Answers

Chapter 3 Answers are not provided for questions that require individual research or practice.

Exercises

1 Alleles are versions of genes. The term gene 8 Because mitosis produces diploid cells,
can be considered to be more general, whereas and if such cells were used as gametes, the
allele is more specific. resulting offspring would have 2n + 2n = 4n
chromosomes. In that case, the number of
2 Answers will vary. Possible suggestions:
chromosomes would double every generation:
better vision, better colours for camouflage,
4n, 8n, 16n, 32n, and so on. To maintain the
wing shape changes to allow better speed or
appropriate chromosome number, meiosis is
precision in flight.
used so that the resulting offspring have n + n =
3 Because eukaryotes reproduce using sexual 2n chromosomes.
reproduction, half of the genetic material is
9 For males, sperm cells; for females, egg cells.
always from the female parent and the other half
from the male parent. 10 Drawings should be similar to Figure 3.18.

4 The drawing should show one or two chromatids 11 Because the allele for colour blindness is
as vertical rods, a centromere between the top recessive and sex linked, in order for a woman
and bottom arms of the chromatids, and a locus to be colour blind, she must have two recessive
drawn as a line across one of the chromatids. alleles, one on each of her X chromosomes:
locus XbXb. In any other case, she would be carrying
at least one dominant allele to cancel out the
effects of the colour blindness allele. In most
populations, it is rare to receive one of these
centromere recessive alleles and even more rare to get both
alleles for colour blindness. On the other hand,
it is much easier for a man to get the condition
because there is no locus on the Y chromosome
to carry a dominant allele to mask the recessive
chromatid
allele on his X chromosome. As a result, the
5 Because they only have one parent, they only presence of just one b allele is enough to give
have one chromosome, so they can never him colour blindness.
be 2n. 12 The answer should show the Punnett grid for the
6 Women generally have their children at a young cross CRCW CRCW.
age. Even though the risks are smaller, since the CR CW
total number of babies is higher, the number with C R
CCR R
CRCW
Down syndrome will be a bigger number, even
CW CRCW CWCW
though it is a smaller percentage.
13 In the top row, one circle and one square should
7 Because the resulting daughter cells only contain
be joined by a horizontal line. They should both
half of the genetic material of the parent cells.
be labelled pink. In the next row, showing the F1
The number of chromosomes changes from 2n
to n.

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Answers

generation, the four offspring plants should show 18 Answers will vary, but it is generally agreed that
one red, two pink and one white. the labelling in most countries is insufficient for
consumers to make educated choices about the
pink pink foods they buy. For example, labels could say
may contain GM soybeans but it is not clear
what percentage could be expected.

red pink pink white

The offspring are shown here as all female, but

Practice questions
any combination of shapes could be used.
1 B (Total 1 mark)
14 (a) XHXh for the mother and XHY for the father.
2 D (Total 1 mark)
Girls can be either XHXH or XHXh and the
(b)
boys can be either XHY or XhY. 3 B (Total 1 mark)

Both possible genotypes for the girls give

(c) 4 knowledge of location of human genes/position
them normal blood clotting. The genotype of human genes on chromosomes; knowledge
XHY gives a boy with normal blood clotting of number of genes/interaction of genes/
but XhY is a boy with haemophilia. understanding the mechanism of mutations;
evolutionary relationships between humans
The only carriers are the mother and any
(d) and other animals; discovery of proteins/
daughters with XHXh. (Males cannot be understanding protein function/detection of
carriers.) genetic disease; leads to the development
1 in 4, or 25%.
(e) of medical treatment/enhanced research
techniques; knowledge of the base sequence of
15 Analysis of DNA samples using techniques such genes/study of variation within genome
as gel electrophoresis cannot be done with
(Total 3 marks)
only a few strands of DNA. When DNA samples
are collected, for example at a crime scene, 5 two sex chromosomes are X and Y; one sex
sometimes only a few cells are found. To obtain chromosome inherited from each parent;
enough copies for analysis, the DNA strands XX results in female; XY results in male; sex
must be copied millions of times. determined by sperm/father; sex-linked genes
are those located on the sex chromosomes/
16 Typically, the source of stem cells is human
usually refers to genes on X chromosome;
embryos. The ethical question is: Can we
recessive sex-linked traits appear more
use embryos purely as research tools? Critics
frequently in males since they only have one X
argue that these balls of cells should be treated
chromosome; haemophilia is an example of a
with respect and dignity because they are of
gene located on the X chromosome/sex-linked;
human origin and their natural destiny is to try to
female carriers are heterozygous/XHXh; males
develop into baby girls or boys, so using them
with haemophilia are XhY/normal males are XHY;
for another purpose is unnatural and unethical.
sons (of carrier females) have 50% probability
17 Answers will vary, but both benefits (e.g. a of showing the trait (even if father is normal);
plants resistance to drought, higher yield) and daughters (XhXh) of haemophiliac father and
risks (e.g. consequences of GM pollen escaping, carrier mother can be affected/daughters who
possible allergies) should be explored, and there receive an affected X from each parent will have
should be a justification in the answer. haemophilia

2
 The points above can be gained by annotated
Punnett grids. Candidates may introduce a Challenge yourself
lettering system for haemophilia genotypes
that does not include H and h. Accept other 1 Skin colour: largely genetic, but exposure to
letters for superscripts, but same alphabetical sun can change skin colour.
letter should be used throughout, dominant Freckles : genetic, but sunlight can make
form should appear as upper case letter and
them more pronounced.
recessive as lower case letter.  (Total 7 marks)
Number of fingers on each hand: genetic but
6 A  (Total 1 mark) an accident or disease could cause the loss of
digits.
7 one gene determines (ABO) blood groups/
one gene for ABO blood groups; genes have Blood type: genetic, although, exceptionally,
different/alternative forms called alleles; there people given a bone marrow transplant can
are three alleles (IA, IB, and i) of the gene for change blood type.
(ABO) blood groups; (ABO) blood groups are Colour blindness: genetic.
an example (of the effect of) multiple alleles Sex: genetic.
(in this instance three alleles can result in four Ability to digest lactose: genetic.
phenotypes); each individual has two alleles of
Reflexes: genetic.
the gene but only one is passed to offspring;
alleles that are co-dominant both affect the Type of ear wax (wet or dry): genetic.
phenotype in a heterozygote; (alleles) IA and IB A scar from an accident: acquired.
are co-dominant; (alleles) IA and IB are dominant Ability to speak: genetic, although some
over i/i is recessive to IA and IB; (genotypes) IAIA psychological or medical conditions might
and IAi both give blood group A; (genotypes) IBIB cause mutism.
and IBi both give blood group B; (genotype) IAIB Ability to speak Spanish: acquired.
gives blood group AB; (genotype) ii/homozygous
Height: largely genetic, although poor nutrition
i gives blood group O; example of a cross
can prevent people from reaching their full
involving ABO blood groups  (Total 9 marks)
potential height.
8 carrier has (one copy of) a recessive allele; must Personality: some components appear to be
also have a dominant allele to prevent having the genetic, others are acquired and many are a
condition/disease; mix of both.
or Intelligence: this depends on what the
definition of intelligence is. Highly debatable.
cannot be homozygous dominant or they
would not carry the recessive allele; cannot be The mans children would not be born with only
homozygous recessive or they would have the one foot. Scientists rejected the idea of passing on
condition/disease (Total 2 marks) acquired characteristics decades ago.

2 (a) Asian rice, Oryza sativa.

(b) If viruses are accepted as a species, then its
phiX174. Otherwise its E. coli (type K-12).
(c) The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
(d) Answers may vary but could include the
following. For: simple organisms such
as E. coli that do not have specialized or
differentiated cells have a smaller number
3
Answers

of genes as more advanced species

such as the fruit fly. Against: we humans Nature of science
like to consider ourselves to be the most
advanced species on Earth and yet we 3.3 Thanks to such a graph, what advice can
have a similar number of genes as a worm doctors give women who wish to avoid this
and fewer genes than Asian rice. Having syndrome in their children?
said this, it would be difficult for humans to
survive in the niches of these other species. To minimize the risk of having a child with Down
syndrome, it is best for the mother to have a child
3 Answers may vary but if students compare before she is 35 years old, because between the
organisms that evolved long ago, such as ages of 35 and 40 the risk doubles, and it continues
bacteria, to organisms that evolved more to increase after the age of 40. Having said this, even
recently, such as plants and animals, they if a woman has her baby at the age of 44, the risk is
should see a difference. about 1 in 166 of having a child with Down syndrome,
4 This is a girl because the two chromosomes in which is less than a 1% chance.
the 23rd pair are long chromosomes, suggesting
that they are both X, which is characteristic of 3.4 When and how did we find out that X-rays
a girl. If there was a long chromosome and a were not a safe and healthy way of performing
short one, it would be XY for a boy. The anomaly prenatal examinations?
visible in this karyogram is that there are three Statistics can be used in scientific investigations for
chromosomes in the 21st pair instead of two. revealing hidden phenomena and can be instrumental
This can be interpreted as showing Down in determining causality. Dr Stewarts example shows
syndrome. that, in order to be taken seriously by the scientific
6 The details of a karyogram that would reveal community, a study needs to be replicated and
whether or not the child has Down syndrome is similar results need to be found in order for them to
the number of chromosomes in the 21st pair: if be considered valid. Despite convincing evidence, it
there are two, the child does not have it, if there often takes many years for the scientific community to
are three, the child has it. accept a new development: this is because scientists
are sceptical and need more than one study to be
7 Answers may vary. Possibilities include religious convinced. When dealing with statistics, it is important
beliefs, family values, personal feelings, financial to remember the GIGO rule: garbage in, garbage out.
limitations, availability of special education and If erroneous or outdated numbers are plugged into a
care. statistical analysis, the results will also be erroneous
8 The 23rd pair of chromosomes will show two or outdated. Instead of accepting statistics on face
long chromosomes (XX) if it is a girl, and one value, scientists often ask questions such as Where
long and one short chromosome if it is a boy do these numbers come from? How were they
(XY). calculated? Have all the data been considered or has
there been some cherry-picking? As to the ethical
9 Answers will vary from country to country and nature of the doctors actions, there are arguments
within countries. both ways, but if we invoke the precautionary
10 The drawing should look like Figures 3.17 and principle, they should not have been exposing children
3.18. to X-rays before proving that the radiation was
harmless.
11 Child 2 (C2 ).

12 Suspect 3 is a perfect match to the DNA found

in the blood stain.
4