A-Level Biology Study Guides: Flashcards

Let’s break this down! I’ll give you a study guide covering asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction (in humans and plants), and Mendelian genetics — then I’ll create a test for you. ⸻ Study Guide for Asexual Reproduction, Sexual Reproduction, and Mendelian Genetics ⸻ I. Asexual Reproduction • Definition: Involves a single parent, producing offspring genetically identical to the parent (clones). • Types of Asexual Reproduction: • Binary Fission: Simple cell division (e.g., bacteria). • Budding: New organism grows from a bud on the parent (e.g., yeast, hydra). • Fragmentation/Regeneration: Organism splits, and each part grows into a new organism (e.g., starfish). • Vegetative Propagation: New plants grow from parts of the parent plant (e.g., runners in strawberries). • Parthenogenesis: Offspring develop from unfertilized eggs (e.g., some lizards, insects). • Pros and Cons: • Pros: Fast, no need for a mate, energy-efficient. • Cons: No genetic variation, susceptible to environmental changes. ⸻ II. Sexual Reproduction (Humans & Plants) Humans: • Process: • Gametes (sperm and egg) produced by meiosis. • Fertilization forms a zygote (diploid cell). • Male Reproductive System: Testes, epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, urethra, penis. • Female Reproductive System: Ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina. • Hormonal Regulation: • Male: Testosterone (sperm production, secondary characteristics). • Female: Estrogen & progesterone (menstrual cycle, pregnancy). Plants: • Process: Alternation of generations (sporophyte & gametophyte stages). • Pollination: Transfer of pollen to stigma. • Fertilization: Sperm (from pollen) fuses with egg in ovule. • Structures: Stamen (male), carpel/pistil (female). • Seed & Fruit Development: Fertilized ovules become seeds; ovary becomes fruit. ⸻ III. Mendelian Genetics • Gregor Mendel’s Experiments: Pea plants, discovered inheritance patterns. • Key Concepts: • Genes & Alleles: Genes determine traits, alleles are gene variants. • Dominant vs. Recessive Alleles: Dominant alleles mask recessive ones. • Homozygous vs. Heterozygous: Same alleles (AA or aa) vs. different alleles (Aa). • Laws of Inheritance: • Law of Segregation: Allele pairs separate during gamete formation. • Law of Independent Assortment: Genes for different traits sort independently. • Genetic Crosses: Punnett squares, monohybrid/dihybrid crosses. • Probability & Ratios: Phenotypic/genotypic ratios. • Non-Mendelian Inheritance: Incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, polygenic traits, sex-linked traits. ⸻ AP Biology Practice Test Total Questions: 30 (Multiple Choice) Section 1: Asexual Reproduction (6 questions) 1. Which form of asexual reproduction involves an organism splitting into two identical cells? a) Budding b) Fragmentation c) Binary fission d) Parthenogenesis 2. Which organism commonly reproduces through budding? a) Bacteria b) Starfish c) Hydra d) Fern 3. A disadvantage of asexual reproduction is: a) Slow reproduction rate b) High genetic diversity c) Vulnerability to environmental changes d) Requirement of a mate 4. Which plant structure is involved in vegetative propagation? a) Petal b) Stigma c) Runner d) Anther 5. Parthenogenesis involves: a) Fertilized eggs developing into offspring b) Unfertilized eggs developing into offspring c) Fusion of gametes d) Regeneration of lost body parts 6. What is the primary benefit of asexual reproduction in stable environments? a) Genetic variation b) Rapid population growth c) Evolutionary adaptability d) Reduced mutation rates ⸻ Section 2: Sexual Reproduction (8 questions) 7. In humans, fertilization typically occurs in the: a) Uterus b) Vagina c) Ovary d) Fallopian tube 8. The male gamete in plants is contained in the: a) Ovule b) Anther c) Pollen grain d) Stigma 9. Which hormone triggers ovulation? a) Testosterone b) Progesterone c) Luteinizing hormone (LH) d) Estrogen 10. The female gametophyte in flowering plants is the: a) Ovary b) Pollen tube c) Embryo sac d) Sepal 11. Which part of the male reproductive system produces sperm? a) Epididymis b) Vas deferens c) Testes d) Prostate gland 12. The process where pollen is transferred from anther to stigma is: a) Germination b) Pollination c) Fertilization d) Sporulation 13. What structure develops into a seed after fertilization in plants? a) Ovule b) Ovary c) Stamen d) Pistil 14. Which term describes the fusion of egg and sperm to form a zygote? a) Gametogenesis b) Meiosis c) Fertilization d) Pollination ⸻ Section 3: Mendelian Genetics (16 questions) 15. Who is considered the “Father of Genetics”? a) Charles Darwin b) Gregor Mendel c) Rosalind Franklin d) James Watson 16. The physical expression of a trait is called: a) Genotype b) Phenotype c) Allele d) Chromosome 17. An organism with the genotype Aa is: a) Homozygous dominant b) Homozygous recessive c) Heterozygous d) Diploid 18. A Punnett square shows: a) The process of DNA replication b) Possible genetic combinations of offspring c) Chromosome number in gametes d) Evolutionary relationships 19. The expected phenotypic ratio for a monohybrid cross is: a) 1:2:1 b) 9:3:3:1 c) 3:1 d) 4:0 20. Which of Mendel’s laws states that allele pairs separate during gamete formation? a) Law of Independent Assortment b) Law of Segregation c) Law of Dominance d) Law of Inheritance 21. Incomplete dominance results in: a) Blended traits b) Both traits expressed equally c) One trait completely masking another d) A 9:3:3:1 ratio 22. A cross between two heterozygous individuals (Aa x Aa) produces what genotypic ratio? a) 3:1 b) 1:2:1 c) 9:3:3:1 d) 2:2 23-30