genetics
Genetics examines genes and inheritance. This topic is part of Biology within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 43 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
genetics trivia questions
Genetics is the study of what?
Answer: Heredity
Bonus fact: Genetics examines genes and inheritance.
Who is often called the father of genetics?
Answer: Gregor Mendel
Bonus fact: Mendel's pea experiments revealed basic inheritance patterns.
What unit of heredity is a segment of DNA that influences a trait or function?
Answer: Gene
Bonus fact: Genes are functional hereditary units encoded in DNA.
Recent genetic research suggests dire wolves were what relative to modern gray wolves?
Answer: A deeply divergent canid lineage rather than especially close gray-wolf relatives
Bonus fact: This evidence led scientists to place the dire wolf in the genus Aenocyon rather than Canis.
What type of evidence can be compared using genetic profiles?
Answer: DNA
Bonus fact: DNA profiling can help identify individuals.
Dalmatians have a genetic tendency toward problems involving metabolism of what compound?
Answer: Uric acid
Bonus fact: Some Dalmatians are prone to urate urinary stones.
Mitochondria contain their own small amount of what genetic material?
Answer: DNA
Bonus fact: Mitochondrial DNA is separate from nuclear DNA.
What genetic material can bacteriophages contain?
Answer: DNA or RNA
Bonus fact: Different phage groups use different nucleic acids.
In population genetics, a bottleneck means a sharp temporary reduction in what?
Answer: Population size
Bonus fact: Population bottlenecks can reduce genetic diversity.
Why are fruit flies useful for genetics experiments?
Answer: They reproduce quickly
Bonus fact: Short generations allow many crosses in little time.
A virus contains genetic material surrounded by what protein shell?
Answer: Capsid
Bonus fact: The capsid protects viral DNA or RNA.
What protein shell surrounds the genetic material of a virus?
Answer: Capsid
Bonus fact: Some viruses also have a lipid envelope.