How Humans Change Traits - Middle School Life Science
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What is a major goal of selective breeding in crops?
What is a major goal of selective breeding in crops?
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Increase yield, quality, or resistance to pests and disease. Farmers select for traits that improve crop productivity and survival.
Increase yield, quality, or resistance to pests and disease. Farmers select for traits that improve crop productivity and survival.
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What is artificial selection?
What is artificial selection?
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Human-directed selection of traits, rather than natural selection. Humans choose which organisms reproduce, not environmental pressures.
Human-directed selection of traits, rather than natural selection. Humans choose which organisms reproduce, not environmental pressures.
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What is hybridization in selective breeding?
What is hybridization in selective breeding?
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Crossing different varieties to combine desirable traits. Mixing genetic material from different lines creates new combinations.
Crossing different varieties to combine desirable traits. Mixing genetic material from different lines creates new combinations.
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Which term describes breeding two different breeds to combine useful traits?
Which term describes breeding two different breeds to combine useful traits?
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Crossbreeding. Mixing breeds combines complementary traits from each parent.
Crossbreeding. Mixing breeds combines complementary traits from each parent.
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Which term describes breeding closely related organisms to keep desired traits?
Which term describes breeding closely related organisms to keep desired traits?
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Inbreeding. Mating relatives concentrates shared genes, including desired ones.
Inbreeding. Mating relatives concentrates shared genes, including desired ones.
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What is gene editing (for example, CRISPR) used for?
What is gene editing (for example, CRISPR) used for?
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Making targeted DNA changes, such as adding, removing, or replacing genes. Allows precise modifications to specific DNA sequences.
Making targeted DNA changes, such as adding, removing, or replacing genes. Allows precise modifications to specific DNA sequences.
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What is a key difference between selective breeding and genetic engineering?
What is a key difference between selective breeding and genetic engineering?
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Breeding mixes existing genes; engineering directly alters DNA. Breeding works with natural genes; engineering adds new ones.
Breeding mixes existing genes; engineering directly alters DNA. Breeding works with natural genes; engineering adds new ones.
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What is genetic variation, and why does selective breeding require it?
What is genetic variation, and why does selective breeding require it?
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Differences in genes; it provides traits that can be selected. Without different alleles, there's nothing to select for.
Differences in genes; it provides traits that can be selected. Without different alleles, there's nothing to select for.
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What is heterosis (hybrid vigor)?
What is heterosis (hybrid vigor)?
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Hybrids show stronger growth or health than either parent line. Mixed genetics often produces healthier offspring than pure lines.
Hybrids show stronger growth or health than either parent line. Mixed genetics often produces healthier offspring than pure lines.
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Identify the most likely outcome of repeatedly breeding only the fastest racehorses.
Identify the most likely outcome of repeatedly breeding only the fastest racehorses.
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Average speed increases as speed-related alleles become more common. Selection for speed genes increases their proportion in offspring.
Average speed increases as speed-related alleles become more common. Selection for speed genes increases their proportion in offspring.
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Identify the best explanation for why purebred lines may have more inherited disorders.
Identify the best explanation for why purebred lines may have more inherited disorders.
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Reduced genetic diversity increases expression of harmful recessive alleles. Limited gene pool allows harmful alleles to pair up more often.
Reduced genetic diversity increases expression of harmful recessive alleles. Limited gene pool allows harmful alleles to pair up more often.
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Identify the genetic technology most suited to turning off one specific gene in an organism.
Identify the genetic technology most suited to turning off one specific gene in an organism.
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Gene editing (such as CRISPR) targeted to that gene. CRISPR can precisely disable specific genes without adding new ones.
Gene editing (such as CRISPR) targeted to that gene. CRISPR can precisely disable specific genes without adding new ones.
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What is a common risk of inbreeding?
What is a common risk of inbreeding?
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Higher chance of harmful recessive traits and genetic disorders. Related parents share more harmful alleles that can pair up.
Higher chance of harmful recessive traits and genetic disorders. Related parents share more harmful alleles that can pair up.
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What is inbreeding?
What is inbreeding?
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Breeding closely related individuals to increase trait uniformity. Mating relatives concentrates similar alleles in offspring.
Breeding closely related individuals to increase trait uniformity. Mating relatives concentrates similar alleles in offspring.
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What is a transgenic organism?
What is a transgenic organism?
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An organism with a gene inserted from a different species. Contains DNA from another species through genetic engineering.
An organism with a gene inserted from a different species. Contains DNA from another species through genetic engineering.
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What is a trait in genetics?
What is a trait in genetics?
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A characteristic influenced by genes and often by the environment. Observable features determined by genetics.
A characteristic influenced by genes and often by the environment. Observable features determined by genetics.
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What does selective breeding change in a population over many generations?
What does selective breeding change in a population over many generations?
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It increases the frequency of alleles for chosen traits. Desired alleles become more common through selection.
It increases the frequency of alleles for chosen traits. Desired alleles become more common through selection.
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Identify the main goal of selective breeding in crops or livestock.
Identify the main goal of selective breeding in crops or livestock.
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To produce offspring with more desirable traits. Improves crops and livestock for human benefit.
To produce offspring with more desirable traits. Improves crops and livestock for human benefit.
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What is a major risk of inbreeding for a population?
What is a major risk of inbreeding for a population?
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Reduced genetic diversity and increased chance of harmful traits. Less variation makes populations vulnerable to disease.
Reduced genetic diversity and increased chance of harmful traits. Less variation makes populations vulnerable to disease.
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Identify the likely result if breeders select only the largest seeds for many generations.
Identify the likely result if breeders select only the largest seeds for many generations.
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Average seed size increases in the population. Selecting for a trait shifts the population toward it.
Average seed size increases in the population. Selecting for a trait shifts the population toward it.
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What is CRISPR most often used for in genetic technology?
What is CRISPR most often used for in genetic technology?
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Precisely editing DNA by cutting and altering specific sequences. A tool that cuts DNA at specific locations.
Precisely editing DNA by cutting and altering specific sequences. A tool that cuts DNA at specific locations.
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Identify the key difference between selective breeding and genetic engineering.
Identify the key difference between selective breeding and genetic engineering.
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Breeding selects existing variation; engineering directly changes DNA. One works with natural variation, the other creates new genes.
Breeding selects existing variation; engineering directly changes DNA. One works with natural variation, the other creates new genes.
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What is heredity?
What is heredity?
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Passing genetic information and traits from parents to offspring. How traits are inherited through generations.
Passing genetic information and traits from parents to offspring. How traits are inherited through generations.
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What is a gene?
What is a gene?
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A DNA segment that helps determine a trait. Basic unit of heredity that codes for traits.
A DNA segment that helps determine a trait. Basic unit of heredity that codes for traits.
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Which term describes an organism that contains DNA from another species?
Which term describes an organism that contains DNA from another species?
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Transgenic organism. Foreign DNA is inserted to add new traits.
Transgenic organism. Foreign DNA is inserted to add new traits.
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