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AP Bio Pedigree Practice Quiz

Ace your exam with focused review and practice.

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 12
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustrating a trivia quiz on high school level genetic inheritance and pedigree puzzles.

In a pedigree chart, which symbol represents a female?
Triangle
Circle
Diamond
Square
In pedigree charts, a circle is conventionally used to represent a female individual. This standard symbol helps in quickly identifying genders in family history analyses.
Which symbol in a pedigree chart typically denotes a male?
Circle
Hexagon
Oval
Square
A square is the standard symbol for a male in pedigree charts. Recognizing these symbols is fundamental to analyzing genetic inheritance patterns.
In a pedigree chart, what does a filled symbol usually indicate?
Gender is uncertain
Carrying the trait but unaffected
Affected by the trait
Unaffected by the trait
Filled symbols typically represent individuals who express or are affected by a trait. This convention is used to quickly visualize the distribution of a trait within a family.
If two unaffected parents have an affected child in an autosomal recessive disorder, what must be true about the parents?
One carries a dominant allele
Both are homozygous recessive
Both are carriers of the recessive allele
One is homozygous dominant and the other is affected
For an autosomal recessive trait to appear in a child, both unaffected parents must carry one copy of the recessive allele. Carriers are phenotypically normal but can pass on the allele to their offspring.
Which tool is commonly used along with pedigree analysis to predict the probability of offspring inheriting a trait?
Microscopy
Gel electrophoresis
Punnett square
Hardy-Weinberg equation
A Punnett square is used to predict possible genetic outcomes by mapping the segregation of parental alleles. It is a fundamental tool in understanding inheritance patterns in pedigree analysis.
In an autosomal dominant trait, if one parent is heterozygous affected (Aa) and the other is unaffected (aa), what is the probability that their child will be affected?
25%
100%
50%
75%
When one parent is heterozygous for an autosomal dominant trait, there is a 50% chance of passing on the dominant allele. Since the other parent does not contribute an affected allele, the probability remains 50% for each child.
A pedigree shows that all daughters of an affected father are affected while none of his sons are affected. Which mode of inheritance does this pattern suggest?
Autosomal recessive
X-linked recessive
X-linked dominant
Autosomal dominant
In X-linked dominant inheritance, an affected father passes his X chromosome to all his daughters, causing them to be affected, while his sons receive the Y chromosome and remain unaffected. This distinct pattern points to an X-linked dominant mode of inheritance.
In an autosomal recessive disorder, an unaffected individual with an affected parent is most likely to be:
Hemizygous
Homozygous dominant
A heterozygous carrier
Homozygous recessive
An unaffected individual with an affected parent in an autosomal recessive disorder must have inherited one recessive allele from the affected parent and one dominant allele from the other parent, making them a heterozygous carrier. Carriers do not show the trait but can pass the allele to offspring.
Why are X-linked recessive disorders more common in males than females?
Males inherit two X chromosomes
Males have only one X chromosome
Females are more likely to be carriers
Females receive a protective Y chromosome
Males are more susceptible to X-linked recessive disorders because they possess only one X chromosome; a single recessive mutation will result in the trait being expressed. Females have two X chromosomes, so a normal allele on one can mask the effect of a recessive mutation on the other.
A pedigree shows two unaffected parents with an affected child. Which inheritance pattern is most consistent with this observation?
Mitochondrial inheritance
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
X-linked dominant
Autosomal recessive conditions can manifest in a child born to two unaffected parents because both parents may be carriers of the recessive allele. When both contribute the recessive allele, the child becomes affected despite each parent showing no symptoms.
Why do autosomal recessive disorders appear more frequently in consanguineous marriages?
Consanguinity increases mutation rates
It causes environmental factors to cluster
Related individuals are more likely to share the same recessive allele
It leads to autosomal dominant inheritance
Consanguineous marriages increase the odds that both parents share the same recessive allele because of their common ancestry. This shared genotype significantly raises the risk of autosomal recessive disorders in their offspring.
In autosomal dominant pedigrees with complete penetrance, why must an affected individual have at least one affected parent?
Because the trait is X-linked
Because of random genetic mutation
Due to the influence of environmental factors
Because the dominant allele is expressed when present
In autosomal dominant inheritance with complete penetrance, the presence of a single dominant allele guarantees expression of the trait. Therefore, an affected individual must inherit the allele from one of their affected parents.
A trait that appears in every generation of a pedigree is most likely to be:
Autosomal dominant
X-linked recessive
Autosomal recessive
Multifactorial
A trait that is observed in every generation typically indicates autosomal dominant inheritance. The dominant allele, when present, tends to be expressed, preventing the trait from skipping generations.
Which observation would suggest incomplete penetrance in an autosomal dominant trait?
The trait skips generations consistently
Some individuals with the mutant allele do not display the trait
All individuals with the allele are affected
Only one gender shows the trait
Incomplete penetrance occurs when not all individuals with the mutant allele exhibit the phenotype. This result can cause an autosomal dominant trait to appear as if it skips generations, despite the genetic predisposition being present.
In mitochondrial inheritance, which pattern is typically observed?
Only affected females transmit the trait to all of their children
Only affected males transmit the trait
Affected individuals do not transmit the trait
Both affected males and females transmit the trait equally
Mitochondrial inheritance is exclusively maternal, meaning that only females pass on their mitochondria to their children. This results in all children of an affected mother having the potential to express the trait, while fathers do not transmit it.
In a pedigree for an autosomal recessive trait, if both parents are carriers, what is the probability that their child will be affected?
100%
25%
50%
75%
When both parents are heterozygous carriers for an autosomal recessive trait, the Mendelian inheritance ratio dictates that 25% of their children will inherit both recessive alleles and thus be affected. This is a fundamental outcome predicted by classic genetics.
In an autosomal recessive pedigree, unaffected siblings of an affected individual have a 2/3 chance of being carriers. If one such sibling marries an individual from the general population with a 1/25 chance of being a carrier, what is the approximate probability that their child will be affected?
1/50
1/75
1/150
1/300
The unaffected sibling has a 2/3 probability of being a carrier and the partner has a 1/25 chance. If both are carriers, there is a 1/4 chance the child will be affected. Multiplying these together (2/3 Ă - 1/25 Ă - 1/4) yields approximately 1/150.
A pedigree shows a trait that is more common in males and does not exhibit male-to-male transmission. Which mode of inheritance is most likely?
X-linked recessive
X-linked dominant
Autosomal recessive
Autosomal dominant
X-linked recessive traits are more frequently expressed in males because they have only one X chromosome, and these traits do not show male-to-male transmission since fathers pass their Y chromosome to sons. This pattern makes X-linked recessive inheritance the most likely explanation.
A female from a pedigree, whose affected brother suggests a carrier status, marries an affected male. What is the probability that their son will be affected by the X-linked recessive trait?
50%
100%
75%
25%
Given that an unaffected female with an affected brother has about a 50% chance of being a carrier for an X-linked recessive trait, and if she is a carrier her son has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutant allele, the overall probability for an affected son is 0.5 Ă - 0.5 = 25%.
When would a dihybrid cross be most appropriate in analyzing a pedigree?
When both traits are linked on the same chromosome
When one trait completely masks another
When two traits with independent Mendelian inheritance are considered together
When analyzing a single trait only
A dihybrid cross examines the inheritance of two traits that assort independently, allowing prediction of the combined phenotype in offspring. This method is best applied when analyzing two separate, unlinked traits within a pedigree.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze pedigree charts to identify inheritance patterns and genetic relationships.
  2. Interpret genetic symbols and notations to determine genotype and phenotype outcomes.
  3. Apply Mendelian principles to solve complex pedigree puzzles with accuracy.
  4. Evaluate probability scenarios to predict trait transmission across generations.
  5. Understand the impact of dominant and recessive alleles on genetic inheritance.

AP Bio Pedigree Practice Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand pedigree chart symbols - Master the language of pedigree charts by learning that squares are males, circles are females, and shaded shapes indicate affected individuals. Think of these symbols as the secret code that unlocks any family mystery. Pedigree Analysis Basics
  2. Pedigree Analysis Basics
  3. Recognize autosomal dominant patterns - Traits that pop up in every generation and never skip a beat usually follow an autosomal dominant pattern. If you see each affected child with at least one affected parent, you've cracked the code. Autosomal Dominance Primer
  4. Autosomal Dominance Primer
  5. Identify autosomal recessive inheritance - When traits hide for a generation before reappearing, you're likely dealing with autosomal recessive inheritance. Unaffected carriers can pass on the hidden allele, making this pattern a sneaky one. Autosomal Recessive Insights
  6. Autosomal Recessive Insights
  7. Distinguish X‑linked dominant inheritance - In this pattern, affected fathers transmit the trait to all daughters but no sons, while affected mothers can pass it to both sons and daughters. Spotting this trend helps you predict inheritance with laser focus. X‑Linked Dominant Guide
  8. X‑Linked Dominant Guide
  9. Recognize X‑linked recessive inheritance - More males than females show symptoms, and affected fathers never give the trait to sons but can make their daughters carriers. Watch for skipped generations and "carrier moms" passing it to sons. X‑Linked Recessive Guide
  10. X‑Linked Recessive Guide
  11. Understand mitochondrial inheritance - Mitochondrial traits come exclusively from mom, so every child of an affected mother will show the trait, but none of her children's fathers will pass it on. It's the ultimate maternal legacy. Mitochondrial Inheritance Explained
  12. Mitochondrial Inheritance Explained
  13. Practice analyzing pedigrees - The more family trees you dissect, the sharper your inheritance-pattern radar becomes. Grab real-life examples, annotate them, and quiz yourself to boost confidence. Pedigree Practice
  14. Pedigree Practice
  15. Learn to construct Punnett squares - Punnett squares turn abstract alleles into visual grids showing all possible offspring genotypes and phenotypes. It's like playing genetic bingo with guaranteed insights. Punnett Square Practice
  16. Punnett Square Practice
  17. Be aware of Mendelian exceptions - Not all traits follow simple rules: incomplete penetrance can hide a trait, and variable expressivity can change how it shows up. These twists make pedigree puzzles extra spicy. Mendelian Exceptions
  18. Mendelian Exceptions
  19. Engage in team‑based learning - Collaborating with classmates on pedigree problems turns studying into a game of genetic detective work. Two brains are better than one for spotting patterns and swapping "aha!" moments. Team‑Based Learning Article
  20. Team‑Based Learning Article
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