Subject: Mendelian Genetics using a punnet square

Grade Level: Grade 8

Topic Given: Demonstrate Mendelian Genetics using a punnet square

Questions:

1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Mendelian genetics?

a) Inheritance of traits from both parents

b) Dominant and recessive alleles

c) Punnet square analysis

d) Inheritance of acquired characteristics

2. In a punnet square, what does each box represent?

a) A parent organism

b) A gene

c) An offspring

d) A chromosome

3. If a pea plant has the genotype Rr for seed color, what is its phenotype?

a) Round seeds

b) Wrinkled seeds

c) Tall plant

d) Short plant

4. Two parents with the genotype Tt for plant height produce offspring. What is the
probability of having a tall offspring?

a) 0%
 b) 25%

c) 50%

d) 100%

5. What is the purpose of a punnet square in Mendelian genetics?

a) To determine the probability of specific traits in offspring

b) To analyze the genetic makeup of parents

c) To identify dominant and recessive alleles

d) To create new genetic combinations

6. If a homozygous dominant plant (YY) is crossed with a homozygous recessive

plant (yy), what will be the genotype of the offspring?

a) YY

b) Yy

c) yy

d) Yy or yy

7. What is the term used to describe an organism that has two different alleles for a
particular trait?

a) Homozygous

b) Heterozygous

c) Dominant

d) Recessive

8. In a cross between two heterozygous parents (Tt x Tt) for a particular trait, what is
the probability of producing a homozygous recessive offspring?

a) 0%

b) 25%

c) 50%

d) 75%

9. Which of the following is an example of a dominant trait in humans?

a) Blue eyes
 b) Attached earlobes

c) A blood type

d) Cleft chin

10. How does Mendelian genetics contribute to our understanding of genetic

inheritance?

a) It explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring

b) It predicts the exact traits an organism will have

c) It determines the environment's influence on genetic traits

d) It explains the role of mutations in genetic variation

Answer Key:

1. Answer: d) Inheritance of acquired characteristics

Rationale: In Mendelian genetics, traits are inherited from parents through the
passing of genes, not acquired during an organism's lifetime. This concept was
proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck but is not supported by Mendelian principles.
Example

2. Answer: c) An offspring

Rationale: In a punnet square, each box represents the possible genetic

combinations of alleles from the parents, which will determine the traits of the
offspring. Example

3. Answer: a) Round seeds

Rationale: The genotype Rr represents a dominant allele (R) for round seeds and
a recessive allele (r) for wrinkled seeds. The dominant allele masks the expression
of the recessive allele, resulting in the phenotype of round seeds. Example

4. Answer: c) 50%
 Rationale: In a cross between two parents with the genotype Tt, there is a 50%
chance of each parent passing on the dominant allele (T) and a 50% chance of
passing on the recessive allele (t), resulting in a 50% probability of having a tall
offspring. Example

5. Answer: a) To determine the probability of specific traits in offspring

Rationale: A punnet square is a tool used to predict the probability of specific traits
in offspring based on the genetic makeup of the parents. By analyzing the
combinations of alleles in the punnet square, the likelihood of different genotypes
and phenotypes can be determined. Example

6. Answer: b) Yy

Rationale: When a homozygous dominant plant (YY) is crossed with a

homozygous recessive plant (yy), all the offspring will have the genotype Yy. In this
case, the dominant allele (Y) masks the expression of the recessive allele (y),
resulting in heterozygous offspring. Example

7. Answer: b) Heterozygous

Rationale: Heterozygous refers to an organism that has two different alleles for a
particular trait. In this case, one allele is dominant and the other is recessive.
Example

8. Answer: b) 25%

Rationale: In a cross between two heterozygous parents (Tt x Tt), there is a 25%
chance of producing a homozygous recessive offspring with the genotype. This
occurs when both parents pass on the recessive allele (t) to the offspring. Example

9. Answer: d) Cleft chin

Rationale: A cleft chin is an example of a dominant trait in humans. If an individual

has at least one dominant allele for this trait, they will have a cleft chin. Example

10. Answer: a) It explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring

Rationale: Mendelian genetics provides an understanding of how traits are

inherited from parents to offspring through the passing of genes. It explains the
principles of dominant and recessive alleles, the formation of genetic combinations,
and the probability of specific traits in offspring. Example