Predicting Inherited Traits

Question 1

A student builds a model comparing asexual reproduction in bacteria with sexual reproduction in pea plants. Which statement best explains why the pea plant offspring are genetically different from one another?

Accepted Answer

Each offspring receives a different combination of alleles because the gametes that fuse during fertilization are formed by random assortment and crossing over.

Answer

Only the mother’s DNA is passed to the offspring, so variation comes from the mother’s genes alone.

Answer

Each offspring receives an exact copy of the parent’s DNA, so they are all identical.

Answer

The environment changes the DNA of each offspring after fertilization, creating differences.

Question 2

Which statement best explains why offspring produced by sexual reproduction have genetic variation, while offspring produced by asexual reproduction are genetically identical to the parent?

Accepted Answer

Sexual reproduction combines genetic material from two different parent cells during meiosis and fertilization, creating new allele combinations.

Answer

In sexual reproduction, offspring inherit only the mother’s DNA, leading to variation, whereas asexual offspring inherit DNA from both parents.

Answer

Genetic variation in sexual reproduction occurs because environmental factors change the DNA of the gametes, while asexual reproduction protects DNA from change.

Answer

Asexual reproduction uses mitosis, which copies the parent’s DNA exactly, while sexual reproduction uses mitosis, which mixes DNA from two parents.

Question 3

Which statement best explains why offspring produced by sexual reproduction have genetic variation?

Accepted Answer

Each parent contributes a unique combination of alleles through meiosis and fertilization.

Answer

Gametes are formed by mitosis, which creates identical cells.

Answer

Offspring receive an exact copy of the parent’s entire genome without any changes.

Answer

DNA replication always copies genetic material without any errors.

Try three questions

A student builds a model comparing asexual reproduction in bacteria with sexual reproduction in pea plants. Which statement best explains why the pea plant offspring are genetically different from one another?

Which statement best explains why offspring produced by sexual reproduction have genetic variation, while offspring produced by asexual reproduction are genetically identical to the parent?

Which statement best explains why offspring produced by sexual reproduction have genetic variation?

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