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Blueprint of Life Review Questions: Set 1
1. Define the term natural selection and list three environmental pressures that may lead to selection
in nature.
2. List three physical changes and three chemical changes in the environment which may place
pressure on a species and lead to evolutionary change.
3. The emergence of the peppered moth species is thought to have occurred as a result of
environmental pressures. Describe the pressures which may have caused the change and outline
why this is an example of natural selection.
4. Explain how competition for resources can lead to evolution of a new species giving details of an
Australian example.
5. Define evolution.
6. Describe the features of fossilisation and sedimentary rocks which allow fossil evidence to be
used to support the theory of evolution.
7. The lobe fin fish and archaeopteryx are two examples of transitional forms. Use one of these to
explain what a transitional form is and why they are significant in supporting the theory of
evolution.
8. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of living things. How do scientists explain the
occurrence of closely related species of animals and plants in Australia, New Guinea and western
parts of South America.
9. The presence of pharyngeal gill slits or pouches in vertebrate embryos provides supporting
evidence for the theory of evolution. Explain why these structures contribute to our understanding
and identify some other features common in vertebrate embryos.
10. The study of the forelimbs of vertebrates shows similar bone structure. With focus on the forelimb
of a seal or whale and that of a bat, compare and contrast their limb structure and function. What
selection pressures might have helped the development of the ‘flipper’?
11. Outline some specific biochemical similarities which provide evidence for evolution and indicate
what evidence they provide.
12. An understanding of continental drift theory is essential as a background for evolution. Describe
how this understanding helps provide supporting evidence for adaptive radiation.
13. Darwin’s finches are often quoted as an example of divergent evolution. Define divergent
evolution and explain how these birds represent an example.
14. Convergent evolution leads to different species with similar adaptations. Give some examples of
organisms which indicate convergence and describe the pressures which may have led to their
adaptations.
15. Evaluate the role of isolation in the evolutionary process.
Blueprint of Life Review Questions: Set 2
1. Mendel’s initial experiment on tall and short breeding pea plants provided shock results. Outline
the methods behind cross-pollination experiments, list the results he expected and found and give
your own explanation of the results.
2. Mendel assembled very reliable experimental data which underlined his theories. Outline some of
his experimental techniques and controls which contributed to his success.
2. Mendel used only true breeding plants in his initial experiments. Define true breeding and outline
why this contributed to experimental success.
3. Suggest what two processes can contribute to the genetic variation in the offspring of sexually
reproducing organisms.
4. List some of the characteristics Mendel studied in pea plants and recall the ratios which resulted
from 5 sample crosses of true breeding plants.
5. The work of Mendel was virtually ignored at the time of its release. List some factors which led
to Mendel’s work being accepted and praised in the early 1900s.
6. Describe in your own words the meaning of the terms: homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype,
genotype, allele, recessive, gene and dominant.
7. Use a punnet square to explain the observed results of Mendel’s monohybrid cross between two
hybrid tall pea plants producing 75% tall offspring.
8. When establishing whether a trait is dominant or recessive, a population survey is helpful. If 3 out
of 20 class members express the trait is it dominant or recessive? Discuss.
9. Using 4 known characteristics, distinguish between the terms genotype and phenotype.
10. When considering hair colour in humans, use a punnet square to predict the number of brown
haired offspring you would expect from a family of 4 children when:
(a) a heterozygous brown haired parent (Bb) X a blonde parent (bb)
(b) a homozygous brown haired parent (BB) X a blonde parent (bb)
11. A homozygous blue eyed cod is crossed with a heterozygous red eyed cod and they have 56
offspring. Investigate using a punnet square how many of each coloured eye would you expect.
12. John (Ff) and Mary (FF) are both able to fold left hand over right. Their offspring Anne, Sue and
Paul can also fold left hand over right. Sue marries David who cannot do this and they have three
children Pam, Tom and Jim. Jim is unable to fold left over right but the others can.
Draw a pedigree for this family and assign possible genotypes for all individuals.
13. Draw a pedigree which represents three generations of your immediate family and shows
occurrence of hair colour in all individuals (dark or fair).
14. The production of hybrids is a significant process in the livestock and agriculture industry. Define
the term hybrid and identify one hybrid and the two parents that produce the hybrid. Discuss the
importance of hybrids to these industries.
Blueprint of Life Review Questions: Set 3
1. Define the term chromosome and describe their main chemical components.
2. Explain what we mean by the term karyotype, use examples of the male and female karyotype in
humans to outline differences.
3. Using your knowledge of karyotypes, outline why it is said that the male determines the sex of all
offspring.
4. Draw a diagram of a nucleotide and outline how each nucleotide may differ.
5. DNA is referred to as a double helix. Explain this term used to describe the structure of the
molecule and identify the different components of DNA.
6. The DNA molecule resembles a ladder which is twisted into a spiral. List the bases which may be
present, their base partners and explain how one molecule may differ from another.
7. Use diagrams to represent the process of meiosis (include only two pairs of chromosomes).
Describe meiosis in your own words.
8. The terms diploid and haploid are used to describe cell types. Define both diploid and haploid and
draw a diploid and haploid cell for a fruit fly (drosophilia) which normally has 8 chromosome
pairs.
9. The process of crossing over adds great variability to gametes formed. Use diagrams and/or
words to explain what happens in crossing over.
10. Colour blindness is a sex linked recessive condition. Suggest what we mean by a sex linked
condition. List two other known sex linked conditions.
11. Mary’s father is colour blind. She marries a man who is not colour blind although his brother is.
(a) What is the chance that their children will be colour blind?
(b) Their first son is colour blind. How does this affect the chance of other sons being colour
blind. Explain your answer.
12. In some cases, a black and a white guinea pig may produce a black and white patched guinea pig.
Identify this type of inheritance and explain how it occurs. Give other examples you have studied.
13. Two trees that are identical in genotype are placed in different areas of a garden, one with greater
sunshine and water than the other. Describe the influence on phenotype these different
environmental conditions may have.
14. Two identical twins are born with one much greater in size than the other. Describe the conditions
which may have led to this.
15. The nature/nurture debate rages over what determines the characteristics of an individual. Outline
what you understand of the nature/nurture debate.
Blueprint of Life Review Questions: Set 4
1. Outline the process of DNA replication. Explain the significance of this process for living
organisms.
2. Describe and analyse the relative importance of the work of Watson, Crick, Wilkins and Franklin
in developing our understanding of the structure of DNA.
3. Evaluate the impact of communication and collaboration in scientific research teams with
particular reference to the development of the DNA model.
4. The 64 possible combinations of bases, code for 20 essential amino acids. Using your knowledge
explain the connection between bases, DNA, proteins, polypeptides, amino acids and genes.
5. Several codons in the genetic code are stop codons and ne is termed the start codon. Outline the
importance of stop and start codons in the replication of genetic material.
6. RNA is involved heavily in the synthesis of proteins. Compare and contrast DNA and RNA.
7. Draw a diagram to illustrate polypeptide synthesis.
8. Draw a simple flow chart to show the process of protein synthesis.
9. Distinguish between transcription and translation in protein synthesis.
10. Beadle and Tatum were famous for their proposal of a ‘one gene – one polypeptide’ theory.
Describe the main points in this theory.
11. Define the term mutation. Indicate how mutations generally occur, the cause of mutation and
explain why this is a mechanism to alter a gene.
12. Construct a flow chart that shows mutations can result in changes in cell activity.
13. Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection relies on variation in a population. Discuss how
sources of variation in a population provide support for Darwin’s theory of evolution.
14. New pesticides are constantly being developed in order to combat insecticide resistance in insects.
Explain how insecticide resistance may develop and spread through a population.
15. Use diagrams to show the difference between punctuated equilibrium in evolution and gradualism.
Blueprint of Life Review Questions: Set 5
1. Construct a table to show the processes and impact on the genetic composition of a population of
– artificial insemination
– artificial pollination
– cloning
2. Describe the steps in the process of cloning.
3. Define transgenic species, including a named plant and animal example. Outline the process by which
transgenic species may be formed.
4. Discuss the impact of genetically altered organisms on the genetic diversity of species.
5. Assess the ethical issues arising from the use of transgenic species.