Middle School Life Science : Understand the effects of mutations
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Natural Selection
Which of the following statements about mutations is FALSE?
A mutation happens by chance.
Mutations are sometimes inheritable.
Specific mutations can become more common through natural selection.
A mutation is a disadvantage.
A mutation is a disadvantage.
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Example Question #2 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
Which of the following is NOT a kind of mutation?
duplication
transformation
insertion
deletion
transformation
The answer is "transformation."
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #1 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
Where in this diagram does a point mutation occur?
throughout the genome
at one or a few nucleotides in a gene sequence
across an entire gene sequence
throughout the chromosome
at one or a few nucleotides in a gene sequence
The answer is "at one or a few nucelotides in a gene sequence" because point mutations are small changes in a few nucleotides that can shift the effects of an entire gene sequence.
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #3 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
Why do mutations occur?
by random chance during replication
through contact with chemicals
all of these
mutagens in the environment
all of these
The answer is "all of these." Mutations can happen spontaneously during replication, or by contact with chemicals in the environment called mutagens.
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #4 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
What would happen if the section of DNA pictured was accidentally deleted during the process of replication?
the resulting organism would die because it wouldn't have enough DNA
a "deletion" type of mutation would occur
the resulting organism would be harmed
an "inversion" type of mutation would occur
a "deletion" type of mutation would occur
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #2 : Natural Selection
Which of these would most likely cause a mutation?
the release of messenger RNA from DNA
the placement of ribosomes within the endoplasmic reticulum
transcription of RNA in the nucleus
the insertion of a nucleotide into DNA
the insertion of a nucleotide into DNA
The answer is "the insertion of a nucleotide into DNA."
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #3 : Natural Selection
A disease in humans is caused by a change in one codon in a gene from GAA to GUA. This disease is caused by:
crossing over
polyploidy
a meiosis error
a mutation
a mutation
The answer is "a mutation."
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #8 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
Mutations in DNA are:
natural processes that affect genetic diversity
unnatural processes that only change genotype
unnatural processes that harm genetic diversity
natural processes that always change phenotype
natural processes that affect genetic diversity
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #9 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
A mutation in which of these types of cells could be passed to an organism's offspring?
a muscle cell
a brain cell
an egg cell
a nerve cell
an egg cell
The answer is "an egg cell"
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
Example Question #10 : Understand The Effects Of Mutations
During DNA replication, the wrong nucleotide was inserted into the DNA sequence. Which of the following best describes this situation?
regeneration
translation
transcription
a mutation
a mutation
The answer is "a mutation."
A mutation is a genetic variation that happens by chance. A mutation is not necessarily good or bad. Some mutations are harmful, and end up causing the organism to die sooner than its counterparts. Some mutations have no effect on an organism at all. Other mutations that are inheritable and beneficial, have the potential to become standard in a population. Through the process of natural selection, more individuals with beneficial mutations will survive than those without it, and it will lead to an increase in the expression of those certain traits. This is ultimately how evolution occurs.
Some types of mutations:
Deletion: When a segment of DNA is lost, so there is a missing segment in the chromosome. These usually result in many genes missing from the chromosome.
Duplication: When a segment of DNA is repeated, creating a longer chromosome. These usually result in multiple copies of genes in the chromosome.
Inversion: When a segment of DNA is flipped and then reattached to the same chromosome.
Insertion: When a segment of DNA from one chromosome is added to another, unrelated chromosome.
Translocation: When two segments from different chromosomes change positions.
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