AQA · Biology · 8461

GCSE Biology: The understanding of genetics

Inheritance, variation and evolution · AQA GCSE Biology (8461), specification point 4.6.3.3. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "The understanding of genetics", and every card links back to the page it came from. Separate science only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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Who carried out plant breeding experiments in the mid-19th century that founded genetics?
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Gregor Mendel.
What did Mendel conclude determines the inheritance of each characteristic?
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'Units' that are passed on to descendants unchanged (now called genes).
What organisms did Mendel use for his breeding experiments?
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Plants (pea plants).
Why was the importance of Mendel's work not recognised until after his death?
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Chromosomes and genes had not yet been discovered, so there was no known physical mechanism to explain his 'units' of inheritance.
In the late 19th century, the behaviour of ? during cell division was first observed.
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chromosomes
What early 20th-century observation led to the idea that genes are located on chromosomes?
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Chromosomes and Mendel's 'units' were observed to behave in similar ways during inheritance.
What are Mendel's 'units' of inheritance called today?
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Genes.
In which century was the structure of DNA determined?
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The mid-20th century (1953).
What theory developed from the combined work of Mendel, chromosome observers and DNA researchers?
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The gene theory.
Put in order: chromosomes observed in cell division, Mendel's experiments, DNA structure determined.
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Mendel's experiments (mid-19th C) → chromosomes observed (late 19th C) → DNA structure determined (mid-20th C).

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All questions and answers

Who carried out plant breeding experiments in the mid-19th century that founded genetics?

What did Mendel conclude determines the inheritance of each characteristic?

What organisms did Mendel use for his breeding experiments?

Why was the importance of Mendel's work not recognised until after his death?

In the late 19th century, the behaviour of ? during cell division was first observed.

What early 20th-century observation led to the idea that genes are located on chromosomes?

What are Mendel's 'units' of inheritance called today?

In which century was the structure of DNA determined?

What theory developed from the combined work of Mendel, chromosome observers and DNA researchers?

Put in order: chromosomes observed in cell division, Mendel's experiments, DNA structure determined.