CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
(Content Strands 10.4-10.6; Expected Performances D36 – D45)
Content Standard 10.4- Heredity
Expected Performances D 36- D 39
MEIOSIS
 Making gametes (sex cells: eggs & sperm)
 Chromosomes cut in half
 Humans gametes contains 23 single
chromosomes, 46 in a normal body cell
 Most organisms have two genes for
each trait, one on each of the homologous
chromosomes in the cell nucleus.
 Crossing over: Chromosomes swap
genetic material from one chromosome to
another
 Random process: unique gametes with
different combinations of chromosomes are
formed
 Zygote (fertilized egg cell)formation: sperm and egg cell join to restore
the chromosome number
MITOSIS
 DNA replication: copy chromosomes
 Cell divides into 2 daughter cells that are
genetically identical.
Content Standard 10.5-Evolution
MITOSIS
1 division
2 identical cells
Body cells
Growth and repair
MEIOSIS
2 division
4 unique cells
Sex cells ONLY
Crossing over to create
unique traits
CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
MENDELIAN GENETICS
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PUNNET SQUARE is a way of showing what different genetic combinations can be formed to
predict the outcome of a cross.
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ALLELE is an alternative form of a single gene for a particular trait. (e.g. gene for color-green allele
and yellow allele)
GENETIC TRAIT is expressed by two alleles, each represented by a letter where each letter
represents the allele inherited from each parent.
o dominant trait (upper case) the trait that will hide the recessive trait (lower case)
PHENOTYPE is the observed characteristic that can be produced by various alleles (e.g. color of
pea pod)
GENOTYPE is the complete genetic makeup (e.g. GG or Gg or gg)
o homozygous-having two identical alleles (e.g. RR or rr)
o heterozygous-having two different alleles ( e.g. Rr)
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MONOHYBRID CROSS “One Trait Cross” shows the predicted results for the genetic cross of a
single gene. (e.g. color of fur)

DI-HYBRID CROSS “Two Trait Cross” shows the predicted results for a genetic cross of two
different genes. (e.g. color and height)
CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
PEDIGREE DIAGRAMS
 trace the inheritance of a trait through several generations
 is a diagram of family relationships that uses symbols to represent people and lines to represent
genetic relationships
 may be used to determine the mode of inheritance (dominant, recessive, etc.) of genetic traits
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horizontal lines connecting a male and female represent mating
vertical lines extending downward from a couple represent their children
subsequent generations are written underneath the parental generations and the oldest individuals are
found at the top of the pedigree
GENETIC DISORDERS
 are diseases or physical deformities caused by errors in the DNA or by prolonged exposure to
radiation
 they are specific to an individual and can only be passed on to that person’s offspring
 genetic disorders can be dominant or recessive
 a person only needs one copy of a dominant disease gene to have the symptoms of the disorder
 a person with a recessive disorder will not show signs of the disease/deformity if they have the
heterozygous (Aa) genotype, but can pass the trait onto their offspring
 a recessive disorder can only be expressed if the genotype is homozygous recessive (aa).
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
 are caused by bacteria or viruses and they spread easily from person to person either by personal
contact or through air
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bacterial infectious diseases (e.g. strep throat, pneumonia, bronchitis, stomach infections)
can be treated by antibiotics
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viral infectious diseases (e.g.seasonal flu, H1N1)
cannot be treated by antibiotics
CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Expected Performances D 40- D 42
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An adaptation is a characteristic or trait that helps an organism to better survive in its environment.
Adaptations in nature can include: size, beak shape, coloring or flower shape, enzyme efficiency, and
many, many more.
Adaptations can occur through genetic mutations that occur randomly over time or in response by
existing traits to a changing environment.
Harmful or fatal mutations do not get passed on to the next generation.
Beneficial mutations that allow the organism to better survive and reproduce are the ones that get
passed on to the next generation.
There are 3 aspects to the Theory of Natural Selection:
1. Individuals in a population (organisms belonging to the same species) show variation and these
variations can be inherited.
2. Organisms have more offspring than can be sustained by the environment.
3. Any variation that increases the reproductive success of that organism has a greater chance of getting
passed on to future generations.
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Fossils are the preserved parts or impressions of parts of ancient organisms. .
The placement of these fossils over time is the fossil record. The fossil record shows how species
changed over time and provides a history of life on earth.
The newer fossils are found in the upper layers and the older ones are buried in the deeper layers
CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
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Evidence of evolutionary relationships between related species can be found by looking at
molecular, cellular, anatomical similarities, and embryological development.
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Homologous structures are bones that look alike and have the same evolutionary origin though they
may have very different uses in the present day organism.
o same structure, different function
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Analogous Structures
o look similar
 on the outside
o same function
o different structure & development
 on the inside
o different origin
o no evolutionary relationship
CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Content Standard 10.6-STS
Expected Performances D 43- D 45
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Carrying capacity is the greatest number of
a species that the ecosystem can support.
Carrying capacity is limited by the amount
of energy (including sunlight), water,
oxygen, and food available.
Limiting factors are those factors which
limit the maximum size of a population in a
given area. Some of the limiting factors are:
competition for food and space, an increase
in predators, climate changes such as drought or temperature changes. Water is a limiting factor for
all populations.
Population density is the number of individuals of the same population living in a specific area
(usually measured in a square mile). The population size is determined by 4 factors- immigration
(increases), emigration (decreases), birthrate/natality (increases) and death rate/mortality
(decreases).
The study of human population is called demographics. As of now the human population is growing
exponentially.
Advances in medicine and technology have increased human life expectancy. Clean drinking water
and better sanitation has increased birth rate and lessened the death rate. Electrification has allowed
for better food storage and made survival in harsh climates possible. Development of insecticides and
herbicides have increased the per acre amount of food produced, decreasing the amount of farmed
land and leading to the development of cities with high population densities.
Portions derived in part from:
http://www.windsorct.org/schools/windsorhigh/curriculum/documents/07.02CAPTscience.pdf
CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Practice Questions (answer are at the end)
1. Variation in a new generation of organisms is a result of
a. Asexual reproduction involving one parent
b. Asexual reproduction involving two parents
c. Sexual reproduction involving one parent
d. Sexual reproduction involving two parents
2. A body cell has 2 pairs of homologous chromosomes: AaBb. How many different gametes can this cell
produce?
a. 4
b. 8
c. 16
d. 32
3. If brown eyes are dominant over blue eyes in humans, what is the likelihood of two blue-eyed parents
having a brown-eyed child?
a. 0%
b. 25%
c. 50%
d. 100%
The figure below shows a pedigree for a family that carries the gene for Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s
disease is controlled by a dominate allele. Individuals who express a particular trait are shown shaded in.
4. What is the genotype of the daughter in the F2 generation who does not have the disease?
a. HH
b. Hh
c. hh
d. XX
5. The wings of a bat and a human’s arm have different functions and appear very different. Yet, the
underlying anatomy is basically the same. Therefore these structures are examples of
a. Geographic isolation
b. Analogous structures
c. Homologous structures
d. Reproductive isolation
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Use the graph below to answer the following question.
6. One factor that might cause the Nigerian population pyramid to look the way it is does which of the
following?
a. Good health care
b. Clean water
c. Technology
d. Lack of vaccines
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Answers:
1. D
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. C
6. D
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Name ______________________________________________ Date _________________ Period _________________
INTRODUCTION QUESTIONS (Yeast Population):
1. What evidence do we have that the yeast is growing?
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2. What is a limiting factor?
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3. What are some limiting factors which may impact the growth of the yeast population?
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4. Student A focused their lab report on the rate of population growth of the yeast while student B focused their lab
report on the size of the yeast populations. How would their procedures and the data they collect differ?
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INTRODUCTION QUESTIONS (Human Population Graph):
1. What type of information can be concluded by interpreting a population distribution graph (sometime referred to as a
population pyramid)?
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2. What are the major limiting factors of human population growth?
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3. What effects might a technological advance such as improved medical care and/or improved sanitation methods have
on the population growth of a developing country? Discuss specifics in your answer.
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
BACKGROUND FOR YEAST POPULATION LAB:
Yeast is a single cell fungus that produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct of cellular respiration. The release of carbon
dioxide causes bread dough to rise. Because the yeast are small and reproduce rapidly, yeast organisms are useful for
studying limiting factors such as food availability, light, pH, and temperature as they each may influence the growth of a
population. These yeast cells produce carbon dioxide gas as a waste product and the amount of carbon dioxide produced
directly relates to the number of living yeast organisms.
Question 1:
A group of students conducted an experiment to determine how various factors affects yeast population growth. The
procedure is found below.
PROCEDURE:
1. Spread several sheets of newspaper out on the lab table.
2. Label your flask #1, #2.
3. Pour 50 ml of warm water (30oC) in to the two flasks.
4. Pour two packets off sugar into each flask and swirl the mixture.
5. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid (an acid) to flask #1.
6. Add 10 drops of sodium hydroxide (a base) to flask #2.
7. Use the thermometer to measure the temperature of the solution in each flask. Record the temperatures on your
data table.
8. Use scissors to cut apart the packets of yeast. Cut open each packet of yeast.
9. Pour one packet of yeast into each of the three flasks. Gently swirl the mixture to evenly distribute the yeast.
10. Immediately look at the contents of each flask and record your observations on your data table.
11. Wait 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, observe any changes that occur to the yeast mixtures in the flasks and record
your observations.
12. Repeat step 11 every 5 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
A. Identify the independent variable for this experiment. ___________________________________________________
B. Identify the dependent variable for this experiment. ____________________________________________________
C. Did the group have a control? If so, what is it? If not, what should it be?
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Question 2:
Allison decided to test the effects of light on yeast population growth by measuring the CO2 production. The data that she
collected is provided below. Can you draw a valid conclusion from the data? - If so, what is it? If not, why not? Provide
two examples that support your position.
Flask
#
1
2
3
Number of Hours
Under Light per
Day
0
12
24
Amount of Sugar
(Packets)
Time for
Observation
Amount of CO2
Produced (mL)
0
1
2
2 days
1 days
1 days
0
15
18
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
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Question 3:
Chris conducted an experiment to test the effect of food availability on the rate of yeast population growth. Below is a
graph of their results after they ran the experiment for one hour.
A. Which of the three flasks showed the greatest rate of population growth? Explain your reasoning.
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B. Provide an explanation as to why the population in flask three died within the first 20-30 minutes.
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C. Notice that the curve for Flask 1 ended at the 50th minute. What do you think will happen to the population in the
future, after the 50th minute? What will the curve look like? Explain your answer.
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
BACKGROUND:
The human population has existed for a little more than 500,000 years. About 10,000 years ago, the total human
population was about 3 million people, most of them hunters and gatherers. The development of early agriculture
provided a stable supply of food and as a result the human population increased rapidly and reached one billion
(1,000,000,000) in 1840. The development of technology and medicine in the 20th century reduced the death rate and
increased the growth rate even further. Despite these advances, human population growth differs dramatically country by
country.
Question 1:
Use the population distribution graphs below to answer the following question.
A. Which of the three above population distribution graphs (pyramids) shows a developing country with a
rapid rate of growth? Mention at least two factors which contribute to the shape of this graph (pyramid).
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Question 2:
Below are population graphs (pyramids) of Spain for 2005 and 2025. Use these graphs below to answer the following
question.
A. As Spain’s current population ages, will there be enough working people (ages 15-65) in this population to support
the children (0-15) and retired elderly (65+)? Explain your answer thoroughly.
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CAPT REVIEW: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity
STRAND V
Question 3:
The data table below shows the population demographics of Congo for the years 2005 and 2025. Use the table below to
answer questions A, B, and C.
Births per 1,000 population
Deaths per 1,000 population
Rate of natural increase
(percent)
Annual rate of growth
(percent)
Life expectancy at birth
(years)
Infant deaths per 1,000 live
births
Total fertility rate (per
woman)
2005
44
14
3.1
2025
35
9
2.6
3.1
2.6
51.1
57.9
91
55
6.5
4.7
A. Identify a minimum of 2 of the above factors which have been impacted directly by improvements in technology,
health and medicine? Support your answer with specific examples.
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Compare the infant mortality (death) rate in 2005 and 2025.
B. How does the rate of infant mortality affect the size of Congo’s overall population?
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C. What factors may be contributing to the predicted change in infant mortality rate between the years 2005 and 2025?
Be specific.
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