AP Biology
Genetics Test - Essay Questions
Essay question # 1 is a long free-response question that should require about 20 minutes to answer.
Essay questions #2 – 4 are short-response questions that should require about 6 minutes each to
complete. Answers must be written out. Outline form is not acceptable. It is important that you read
each question completely before you begin to write.
1. Gregor Mendel, a nineteenth-century monk, is credited with the discovery of the laws of segregation
and independent assortment.
a. Describe the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment.
b. Discuss Mendel’s laws of segregation and independent assortment with respect to THREE of the
following:
• genes that are not linked,
• genes that are linked,
• sex-linkage,
• Down syndrome.
Address both laws in each discussion.
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AP Biology
2. The pedigree below traces the inheritance of cystic fibrosis, a biochemical disorder. Affected individuals,
indicated here by the darkened circles and squares, are unable to metabolize a membrane protein which
allows movement of water leading to a very sticky mucus.
a. Describe the type of inheritance seen in this disorder.
b. Identify possible genotypes of Wilma, Daniel, and Christopher.
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AP Biology
3. Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) with a wild-type phenotype have gray bodies and red eyes.
Certain mutations can cause changes to these traits. Mutant flies may have a black body and/or
cinnabar eyes. To study the genetics of these traits, a researcher crossed a true-breeding wild-type
male fly (with gray body and red eyes) with a true-breeding female fly with a black body and
cinnabar eyes. All of the F1 progeny displayed a wild-type phenotype. Female flies from the F 1
generation were crossed with true-breeding male flies with black bodies and cinnabar eyes. The
table below represents the predicted outcome and the data obtained from the cross. Explain the
difference between the expected data and the actual numbers observed.
F2 Generation Phenotypes
Body Color Eye Color Number Predicted Number Observed
Gray Red 244 455
Black Cinnabar 244 432
Gray Cinnabar 244 42
Black Red 244 47
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AP Biology
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BONUS: As a genetic counselor you have researched a genetic disorder. Discuss a specific disorder’s
genetics and how you would proceed to develop a CURE for this disease.
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