked Inheritance
Scientists have characterized a new genetic disorder that only affects males. What is the most likely explanation of how this disorder is passed from generation to generation?
Epigenetic inheritance
Abnormal testosterone levels
Inheritance of the father's Y-chromosome
Inheritance of the mother's Y-chromosome
Inheritance of the father's Y-chromosome
If only males display the disorder, it is most likely a Y-linked genetic disorder. The only possible way to inherit this disease, then, would be through the inheritance of the father's Y-chromosome.
Women have two X-chromosomes, one from each parent, and could not possibly pass down the disorder.
Epigenetic inheritance could potentially explain a genetic disorder, but, if this were the case, it should not differentiate between males and females. Abnormal testosterone levels may be a result of the disorder, but they do no explain how the disorder is inherited.
Example Question #5 : Understanding Autosomal And Sex Linked Inheritance
Individuals with Klinefelter syndrome are phenotypically male, but experience reduced sperm production and breast development in adolescence. Klinefelter individuals have two X-chromosomes and one Y-chromosome (they are XXY instead of XY). What meiotic error gives rise to this condition?
Translocation
Polyploidy
Duplication
Monosomy
Aneuploidy
Aneuploidy
Aneuploidy is a chromosomal condition in which there are an abnormal number of chromosomes in the cells of the body. Aneuploidy typically refers to monosomy (one chromosome copy) or trisomy (three chromosome copies), and arises due to nondisjunction during meiosis and gametogenesis. Nondisjuction causes one daughter cell to receive three or four chromatids, and the other to receive one or zero. If this gamete is used to form a zygote, all cells in the resulting offspring will carry the abnormal chromosome number.
Translocation occurs when chromosomal fragments join non-homologous chromosomes. Polyploidy is a condition in which a cell has more than two complete chromosomal sets; in this example, only one set of chromosomes carries three copies. Duplication is the presence of additional segments within a single chromosome.
Example Question #5 : Understanding Autosomal And Sex Linked Inheritance
Red-green colorblindness is an X-linked recessive disorder. Which of the following scenarios is not a possible method by which this disorder can be inherited?
A colorblind mother and normal father have a daughter who is a carrier for the condition
A carrier mother and a normal father have a son who is born with colorblindness
A carrier mother and a colorblind father have a daughter who is born colorblind
A genotypically normal mother and a colorblind father have a son who is also colorblind
A genotypically normal mother and a colorblind father have a son who is also colorblind
X-linked disorders are inherited when a parent passes on his or her X-chromosome. Since females have two X-chromosomes, they are less likely to exhibit symptoms of a recessive disorder than males, who have only one. Females are capable of carrying a recessive X-linked trait without expressing it, while males are not. A male must inherit his Y-chromosome from the father and an X-chromosome from the mother, while a female must inherit X-chromosomes from both parents.
If a genotypically healthy mother and a colorblind father have a son, then this child must inherit an X-chromosome from the mother and a Y-chromosome from the father. The mother's chromosome are both genotypically normal, and do not possess the colorblind allele. This means that the son cannot possibly inherit a colorblind allele if the mother is genotypically normal.
All other presented answer represent scenarios that are possible.
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