Core questions – Biology Unit 6 - Inheritance

No. Question Answer

1 What is sexual reproduction? Involves the joining (fusion) of male and female gametes
2 What is a gamete? A sex cell
3 What are animal gametes called? Sperm and egg
4 What are plant gametes called? Pollen and egg
5 How many chromosomes are in a human gamete? 23
6 Why is there variation in sexual reproduced organisms? The genetic information from the male and female is mixed when gametes fuse
7 How many parents are involved in asexual reproduction? One parent
8 Why is the no variation in asexual reproduction? There is no mixing of genetic information, so the offspring is genetically identical
9 What is a genetically identical offspring called? A clone
10 What is meiosis? When cells divide to produce cells with half the number of chromosomes as a normal cell
11 Where does meiosis happen? In the reproductive organs of an organism
12 Describe what happens when a cell divides by meiosis? 1. Copies of the genetic information are made
2. The cell divides twice to form four gametes, each with a single set of chromosomes
3. All the gametes are genetically different from each other
13 Why do gametes only have half the number of So when two gametes fuse during fertilisation the total number of chromosomes is restored to
chromosomes as a normal cell? normal
14 What are the advantages of sexual reproduction? (Triple  Provides variation in the offspring
only)  Variation gives a survival advantage if the environment changes
 We can use selective breeding to speed up natural selection
15 What are the advantages of asexual reproduction?  Only one parent is needed
(Triple only)  More time and energy efficient not needing to find mate
 Faster than sexual reproduction
 Many identical offspring can be produced in favourable conditions
16 What organisms can reproduce using both methods? Parasites, fungi, plants
(Triple only)
17 How do parasites reproduce both asexually and sexually? They reproduce sexually in the mosquito, but asexually in the human host
(Triple only)
18 How do fungi reproduce asexually? (Triple only) They reproduce asexually by producing spores
19 How do plants reproduce asexually? (Triple only) Strawberry plants produce runners
Plants can grow bulbs
20 How do plants reproduce sexually? (Triple only) By producing seeds
21 What is a chromosome? A long molecule of DNA
22 Describe the structure of DNA? DNA is a polymer made up of two strands coiled together in the shape of double helix
23 What is a gene? A small section of DNA that codes for a particular sequence of amino acids to make a protein
24 What is a genome? The entire genetic material of an organism
25 Why is it important for scientists to understand the human  Scientists can search for genes linked to different types of disease
genome?  Can help us to understand and treat inherited disorders better
 They are used in tracing human migration patterns from the past
26 What is the structure of a nucleotide? (Triple only) One sugar molecule, one phosphate molecule and one ‘base’
27 How many bases does DNA contain and what are they? Four: A, C, G and T
(Triple only)
28 What are the complementary base pairings? (Triple only) A – G; T – C
29 What do the order of bases on the DNA control? (Triple The order of amino acids in a protein
only)
30 How are amino acids coded for? (Triple only) By a sequence of 3 bases
31 Where are proteins made? (Triple only) On ribosomes, in the cytoplasm of the cell
32 Why can’t DNA leave the nucleus? (Triple only) (HT) It is too big
33 What is mRNA? (Triple only) (HT) Messenger RNA
34 What is the function of mRNA? (Triple only) (HT) It copies code from the DNA and carries the code to the ribosomes
35 How are amino acids brought to the ribosomes? (Triple By carrier molecules
only) (HT)
36 What happens to the protein when it is completed? It folds up to form a unique shape
(Triple only) (HT)
37 What different functions do proteins carry out in the  Enzymes – biological catalysts
body? (Triple only) (HT)  Hormones – used to carry messages around the body
 Structural proteins – physically strong (e.g. collagen)
38 What is a mutation? (Triple only) (HT) When the sequence of DNA bases are changed randomly
39 What affect can a mutation have on a protein? (Triple  It could change the shape of an enzyme, meaning the substrate may no longer fit the active
only) (HT) site
 A structural protein could lose its strength
40 What happens if a mutation occurs in the non-coding It can alter how genes are expressed (if they are switched on or off)
DNA? (Triple only) (HT)
41 What types of mutation are there? (Triple only) (HT) Insertions, deletions, substitutions
42 What is an insertion mutation? (Triple only) (HT) Where a new base is inserted into the DNA base sequence
43 What is a deletion mutation? (Triple only) (HT) When a random base is deleted from the DNA base sequence
44 What is a substitution mutation? (Triple only) (HT) When a random base in the DNA base sequence is changed to a different base
45 What is an allele? A different version of the same gene
46 Why do animals have two copies of each gene? Because there are two of each chromosome – one from each parent
47 What is a dominant allele? An allele that is always expressed, even if only one copy is present
48 What is a recessive allele? An allele that is only expressed if two copies are present (so no dominant allele present)
49 What is a homozygous pair of alleles? When the two alleles present are the same
50 What is a heterozygous pair of alleles? Where the two alleles present are different
51 What is a genotype? The combination of alleles that you have (e.g Bb)
52 What is a phenotype? The characteristics that are expressed (e.g. Blue eyes)
53 What diagram do we use to predict the probability of Punnett Square
having offspring with specific characteristics?
54 What is polydactyly? A condition in which you have extra fingers and toes
55 What type of allele is the inherited disorder Polydactyly Dominant allele
caused by?
56 What is cystic fibrosis? A disorder of cell membranes
57 What type of allele is the inherited disorder Cystic fibrosis Recessive allele
caused by?
58 What is embryo screening? Removing a cell from an embryo and analysing its genes for inherited disorders
59 What are the arguments for genetic screening?  Helps stop people suffering
 Could save money for expensive treatments
 There are currently strict laws for what it can be used for
60 What are the arguments against genetic screening?  It implies that people with genetic problems are ‘undesirable’
 Screening is expensive
 It could lead to people wanting ‘designer babies’
61 What are the sex chromosomes in a female? XX
62 What are the sex chromosomes in a male? XY
63 What does a genetic diagram look like for the probability
of getting a boy or a girl?

64 What is variation? The differences in the characteristics of individuals in a population

65 What is genetic variation? Variation due to the genes they have inherited
66 What examples are there of characteristics that are only Blood group, eye colour, inherited disorders
controlled by genes?
67 What is environmental variation? Variation due to the conditions in which they have developed
68 What examples are there of characteristics that are only Losing a toe, suntans, tattoos
controlled by environment?
69 Where does all genetic variation arise from? Mutations
70 What happens if a mutation occurs that causes a new It may lead to a rapid change in the species, if it is advantageous
phenotype?
71 What is evolution? A change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time through a process of natural
selection which may result in the formation of a new species
72 What is the theory of evolution by natural selection? All species of living things have evolved from simple life forms that first developed more than
three billion years ago
73 Describe the process of natural selection? 1. All species show wide variation
2. Organisms compete for limited resources
3. The organisms with the most suitable characteristics for the environment will survive
4. These organisms survive and reproduce, passing on the successful alleles to the offspring
5. Over time the beneficial characteristics become more common in a population
74 What is a species? A group of similar organisms that can reproduce to give fertile offspring
75 What is speciation? The development of a new species – when populations of the same species become too
different
76 Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural Charles Darwin
selection?
77 What evidence can be used to support Darwin’s theory of  Fossils show how changes in organisms have developed over time
evolution?  The recent discovery of how bacteria are able to evolve to become resistant to antibiotics
78 What evidence did Charles Darwin have for his theory of From observations on a round the world expedition and knowledge of geology and fossils
evolution by natural selection? (Triple only)
79 When was Darwin’s theory published? (Triple only) In ‘On the Origin of Species’ in 1859
80 Why did it take such a long time for Darwin’s theory to be  The theory challenged the idea that God made all the animals and plants that live on Earth
accepted? (Triple only)  There was insufficient evidence at the time the theory was published to convince many
scientists
 The mechanism of inheritance and variation (genes) was not known until 50 years after
publication
81 What other theories of evolution were there other than Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Darwin’s? (Triple only)
82 What was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s theory? (Triple only) That changes an organism acquires during its lifetime will be passed on to its offspring
83 Why was Lamarck’s hypothesis eventually rejected? Experiments didn’t support his hypothesis
(Triple only)
84 Describe the process of speciation? (Triple only) 1. A population of the same species become isolated
2. Isolation can happen due to a physical barrier (e.g. Earthquakes, floods)
3. Conditions on each side of the barrier are slightly different
4. Natural selection in each population will act differently
5. Eventually individuals in each population will have changed so much, they will be unable to
breed successfully
85 Who was Alfred Russel Wallace? (Triple only) Wallace independently proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection. He published
joint writings with Darwin in 1858 (the year before Darwin published ‘On the Origin of Species’)
86 What is Alfred Russel Wallace most famous for? (Triple His work on warning colouration in animals and his theory of speciation
only)
87 Who was Gregor Mendel? (Triple only) An Austrian monk who trained in maths and natural history
88 What did Mendel investigate? (Triple only) He carried out breeding experiments on plants
89 When did Mendel do his experiments on pea plants? Mid-19th Century
(Triple only)
90 What conclusions did Gregor Mendel make? (Triple only)  Characteristics in plants are determined by ‘hereditary units’
 One unit from each parent is passed on to descendants unchanged
 ‘Hereditary units’ can be dominant or recessive
91 Why was the significance of Mendel’s work not recognised They didn’t have the background knowledge about genes, DNA and chromosomes
until after his death? (Triple only)
92 What discovery was made in the late 1800s using Scientists became familiar with chromosomes and were able to observe how they behaved
Mendel’s work as a starting point? (Triple only) during cell division
93 When was it discovered that Mendel’s ‘hereditary units’ Early 20th Century
were actually genes? (Triple only)
94 When was the structure of DNA determined? (Triple only) 1953
95 What is selective breeding? When humans artificially select the plants or animals that are going to breed so that the genes
for particular characteristics remain in the population
96 What characteristics may be selected for in plants?  Crops with disease resistance
 Plants with big or unusual flowers
97 What characteristics may be selected for in animals?  Animals that produce more milk or meat
 Pets with a gentle temperament
98 Describe the process of selective breeding? 1. Select characteristics you want from the animals/plants you already have
2. Breed them with each other
3. Select the best offspring and breed them together
4. Repeat this process over several generations until all offspring have the correct
characteristics
99 What are the disadvantages of selective breeding? It reduces the gene pools, leading to ‘inbreeding’ which can cause health problems
100 What is genetic engineering? A process which involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from
another organism to give a desired characteristic
101 Describe the process of genetic engineering? (HT only) 1. A useful gene is isolated and cut out of the chromosome using enzymes
2. The gene is inserted into a vector
3. The vector is usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus
4. The vector is introduced to the target organism (plant, animal or microorganism) and the
useful gene is inserted into its cells
102 What examples of genetic modification are there?  Bacteria used to produce human insulin
 Crops have been genetically modified to improve size or quality of fruit, or make them
resistant to disease, insects and herbicides
 Sheep have been genetically engineered to produce drugs in their milk
103 What is gene therapy? When faulty genes, caused by inherited diseases, are replaced with working genes
104 What concerns are there about genetic modification?  GM crops may have health effects on human health and cause more allergies to food
 Transplanted genes may get out into the natural environment, (e.g. herbicide resistant
weeds)
105 What is a clone? A genetically identical offspring
106 What methods can be used to clone plants? (Triple only) Tissue culture; cuttings
107 What is a ‘tissue culture’? (Triple only) Using small groups of cells from part of a plant to grow identical new plants
108 What is the advantage of tissue culture? (Triple only) Lots of new plants can be made quickly, meaning rare plant species can be preserved
109 What is a plant ‘cutting’? (Triple only) A method used by gardeners to produce many identical new plants from a parent plant
110 What methods can be used to clone animals? (Triple only) Embryo transplants; adult cell cloning
111 Describe the process of an ‘embryo transplant’? (Triple 1. An egg is fertilised outside the womb
only) 2. The developing embryo is then split may time before cells become specialised
3. The embryos are implanted into lots of other cows
4. The offspring are identical to each other, but not the surrogate mother
112 Describe the process of ‘adult cell cloning’? (Triple only) 1. The nucleus is removed from an unfertilised egg cell
2. The nucleus from an adult body cell, such as a skin cell, is inserted into the egg cell
3. An electric shock stimulates the egg cell to divide to form an embryo
4. The embryo cells contain the same genetic information as the adult skin cell
5. When the embryo has developed into a ball of cells, it is implanted into the womb of a
surrogate mother
113 What is a fossil? The ‘remains’ of organisms from millions of years ago, which are found in rocks
114 Describe 3 ways that fossils may be formed? 1. From parts of organisms that have not decayed because one of more of the conditions
needed for decay are absent
2. When parts of the organism are replaced by minerals as they decay
3. As preserved traces of organisms, such as footprints, burrow and rootlet traces
115 Why is it difficult to use fossils to prove how life began and  Many of the early forms of life were soft-bodied, meaning they left few traces behind
evolved?  Lots of fossils that formed have been destroyed by geological activity
116 What is extinction? When there are no remaining individuals of a species alive
117 What factors can lead to the extinction of an individual  The environment changes too quickly
species?  A new predator kills them
 A new disease kills them
 A new competitor outcompetes them for resources (e.g. food)
118 What can lead to the mass extinction of many species? A catastrophic event such as a volcano, or asteroid collision
119 What is antibiotic resistance? When bacteria evolve and become resistant to antibiotics
120 Describe how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics? 1. Mutations of bacterial pathogens produce a new strain
2. Some strains are resistant to antibiotics so are not killed
3. They survive and reproduce so the population of the resistant strain increases
4. The resistant strain can then spread because people are not immune to it
121 What is MRSA? A bacteria that is resistant to many types of antibiotic
122 What steps should be taken to reduce the rate of  Doctors should not prescribe antibiotics inappropriately
development of antibiotic resistant strains?  Patients should complete their course of antibiotics so all bacteria are killed and can’t
mutate
 Agricultural use (farming) of antibiotics should be restricted
123 How are living organisms classified? By their structure and characteristics in a system developed by Carl Linnaeus
124 What are organisms sub divided into in the Linnaean Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
system?
125 How are organisms named? Through a binomial system of genus and species (e.g. Homo sapiens) Homo – genus, Sapiens –
species
126 Why have systems of classification improved? As improvements in microscopes and the understanding of biochemical processes progressed,
which helped us better understand the internal structures of organisms
127 What system did Carl Woese develop? The ‘three-domain system’
128 What are organisms divided into in the three domain Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota
system?
129 What is an ‘archaea’ domain? Primitive bacteria (a type of prokaryotic cell) usually living in extreme conditions
130 What is a ‘bacteria’ domain? This domain contains true bacteria
131 What is a ‘eukaryota’ domain? This domain includes a broad range of organisms including fungi, plants, animals and protists
132 What is an evolutionary tree? A method used by scientists to show how they believe organisms are related