AP®BiologyCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 5: HeredityMeiosis & Genetic Diversity

Meiosis & Genetic Diversity (College Board AP® Biology)

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Meiosis & Genetic Diversity

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Meiosis & Genetic Diversity

1
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In onion plants, Allium cepa, the diploid number is 16, meaning it has 8 homologous pairs of chromosomes.

After meiosis occurs, which of the following is the correct number of different chromosomal combinations that can result from independent assortment alone?

  • 256

  • 128

  •  65 536

  • 64

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2
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In an animal species, gametes are produced through meiosis. During metaphase I, homologous chromosomes align randomly along the spindle equator.

This random alignment results in which of the following?

  • crossing over

  • independent assortment

  •  mutation

  • genetic drift

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3
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In a laboratory, a researcher is studying meiosis in animal cells. She observes the chromosomes condensing and the nuclear envelope breaking down, with centrioles moving to opposite poles.

Which stage of meiosis is the researcher most likely observing?

  • prophase I

  • metaphase II

  • telophase I

  •  cytokinesis

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4
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In a population of flowering plants, researchers observed that flower color varies greatly between individuals. They hypothesized that the genetic diversity seen in the offspring was a result of both independent assortment and crossing over during meiosis. To test this hypothesis, they examined the offspring produced by crossing two heterozygous plants with different flower colors (Rr) and petal shapes (Tt). The table below shows the distribution of phenotypes from 200 offspring:

Phenotype

Number of offspring

red flowers, round petals

60

red flowers, oval petals

40

white flowers, round petals

50

white flowers, oval petals

50

Which of the following claims is best supported by the data?

  • Only independent assortment contributes to genetic diversity.

  • Only crossing over contributes to genetic diversity.

  • Both independent assortment and crossing over contribute to genetic diversity.

  • Neither independent assortment nor crossing over contribute to genetic diversity.

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5
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Figure 1 shows a specific stage of meiosis characterized by the arrangement of chromosomes.

Diagram illustrating a cell in metaphase with duplicated chromosomes separating, connected by spindles in an oval cell structure.
Figure 1. A cell moving through meiosis.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the events occurring during this stage of meiosis?

  • The centromeres of homologous chromosomes are pulled apart, leading to the separation of sister chromatids.

  • The genetic variability among the resulting gametes is influenced by the independent assortment of chromosomes during this stage.

  • DNA replication occurs to ensure each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes.

  • Each chromosome consists of two non-identical sister chromatids due to prior crossing over.

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