‭SBI3U – Genetics Unit Problems‬

‭ he following package contains all homework problems for the genetics unit of the course. The‬
T
‭homework problems are listed by lesson topic. Once a specific lesson has been completed, you‬
‭should refer to this package and complete each of the questions to consolidate your understanding.‬

‭Topic 1: Cells and Cell Cycle‬

‭1.‬ ‭What are the three stages in the cell cycle?‬
‭2.‬ ‭Describe the appearance of a cell’s genetic material at prophase of mitosis.‬
‭3.‬ ‭The length of the cell cycle varies between cell types. Predict which of the three phases of‬
‭the cell cycle varies, and provide an explanation for your answer.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Do you expect the rate of cell division to be higher in an adult or a child? Explain.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Sketch the four phases of mitosis. Include a key distinguishing feature to identify each‬
‭stage.‬

‭Topic 2: Structure of DNA‬

‭1.‬ ‭Using a diagram or flowchart, illustrate the relationships among the following structures:‬
‭nucleotide, DNA, gene, allele, chromatin, and chromosome.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Why is the word homologous used to describe chromosome pairs, rather than the word‬
‭identical?‬
‭3.‬ ‭Sketch a pair of homologous chromosomes as they would appear during metaphase of‬
‭mitosis. Label the following: sister chromatids, centromere, gene, and allele.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Why are the X and Y chromosomes commonly referred to as the sex chromosomes?‬
‭5.‬ ‭List the 4 nucleotide bases and describe which bases will pair with each other.‬
‭6.‬ ‭Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. How many of these pairs are autosomes?‬
‭7.‬ ‭Differentiate between a gene and an allele.‬

‭Topic 3: Meiosis and Gamete Formation‬

‭1.‬ ‭Describe the difference between a zygote and a gamete.‬
‭2.‬ ‭The diploid number of chromosomes for dogs is 78. How many chromosomes are in the‬
‭gamete cell of a dog? Explain your answer.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Explain how the end product of meiosis differs from that of mitosis.‬
‭4.‬ ‭If the number of chromosomes were not reduced during meiosis, how many chromosomes‬
‭would a human gamete have? How many chromosomes would result after fertilisation?‬
‭5.‬ ‭The somatic cells of a horse have 64 chromosomes.‬
‭a.‬ ‭What is the diploid number for a horse?‬
‭b.‬ ‭What is the haploid number for a horse?‬
‭c.‬ ‭How many chromosomes are present in a normal gamete?‬
‭d.‬ ‭How many chromosomes are present in a cell at prophase I?‬
‭6.‬ ‭What process produces diploid cells from haploid cells?‬

‭Topic 4: Gamete Formation and Errors in Meiosis‬

‭1.‬ ‭How many genetically different gametes can be produced from a diploid cell with seven‬
‭chromosome pairs? Explain your reasoning.‬
 ‭ .‬ E
2 ‭ xplain how the end result of meiosis is different from that of mitosis.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Although you will inherit a combination of traits from your parents, you may notice that some‬
‭traits seem to be inherited in combination (for example hair colour and eye colour). Why‬
‭may some traits be inherited together?‬
‭4.‬ ‭Name the four common errors during meiosis, and provide one specific example of a‬
‭disorder caused by each.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Explain what is meant by the term nondisjunction, and list two specific disorders that could‬
‭be the result of this phenomenon.‬
‭6.‬ ‭In what part of the human body does meiosis take place?‬
‭7.‬ ‭Differentiate between spermatogenesis and oogenesis.‬

‭Topic 5: Inheritance‬
‭1.‬ ‭What is a monohybrid cross?‬
‭2.‬ ‭Differentiate between the P, F‬‭1‬‭, and F‬‭2‬ ‭generations‬‭in a genetic cross.‬
‭3.‬ ‭How does the F‬‭1‬ ‭generation from a cross between true-breeding‬‭plants with opposite forms‬
‭of a trait differ from the F‬‭2‬ ‭generation?‬
‭4.‬ ‭Why did Mendel start with true-breeding plants?‬
‭5.‬ ‭Differentiate between the genotype and the phenotype of an organism.‬
‭6.‬ ‭Describe the difference between a dominant and a recessive trait. Explain which genotypes‬
‭are necessary to express a dominant or recessive phenotype.‬
‭7.‬ ‭Two brown-eyed parents have two children, one with brown eyes and one with blue eyes.‬
‭Using the terms dominant and recessive, explain how this can occur.‬
‭8.‬ ‭The term heterozygous can be used on its own, but the term homozygous should be‬
‭followed by either dominant or recessive. Explain why.‬
‭9.‬ ‭The following data was obtained from an initial cross between true-breeding pea plant‬
‭parents, one of which was tall, the other short. Does the date support the Mendelian ratio?‬
‭Explain.‬

‭Table 1:‬‭Results for the F‬‭1‬ ‭Generation‬

‭Trait‬ ‭Number of plants‬

‭Tall plants‬ ‭257‬

‭Short plants‬ ‭0‬

‭Table 2:‬‭Results for the F‬‭2‬ ‭Generation‬

‭Trait‬ ‭Number of plants‬

‭Tall plants‬ ‭149‬

‭Short plants‬ ‭53‬

 ‭10.‬‭Two black guinea pigs produce offspring with white fur.‬
‭a.‬ ‭What can you infer about coat colour in guinea pigs from this information?‬
‭b.‬ ‭What are the possible genotypes of the parents and offspring?‬

‭Topic 6: Genetic Crosses‬

‭1.‬ ‭List all the possible different gametes that could be produced from the following parents:‬
‭a.‬ ‭Tt‬
‭b.‬ ‭GG‬
‭c.‬ ‭Ff‬
‭2.‬ ‭What is the predicted phenotypic ratio of offspring from a cross between two individuals who‬
‭are heterozygous for a trait?‬
‭3.‬ ‭Green pod colour (G) is dominant to yellow pod colour (g) in pea plants. Predict the‬
‭phenotypes and genotypes of the offspring produced when a plant homozygous for green‬
‭pods is crossed with a plant homozygous for yellow pods.‬
‭4.‬ ‭The allele for long wings is dominant to the allele for curly wings in fruit flies. Predict the‬
‭genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring resulting from a cross between two fruit flies‬
‭heterozygous for wing shape.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Two pigs of unknown genotype produce a litter of piglets, six black and one white. If the‬
‭allele for white coat colour is recessive to the allele for black coat colour, determine the‬
‭genotypes of the parents, if possible. If not possible, what other information do you need?‬
‭6.‬ ‭Two plants were crossed, producing all blue flowers in the F‬‭1‬ ‭generation. When one of the‬
‭plants was allowed to self-fertilise, the ratio of flowers produced by the plants was 3:1 blue to‬
‭yellow. Since the allele for blue flowers is dominant to the allele for yellow flowers,‬
‭determine the likely genotype of the P generation.‬
‭7.‬ ‭The allele for round seeds is dominant to the allele for wrinkled seeds in pea plants. Two‬
‭pea plants, heterozygous for seed shape, are crossed to produce 280 offspring. What is the‬
‭expected number of round-seeded plants and wrinkle-seeded plants?‬
‭8.‬ ‭What is the difference between a dihybrid cross and a monohybrid cross?‬
‭9.‬ ‭List all the possible different gametes that could be produced from parents with the following‬
‭genotypes.‬
‭a.‬ ‭TtGg‬
‭b.‬ ‭AABbcc‬
‭c.‬ ‭RrWW‬
‭10.‬‭What is the expected phenotypic ratio in the F‬‭1‬ ‭and‬‭F‭2‬ ‬ ‭generations when a true-breeding‬
‭dominant parent is crossed with a true-breeding recessive parent?‬
‭11.‬‭A short pea plant that is heterozygous for flower colour is crossed with a homozygous tall‬
‭pea plant that is also heterozygous for flower colour.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Determine the genotypes of the P generation.‬
‭b.‬ ‭Determine the ratio of genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring.‬
‭12.‬‭The long hair of Persian cats is recessive to the short hair of Siamese cats, but the black‬
‭coat colour of Persians is dominant to the black-and-tan coat of the Siamese.‬
‭a.‬ ‭If a true-breeding black long-haired Persian is mated with a true-breeding‬
‭black-and-tan short haired Siamese, what are the predicted phenotypes of the cats in‬
‭the F‬‭1‬ ‭generation?‬
 ‭b.‬ I‭f two of the F‬‭1‬ ‭generation cats are then mated, what is the chance of obtaining a‬
‭long-haired black-and-tan cat in the F‬‭2‬ ‭generation?‬
‭13.‬‭Two pea plants produce the following offspring:‬
‭●‬ ‭225 tall with purple flowers‬
‭●‬ ‭250 short with white flowers‬
‭●‬ ‭237 tall with white flowers‬
‭●‬ ‭241 short with purple flowers‬
‭Which of the following parental pairs is more likely – two plants heterozygous for both genes,‬
‭or one heterozygous for both genes, and one homozygous recessive for both genes?‬
‭14.‬‭In corn, the allele for purple kernels is dominant to the allele for yellow kernels, and smooth‬
‭texture is dominant to wrinkled. Determine the likely genotypes of the parents if the offspring‬
‭consisted of 46 wrinkled purple kernels, 54 smooth yellow kernels, 153 smooth purple‬
‭kernels, and 15 wrinkled yellow kernels.‬

‭Topic 7: Patterns of Inheritance‬

‭1.‬ ‭Draw the symbol that would be used for each of the following in a pedigree:‬
‭a.‬ ‭Male‬
‭b.‬ ‭Affected female‬
‭c.‬ ‭Mating‬
‭2.‬ ‭What does the term autosomal inheritance mean?‬
‭3.‬ ‭Draw a pedigree showing the mating between an affected man and a woman to produce‬
‭three children, two unaffected boys and one affected girl. Label the generations and the‬
‭individuals.‬
‭4.‬ ‭A certain autosomal recessive genetic disorder is lethal in children. Explain how this allele‬
‭can continue to appear in the population even though children with the disease do not‬
‭survive long enough to have offspring of their own.‬
‭5.‬ ‭After examining the pedigree below:‬
‭a.‬ ‭Determine whether the inherited trait displayed is autosomal dominant or autosomal‬
‭recessive.‬
‭b.‬ ‭Provide the genotypes of all of the individuals in the pedigree. If there are any‬
‭genotypes that you cannot be certain of, explain why.‬
 ‭6.‬ D
‭ escribe a pattern that could potentially be witnessed in a pedigree for an autosomal‬
‭recessive trait, that could definitely not be witnessed for an autosomal dominant trait.‬

‭Topic 8: Incomplete and Co-dominance‬

‭1.‬ ‭Distinguish between incomplete dominance and codominance.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Explain why geneticists use notations like C‬‭W‬ ‭and‬‭C‭R‬ ‬ ‭to describe incomplete or codominant‬
‭alleles instead of using W and w or R and r.‬

‭3.‬ A ‭ plant that produces white flowers is crossed with a plant that produces purple flowers.‬
‭Describe the phenotype of the offspring if the inheritance pattern for flower colour is:‬
‭a.‬ ‭Incomplete dominance‬
‭b.‬ ‭Codominance‬
‭4.‬ ‭The frequency of the appearance of the sickle cell allele in human populations is much‬
‭higher in Africa than in most other areas of the world. What has been proposed to explain‬
‭this observation?‬
‭5.‬ ‭If a man has type AB blood and a woman has type A blood, what possible blood types could‬
‭their children have?‬
‭6.‬ ‭A baby has blood type AB. If the baby’s mother has type B blood, what blood types could‬
‭the father have?‬
‭7.‬ ‭Four children have the following blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Could these children have the‬
‭same two biological parents? Explain.‬
‭8.‬ ‭In dogs, coat colour is determined by the interaction between three alleles. The allele A‬‭S‬
‭produces a dark coloured dog, a‬‭y‬ ‭produces a sandy‬‭coloured dog, and a‬‭t‬ ‭produces a spotted‬
‭dog. The order of dominance is A‬‭S‬‭> a‬‭y‬ ‭> a‬‭t‭.‬ Determine‬‭the following from the pedigree‬
‭below.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The genotypes of the parents‬
‭b.‬ ‭The probability of an offspring from the mating between individuals 2 and 3 in the‬
‭second generation having spots.‬
‭c.‬ ‭The possible genotypes of individual 1 in the second generation‬

‭9.‬ A
‭ dark coloured dog is mated with a sandy coloured dog. The litter of puppies includes a‬
‭dark puppy, a sandy puppy, and a spotted puppy. Use a Punnett square to determine the‬
‭possible genotypes of the offspring and the parents. Use the information from the previous‬
‭question regarding inheritance of coat colour.‬
‭Topic 9: Linked Genes‬
‭1.‬ ‭What are linked genes?‬
‭2.‬ ‭Suppose that two individuals with the genotype AaBb are crossed, and the phenotypic ratio‬
‭produced is about 3:1 (A_B_:aabb). Are the genes for the two traits linked? Explain.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Describe how the process of crossing over of non-sister chromatids can affect linked genes.‬
‭4.‬ ‭What experimental evidence would lead scientists to suspect that two genes are linked?‬
‭5.‬ ‭A chromosome contains three genes, P, Q, and R. The percentage of gametes produced‬
‭that have the genes separated due to crossing over is shown in the table below. From the‬
‭data, identify the gene pair with the alleles that are closest together on the chromosome.‬
‭Explain your answer.‬
‭Genes‬ ‭Gametes with‬
‭Unlinked Genes‬
‭(%)‬

‭P and Q‬ ‭5‬

‭P and R‬ ‭18‬

‭Q and R‬ ‭13‬

‭6.‬ ‭A woman who is a carrier for CVD and a man who has CVD decide to have children.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Determine the genotypes of these two people.‬
‭b.‬ ‭What is the expected ratio of genotypes and phenotypes among their children?‬
‭7.‬ ‭A woman with regular vision and a man with regular vision have three children, one of whom‬
‭has CVD.‬
‭a.‬ ‭What can you conclude about the genotypes of the parents?‬
‭b.‬ ‭What sex is the child who has CVD? How do you know?‬