describe the mechanism by which genes are transmitted from parents to offspring

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Test 7 science

1. Describe the mechanism by which genes are transmitted from parents to offspring.

A. Blending of parental genes, resulting in an average of their traits.
B. Random assortment of alleles during meiosis, leading to unique combinations in each offspring.
C. Inheritance of solely dominant alleles, masking the influence of recessive ones.
D. Direct transfer of both parental genomes, creating identical copies of the parents.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A) Blending of parental genes, resulting in an average of their traits, is not an accurate description of how genes are transmitted. In reality, genes are not blended but rather passed down in discrete units. B) Random assortment of alleles during meiosis is the correct mechanism by which genes are transmitted from parents to offspring. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate, and alleles are randomly distributed to the gametes, leading to unique combinations of genes in each offspring. C) Inheritance of solely dominant alleles, masking the influence of recessive ones, is not an accurate representation of gene transmission. Offspring inherit alleles from both parents, and the expression of dominant or recessive traits depends on the specific combination of alleles. D) Direct transfer of both parental genomes, creating identical copies of the parents, is not how genes are transmitted. Offspring inherit a unique combination

2. Which of the following is NOT true about fossils?

A. They can provide evidence for the order of appearance of different species
B. They can be used to estimate the age of rocks and layers
C. They can tell us about the behavior of extinct organisms
D. They are always perfectly preserved

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A) This statement is true. Fossils can provide evidence for the order of appearance of different species through the study of the fossil record. B) This statement is true. Fossils can be used to estimate the age of rocks and layers through relative dating methods such as stratigraphy and absolute dating methods like radiometric dating. C) This statement is true. Fossils can provide information about the behavior of extinct organisms through the study of their preserved remains and traces. D) This statement is NOT true. Fossils are not always perfectly preserved. In many cases, fossils are incomplete, fragmented, or altered over time due to geological processes. The level of preservation can vary depending on factors such as the type of organism, the environment in which it lived, and the processes involved in fossilization.

3. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an example of:

A. Convergent evolution
B. Divergent evolution
C. Microevolution
D. Macroevolution

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a classic example of microevolution (option C). Microevolution refers to changes in allele frequencies within a population over a relatively short period of time. In the case of antibiotic resistance, bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics through the natural selection of pre-existing resistant strains. This process does not involve the formation of new species or higher taxonomic groups, which are associated with macroevolution (option D). Convergent evolution (option A) involves different species independently evolving similar traits in response to similar environmental pressures, which is not the case with antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Divergent evolution (option B) refers to related species becoming more dissimilar over time, which also does not apply to the scenario of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

4. An uncharged atom has an electron configuration of 1sÂ² 2sÂ² 2pâ¶ 3sÂ² and a mass number of 14. How many protons does it have?

A. 14
B. 6
C. 8
D. 12

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The number of protons in an atom is determined by the atomic number, which is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. The electron configuration given corresponds to carbon (C) with 6 protons. The atomic number of an element is the same as the number of protons in its nucleus, so in this case, the atom has 6 protons. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not correspond to the correct number of protons for an atom with the given electron configuration and mass number. Therefore, option B, 6 protons, is the correct answer.

5. The gradual change in a species over time is called:

A. Adaptation
B. Evolution
C. Speciation
D. Natural selection

Correct answer: B

Rationale: - Adaptation refers to the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment over time. While adaptation is a component of evolution, it specifically refers to the changes that help a species survive and reproduce in its environment. - Speciation is the process by which new species arise from a single ancestral species. It involves the evolution of reproductive isolation between populations. - Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the increase in frequency of those traits in a population. - Evolution is the gradual change in a species over time, encompassing all the processes such as adaptation, speciation, and natural selection that drive these changes.