Genetics Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge of Heredity and DNA

Question 1

Who is widely recognized as the 'Father of Genetics' due to his pioneering work on inheritance in pea plants?

Accepted Answer

Gregor Mendel

Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

James Watson

Answer

Francis Crick

Question 2

Heredity refers to the process by which:

Accepted Answer

Genetic material is passed from parents to offspring

Answer

Genetic material is copied during cell division

Answer

Genetic information is transcribed into RNA

Answer

RNA is translated into proteins

Question 3

A trait that is controlled by a single gene, resulting in distinct and predictable inheritance patterns, is known as a:

Accepted Answer

Monogenic trait

Answer

Polygenic trait

Answer

Incomplete dominance trait

Answer

Codominance trait

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a type of genetic mutation that can alter the DNA sequence?

Accepted Answer

Translation

Answer

Substitution

Answer

Deletion

Answer

Addition

Question 5

The enzyme primarily responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands during DNA replication is:

Accepted Answer

Polymerase

Answer

Ligase

Answer

Endonuclease

Answer

Exonuclease

Question 6

Which technological advancement has revolutionized genetics and made personalized medicine possible?

Accepted Answer

Genome sequencing

Answer

Artificial intelligence

Answer

RNA interference

Answer

Stem cell research

Question 7

DNA comprises a molecule composed of:

Accepted Answer

Sugars, phosphates, and bases

Answer

Sugars, proteins, and bases

Answer

Proteins, phosphates, and bases

Answer

Lipids, phosphates, and proteins

Question 8

What is the term for an inherited disorder resulting from a mutation in a single gene?

Accepted Answer

Monogenic disorder

Answer

Polygenic disorder

Answer

Chromosomal disorder

Answer

Mitochondrial disorder

Question 9

Which technique is employed to separate and analyze DNA fragments?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Microarray

Question 10

What is the process by which genetic information is passed on from one generation to the next?

Accepted Answer

Inheritance

Answer

Replication

Answer

Transcription

Answer

Translation

Question 11

What is the difference between a dominant and recessive allele?

Accepted Answer

A dominant allele is expressed when present in one copy, while a recessive allele is expressed only when present in two copies.

Answer

A dominant allele is expressed only when present in two copies, while a recessive allele is expressed when present in one copy.

Answer

A dominant allele is always expressed, while a recessive allele is never expressed.

Answer

A recessive allele is always expressed, while a dominant allele is never expressed.

Question 12

Which of the following is the genotype of an individual who has two copies of the same allele for a particular gene?

Accepted Answer

AA

Answer

Aa

Answer

aa

Answer

aA

Question 13

Which of the following is a type of mutation that involves the insertion or deletion of one or more nucleotides?

Accepted Answer

Frameshift mutation

Answer

Point mutation

Answer

Deletion

Answer

Nucleotide substitution

Question 14

What is the primary purpose of gel electrophoresis in genetics?

Accepted Answer

To separate DNA fragments based on size

Answer

To visualize DNA fragments

Answer

To detect mutations

Answer

To amplify DNA fragments

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a potential ethical concern related to genetic testing?

Accepted Answer

Genetic enhancement

Answer

Genetic discrimination

Answer

Privacy violations

Answer

Misinterpretation of results

Question 16

Which process results in the formation of gametes (sex cells)?

Accepted Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Fertilization

Answer

Gene expression

Question 17

What is the term for the specific region of DNA that codes for a particular protein?

Accepted Answer

Gene

Answer

Allele

Answer

Chromosome

Answer

Genome

Question 18

Who is credited with discovering the structure of DNA?

Accepted Answer

James Watson and Francis Crick

Answer

Gregor Mendel

Answer

Charles Darwin

Answer

Rosalind Franklin

Question 19

RNA plays a crucial role in protein synthesis. What is its primary function?

Accepted Answer

Transporting genetic information to the ribosomes

Answer

Storing genetic information

Answer

Catalyzing protein synthesis

Answer

Translating the genetic code into amino acids

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in a single gene?

Accepted Answer

Sickle cell anemia

Answer

Down syndrome

Answer

Cancer

Answer

Heart disease

Question 21

What is the fundamental unit of heredity?

Accepted Answer

Gene

Answer

Chromosome

Answer

Cell

Answer

Organism

Question 22

Describe the shape of a DNA molecule.

Accepted Answer

Double helix

Answer

Single helix

Answer

Triple helix

Answer

Circular

Question 23

What are the different forms of a gene called?

Accepted Answer

Alleles

Answer

Phenotypes

Answer

Genotypes

Answer

Mutations

Question 24

Which inheritance pattern describes the expression of a trait in all offspring when one parent carries it?

Accepted Answer

Dominant

Answer

Recessive

Answer

Incomplete dominance

Answer

Codominance

Question 25

What is the field of science that investigates the inheritance of traits?

Accepted Answer

Genetics

Answer

Evolution

Answer

Ecology

Answer

Taxonomy

Question 26

Identify the unit of heredity that contains the instructions for a specific trait.

Accepted Answer

Gene

Answer

Chromosome

Answer

Allele

Answer

DNA

Question 27

Which nitrogenous base is exclusive to RNA's chemical structure?

Accepted Answer

Uracil

Answer

Adenine

Answer

Thymine

Answer

Cytosine

Question 28

During cell division, which process ensures the duplication of DNA?

Accepted Answer

Replication

Answer

Transcription

Answer

Translation

Answer

Mutation

Question 29

In DNA, how do the nitrogenous bases pair?

Accepted Answer

A-T or C-G

Answer

A-T only

Answer

C-G only

Answer

A-G or T-C

Question 30

Which term refers to a change in the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

Mutation

Answer

Variation

Answer

Adaptation

Answer

Selective breeding

Question 31

Which type of mutation involves the loss of one or more nucleotides?

Accepted Answer

Deletion

Answer

Insertion

Answer

Substitution

Answer

Transversion

Question 32

During meiosis, which process separates homologous chromosomes?

Accepted Answer

Anaphase II

Answer

Crossover

Answer

Independent assortment

Answer

Telophase II

Question 33

Which characteristic describes a recessive allele?

Accepted Answer

Expressed only when homozygous

Answer

Expressed when heterozygous

Answer

Always visible in the phenotype

Answer

Never visible in the phenotype

Question 34

Which of the following is defined as the basic unit of heredity that contains the instructions for an inherited trait?

Accepted Answer

Gene

Answer

Chromosome

Answer

Protein

Answer

Enzyme

Question 35

What is the three-dimensional structure of DNA?

Accepted Answer

Double helix

Answer

Single helix

Answer

Triple helix

Answer

Quadruple helix

Question 36

Which process involves the separation of homologous chromosomes and the halving of chromosome number, resulting in gamete (sex cell) formation?

Accepted Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Fertilization

Answer

Replication

Question 37

Which nitrogenous base is complementary to adenine in the DNA double helix?

Accepted Answer

Thymine

Answer

Guanine

Answer

Cytosine

Answer

Uracil

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a type of genetic mutation?

Accepted Answer

Inversion

Answer

Substitution

Answer

Deletion

Answer

Insertion

Question 39

Which principle states that alleles of different genes assort independently during the formation of gametes?

Accepted Answer

Principle of independent assortment

Answer

Principle of dominance

Answer

Principle of segregation

Answer

Principle of linkage

Question 40

Which component is unique to RNA and not found in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Ribose sugar

Answer

Nitrogenous base

Answer

Deoxyribose sugar

Answer

Phosphate group

Question 41

Which mechanisms are crucial for regulating gene expression?

Accepted Answer

Transcription, translation, and post-translational modification

Answer

Transcription and translation

Answer

Post-translational modification

Answer

DNA replication and cell division

Question 42

In molecular biology, the central dogma describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins. Which concept is essential for understanding this process?

Accepted Answer

Genetic Code

Answer

Meiosis

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Phenotype

Question 43

Which of the following nitrogenous bases is NOT found in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Uracil

Answer

Thymine

Answer

Adenine

Answer

Cytosine

Question 44

The process by which a cell divides to create two genetically identical daughter cells is called:

Accepted Answer

Mitosis

Answer

Binary Fission

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Meiosis

Question 45

Which of the following correctly describes a dominant allele?

Accepted Answer

An allele that is expressed in individuals with at least one copy of that allele

Answer

An allele that can only be expressed in homozygous individuals

Answer

An allele that is always recessive to other alleles

Question 46

The genotype of an individual with two different alleles for a particular gene is called:

Accepted Answer

Heterozygous

Answer

Homozygous recessive

Answer

Hybrid

Answer

Homozygous dominant

Question 47

Which of the following processes occurs uniquely during meiosis, but not mitosis?

Accepted Answer

Crossing over

Answer

Synapsis

Answer

Cytokinesis

Answer

Replication of DNA

Question 48

The Human Genome Project was significant because it:

Accepted Answer

Provided a complete sequence of the human genome

Answer

Identified all genes responsible for genetic diseases

Answer

Led to the development of gene therapy

Answer

Allowed us to create genetically modified organisms

Question 49

Which of the following is a limitation of using pedigrees to trace genetic inheritance?

Accepted Answer

They may be inaccurate due to incomplete or incorrect information

Answer

They are too time-consuming to construct

Answer

They can only be used to trace dominant traits

Question 50

The concept of evolution by natural selection explains that:

Accepted Answer

Individuals with traits that make them better suited to their environment have a higher chance of survival and reproduction

Answer

All species have a similar chance of survival regardless of their traits