Inheritance review

1. A geneticist was asked to investigate the inheritance of acatalasia in dogs.

The normal allele is represented by B and the mutant allele is represented by b.
The geneticist made the diagram in Fig. 3.1 to show the inheritance of acatalasia in a family of dogs. The
shaded symbols indicate the dogs with acatalasia.

Fig. 3.1

(i) State the genotypes of the dogs identified as 1, 2 and 3 in Fig. 3.1.
1 .............................................................................................................................
2 .............................................................................................................................
3 ............................................................................................................................. [3]

The geneticist crossed dog 4 with dog 5. Approximately half of the offspring had acatalasia and half the
offspring did not have acatalasia.

Complete the genetic diagram to show how this is possible.

(ii)

offspring genotypes................................................................................................
offspring phenotypes.............................................................................................. [3]

(iii) State the name given to the type of cross that you have completed in (b)(ii).
................................................................................................................................ [1]
[Total: 7]
2 Anthocyanin is a red pigment found in carnation flowers. Some carnation plants have a gene for making
anthocyanin.
Meiosis is necessary for sexual reproduction of carnation plants.
Define the term meiosis.
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........................................................................................................................................... [2]

Carnation plants show co-dominance for the anthocyanin gene. There are two alleles:
• FA
– allele for anthocyanin pigment (red flowers)
• FN
– allele for no anthocyanin pigment (white flowers)

(i) State the genotype of a carnation plant that is heterozygous for this gene.
................................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) Describe the phenotype of a heterozygous carnation plant for this gene.
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................................................................................................................................ [1]

The breeder crossed a FAFN carnation plant with a FAFA carnation plant. Predict, using a genetic diagram, the
proportion of pure breeding carnation plants in the offspring.
(iii)

[Total: 8]
3 (a) Sex in cats is determined in the same way as in humans.
Complete the diagram below to show how sex is determined in cats.

(b) A scientist investigated the inheritance of fur colour in cats.

The gene for coat colour is located on the X chromosome. The gene has two alleles:
• B black
• b orange.

The X chromosome with the allele for black is represented by XB.

The X chromosome with the allele for orange is Xb.

A female cat can be a mixture of these colours, described as calico.

Fig. 3.1 shows the inheritance of this condition in a family of cats.

(i) State the genotypes of cats 1, 4, and 5 in Fig. 3.1.

cat 1 .......................................................................................................................
cat 4 .......................................................................................................................
cat 5 ....................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 6]
4 Fig. 5.1 shows the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans.

Fig. 5.1
(a) (i) State the genus of this nematode.
.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) State two structural features of nematodes.

1 ........................................................................................................................................
2 ........................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) Fig. 5.2 shows the life cycle of C. elegans. The diploid number of this species is 12.

Fig. 5.2

(i) State the haploid number of C. elegans.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
(ii) Explain why meiosis occurs at P and mitosis occurs at Q.
meiosis at P ........................................................................................................................
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mitosis at Q ........................................................................................................................
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.......................................................................................................................................[3]

(c) C. elegans was one of the first organisms to have its genome sequenced.
An organism’s genome is the sum of all its genetic material. Gene sequencing identifies all
the component parts of the DNA that makes up the genome.
State where DNA is located in a cell.
...................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................[2]
[Total: 9]
5 a Four definitions of terms used in genetics are shown in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1

For each of the definitions, select an appropriate term from the list and write it in the box provided.

Mitosis mutation phenotype

Chromosome diploid dominant
Gene genotype haploid
Heterozygous homozygous recessive

[4]
(b) A couple who have blood groups A and B have four children. Each child has a different blood group.
Use the space below to draw a genetic diagram to show how this is possible. Use the symbols, IA , IB and Io,
for the alleles.

(c) Explain what is meant by codominance. You may refer to the genetic diagram in (b) to help you with your
answer.

[3]