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Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Topic questions Genetics and inheritance Probability & ratios in genetic crosses

Probability & ratios in genetic crosses

8 questions · 73 marks · about 1 hour

Probability and ratios in genetic crosses questions

Edexcel 4BI0 Probability and ratios in genetic crosses 8 questions

Biology Paper 1 June 2018 (R), Question 6 12 marks

(a)

The passage describes reproduction in humans and in chickens. Complete the passage by writing a suitable answer in each blank space.

In humans, the hormone called........ stimulates the repair of the

uterus lining. The ovum is then released from the........ .

The ovum has a haploid number of 23 chromosomes.

Fertilisation occurs in the........ tube. Fertilisation results

in a single cell called a........ with a diploid number

of........ chromosomes. This cell divides

by........ to produce an embryo.

Sex inheritance in chickens is different from humans. In chickens the sex chromosomes are

called Z and W. In humans, the sex chromosomes are called........ .

The sex chromosomes of a male chicken are ZZ and of a female chicken are ZW. This means that

the probability of parent chickens producing a male offspring is........ .

[8]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(a)
(b)

In pigeons, the inheritance of bars at the end of the wings is controlled by a gene with two alleles. The allele for wing bars (B) is dominant to the allele for no wing bars (b). The diagram shows the phenotype of a pigeon with wing bars and the phenotype of a pigeon with no wing bars.

Figure for question 6
(b)(i)

In a first cross, a heterozygous parent mates with a homozygous recessive parent. Complete the table by giving the genotype of each parent and the possible phenotypes of their offspring.

Genotypes of parentsPossible phenotypes of offspring
.................................................. and ..................................................
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

In a second cross, two heterozygous pigeons mate. Give the possible genotypes of their offspring.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

This second cross only produces one offspring. Give the probability that this offspring will have wing bars.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 6(b)(iii)

Biology Paper 1 June 2017, Question 3 10 marks

Galactosaemia is an inherited condition. It is caused by a mutation to a gene on chromosome 9. This gene codes for an enzyme that removes the sugar galactose from the body. The normal allele, G, can produce the enzyme and is dominant to the recessive allele, g. The pedigree shows the inheritance of galactosaemia in a family.

Figure for question 3
(a)(i)

How many individuals in the family pedigree have an X and a Y chromosome in each of their body cells?

[1]
(a)(ii)

How many individuals in the family pedigree are homozygous recessive?

[1]
(a)(iii)

Give the genotype of individual 1.

[1]
(a)(iv)

Individuals 8 and 9 are going to have another child. Give the probability of this child having galactosaemia.

[1]
(b)(i)

What is meant by the term mutation ?

[2]
(b)(ii)

The mutation for galactosaemia is harmful but some mutations can be beneficial. Describe one example of a beneficial mutation.

[1]
(c)

Some inherited conditions can be fatal but medical treatment is often available. Explain what would happen to the frequency of alleles for these inherited conditions if medical treatment was not available.

[3]

Biology Paper 1 January 2017, Question 4 12 marks

Also involves Decomposition

(a)

4 (a) Nile tilapia are fish. Their body colour is controlled by a single gene. The allele N produces normal body colour and the allele n produces pink body colour. Diagram 1 shows the phenotypes and the genotypes of Nile tilapia. normal body colour (NN) normal body colour (Nn) pink body colour (nn)

Figure for question 4

Diagram 2 shows all the possible crosses between the phenotypes and genotypes of Nile tilapia parents.

Figure for question 4

The table gives some descriptions of offspring. Complete the table by giving the number of crosses that would produce each description of offspring. The first one has been done for you.

Figure for question 4
[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)
(b)

Tilapia are farmed in many parts of the world to provide a source of protein. Farmers build large ponds and fill them with fish. The ponds are exposed to sunlight and the farmers add manure to help the growth of the fish. Some of the water in the ponds is changed every day.

(b)(i)

Suggest how sunlight and manure help the growth of the fish.

[5]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Suggest why some of the water is changed every day.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(ii)
(c)

A fish farm contains 6000 fish. The average (mean) increase in mass of a fish over a period of 32 weeks is 700 g. Estimate the total mass of fish, in kg, that the fish farm could produce after 32 weeks.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(c)

Biology Paper 1 June 2015, Question 3 9 marks

The photograph shows a breed of dog called a Border Collie.

Figure for question 3

Border Collies can inherit an eye defect called CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly). The dominant allele D produces good vision but the recessive allele d produces poor vision.

(a)

The diagram shows the possible offspring from parents with different genotypes. Parents Offspring Key

Question 3, shown as an image
(a)(i)

All the offspring from cross R have good vision. Give the letters of the other crosses where all the offspring have good vision.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Give the phenotype of each parent used in cross P.

[1]
(a)(iii)

Which cross has a 50% probability of producing offspring with good vision?

[1]
(a)(iv)

Give the genotype of each of the offspring produced in cross T.

[1]
(b)

The crosses between the dogs are examples of sexual reproduction.

(b)(i)

Name the gametes produced by males in sexual reproduction.

[1]
(b)(ii)

Name the gametes produced by females in sexual reproduction.

[1]
(b)(iii)

Give the term used to describe the fusion of gametes.

[1]
(b)(iv)

In which organ of a female parent do offspring develop?

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 3(b)(iv)

Biology Paper 1 January 2014, Question 4 6 marks

Polydactyly is a genetic disorder in which people inherit an extra digit. The X-ray image shows the left hand of someone with polydactyly. The person has six digits, five fingers and one thumb.

Figure for question 4

Polydactyly is caused by a dominant allele (D). The table describes the different genotypes for polydactyly.

(a)

Complete the table by giving the correct genotype, alleles of each genotype and the expected number of digits per hand.

GenotypeAllelesExpected number of digits per hand
homozygous dominantsix
dd
heterozygousDd
[4]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)
(b)

The table lists possible matings between parents. Complete the table by writing the probability of each mating producing a child with polydactyly. One has been done for you.

Parent genotypesProbability of child with polydactyly
Dd Γ— DD
Dd Γ— dd0.5
Dd Γ— Dd
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)

Biology Paper 2 January 2014, Question 2 6 marks

(a)

What is meant by the term gene ?

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(a)
(b)

A gene is made from 1000 base pairs. The table shows the percentage of each base found in the gene.

(b)(i)

Complete the table by giving the name of the missing base.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(b)(i)
(b)(ii)
Percentage of baseName of base
29adenine
21
29thymine
21cytosine

Calculate how many cytosine bases you would expect to find in this gene.

[1]
(c)

The photograph shows a chicken with a mixture of black feathers and white feathers.

Figure for question 2

In chickens the inheritance of feather colour is controlled by codominant alleles. The allele for black feathers is CB, and the allele for white feathers is CW. The diagram shows a parent with all black feathers and a parent with all white feathers. It also shows one of their offspring with a mixture of black and white feathers.

Figure for question 2

black feathers fraction fraction fraction fraction white feathers

Figure for question 2
(c)(i)

Complete the table by writing the genotype of the chickens shown in the diagram.

ChickenGenotype
parent with all black feathers
parent with all white feathers
offspring with a mixture of black and white feathers
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Two of the offspring with a mixture of black and white feathers mated. What is the probability that their offspring would also have a mixture of black and white feathers?

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 2(c)(ii)

Biology Paper 1 June 2013, Question 4 9 marks

In fruit flies, the length of the wings is controlled by a gene with two alleles. The allele for long wings (L) is dominant to the allele for short wings (l). The diagram shows a long-winged fruit fly and a short-winged fruit fly.

Figure for question 4
(a)

Complete the table by writing the genotype, the description of genotype and the phenotype of the fruit flies.

Figure for question 4
[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)
(b)

Two heterozygous fruit flies mated. The number of long-winged and short-winged offspring produced are shown below.

Long-winged offspringShort-winged offspring
612204

Tick one box to show the number of these offspring that is likely to be heterozygous.

NumberTick
204
408
612
816
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)
(c)

Yeast cells feed on rotting fruit. Fruit flies feed on these yeast cells. Use this information to draw a food chain in the space below.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(c)
(d)

A student wanted to find out if fruit flies are attracted to rotting fruit. He set up this apparatus.

Figure for question 4

He released 20 fruit flies into the glass tank. After ten minutes, he counted the number of fruit flies found near the fresh fruit and the number found near the rotting fruit. The table shows his results.

Number of fruit flies counted after ten minutes
near fresh fruitnear rotting fruit
416
(d)(i)

Name two factors that the student should control in this investigation.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(d)(i)
(d)(ii)

Do you think the student’s results are reliable? Give a reason for your answer.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(d)(ii)

Biology Paper 2 June 2013, Question 4 9 marks

(a) Lactose is a sugar found in milk. It is digested by an enzyme called lactase. Some people cannot make lactase. The condition they have is called lactose intolerance. The condition is caused by a recessive allele. This means that only people with the homozygous recessive genotype can be lactose intolerant.

(a)
(a)(i)

What is meant by the term homozygous ?

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

State the two possible genotypes of an individual who is not lactose intolerant. Use the symbols D for the dominant allele and d for the recessive allele.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(a)(ii)
(b)(i)

A homozygous dominant mother and a homozygous recessive father have two children. In the boxes below give the genotypes of the parents and their children.

Figure for question 4
[2]
(b)(ii)

What is the probability that the children are lactose intolerant?

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(b)(ii)
(c)

People from different countries were tested to find out if they were lactose intolerant. The table shows the number of people who were tested in each country and the percentage who were lactose intolerant.

CountryNumber of people testedPercentage who were lactose intolerant
A1604
B31512
C13418
D2075
E5989
F7193
G13498
H24100
(c)(i)

The population size of country B is 190 million. Calculate the number of people in this country likely to be lactose intolerant. Show your working.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(c)(i)
(c)(ii)

Suggest a reason why the value of 100% for country H may not be correct.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4(c)(ii)

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