Chapter 3: Heredity and Variation

Paper 1

1 Figure 1 shows the fertilisation process between a normal ovum and a sperm consisting
of 24 chromosomes.

Figure 1
Which of the following genetic diseases does the baby have?
A Albinism
B Down’s syndrome
C Haemophilia
D Turner’s syndrome

2 A wild ox is cross-bred with a cow. It is known that the number of chromosomes in the
somatic cell of the wild ox and cow is 56 and 60 respectively. How many chromosomes
are found in the gamete cell of the calf produced by this cross-breeding?
A 29
B 30
C 58
D 116

3 The information below shows the stages found in mitosis.

W - Chromosomes are arranged at the centre of the cell.

X - Chromatins are separated.
Y - Chromosomes are duplicated.
Z - Chromosomes thicken

Which of the following shows the correct sequence of the stages?

A X, W, Z, Y
B Y, Z, X, W
C W, Z, Y, X
D Z, Y, W, X

4 Figure 2 shows the stages in the formation of a baby.

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 Figure 2

Which of the following represents the process at X and Y?

5 Which of the following heredity diseases is caused by gene mutation?

A Haemophilia
B Klinefelter’s syndrome
C Down’s syndrome
D Turner’s syndrome

6 The chromosome content of a female suffering from Down’s syndrome is

A 44 + XX
B 44 + XY
C 45 + XY
D 45 + XX

7 The son inherits the Y chromosome from his

A father
B grandfather
C mother
D parents

8 Figure 3 shows the normal distribution graph for human characteristics.

Figure 3

The most probable characteristic shown in the graph above is

A the colour of the iris

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 B body height
C the type of fingerprint
D the blood group

9 Figure 4 shows the movement of chromosomes to the opposite pole in a cell.

Figure 4
The stage above occurs in the process of
A mitosis
B crossing over
C meiosis
D fertilisation

10 Which of the following is true about mutation?

A Happens to genes only
B Happens to chromosomes only
C Can be caused by exposure to radiation
D Cannot be inherited by the next generation

11 Haemophilia and colour-blindness are caused by

A the recessive gene in the X chromosome
B the recessive gene in the Y chromosome
C the dominant gene in the X chromosome
D the dominant gene in the Y chromosome

12 Which of the following diseases is caused by chromosome mutation?

A Albinism
B Down’s syndrome
C Sickle-cell anaemia
D Colour blindness

13 A husband and wife who do not have colour-blindness gave birth to a son with colour-
blindness. This means that
A the wife has one recessive gene for colour-blindness in her X chromosome
B the wife has two recessive genes for colour-blindness in her somatic cell
C the husband has one recessive gene for colour-blindness in his Y chromosome
D the husband has two recessive genes for colour-blindness in his somatic cell

14 Which of the following characteristics is influenced by the environment?

A Blood group

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 B Body weight
C Type of fingerprint
D Ability to roll the tongue

15 Figure 5 shows the histogram of a certain characteristic of the students in a class.

Figure 5
Which of the following could represent the characteristic?
I Height
II Intelligence
III Colour of the skin
A I only
B I and II only
C II and III only
D I, II and III

16 One pure white pea tree is cross-bred with a hybrid red pea tree. It is known that the red
gene is the dominant gene. Which of the following pea trees will be produced?
I 50% with pure recessive species
II 25% with red flowers
III All trees with red flowers are hybrids
A III only
B I and II only
C I and III only
D I, II and III

17 A tall pea plant is cross-breed with a short pea plant. The phenotype in the first
generation has the tall characteristics. This means that
I the gene for the tall characteristic is a dominant gene
II the tall pea plant has two dominant genes in its somatic cell
III the short pea plant has one dominant gene in its somatic cell
A I only
B III only
C I and II only
D I, II and III

18 Which of the following statements is/are true about cloning?

I It is produced from the cross-breeding of two mothers.

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 II A tree with good characteristics can be chosen as clone.
III It involves vegetative reproduction.
A I only
B II only
C I and II only
D II and III only

19 Which of the following is a continuous variation in humans?

I Shoulder width
II Length of palm
III Blood group
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III

20 Which of the following shows the chromosome content in a human sperm?

I 22 + X
II 22 + Y
III 22 + XY
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III only

Paper 2

Section B
The occurrence in Figure 1 happened in the same period of time in the female reproductive
system. Embryos M and N are formed.

Figure 1

(a) What is the term given to the babies that develop from embryos M and N?

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 _____________________________________________________________________

(b) Name process P.

_____________________________________________________________________

(c) State all the pairs of sexes that are possible in the babies that are born.
_____________________________________________________________________

(d) (i) If both the ova are fertilised by both sperms that carry the X chromosome, what are the
sexes of both the babies?
_____________________________________________________________________
(ii) Give the chromosome content in both the babies in (d)(i).
_____________________________________________________________________

(e) If embryo N has 47 chromosomes,

(i) state the hereditary disease suffered by the baby produced.
____________________________________________________________________
(ii) state two characteristics shown by the baby produced.
____________________________________________________________________

Section C
(a) State four differences between cell division through mitosis and meiosis.
(b) Figure 2 shows the cell divisions that occur in the human body.

Heart Finger nail

Cell division

Hair Skin
Figure 2

Explain how you would build a concept based on the information above. Your explanation
should include the following.
(i) Identify two common characteristics
(ii) Construct an initial concept
(iii) Give one other example and one non-example in relation to the concept
(iv) Explain the actual concept

Answers

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Paper 1
1 B 11 A
2 A 12 B
3 D 13 A
4 C 14 B
5 A 15 D
6 D 16 C
7 A 17 C
8 B 18 B
9 C 19 A
10 C 20 A

Paper 2
Section B
(a) Non-identical twins
(b) Mitosis
(c) Female and female; male and male; male and female
(d) (i) Female
(ii) 44 + XX
(e) (i) Down’s syndrome
(ii) Slanting eyes and short fingers/ small mouth / big tongue/ mentally retarded

Section C
(a)
Mitosis
Crossing over does not occur
Cell division happens once
Two new cells are produced
The number of chromosomes in the
progeny is the same as in the parent cell
Meiosis
Crossing over occurs
Cell division happens twice
Four new cells are produced
The number of chromosomes in the
progeny is half that of the parent cell

(b) (i) Common characteristics:

• Cell division occurs in somatic cells.
• Cell division occurs through mitosis.
(ii) Initial concept: Cell division that occurs in somatic cells is mitosis.
(iii) Example: Red blood cell/ Kidney
Non-example: Formation of gamete/ sperm/ ovum
(iv) Actual concept: Cell division through mitosis occurs in all the human somatic cells.