Name Class Date
Homework
15.1 Selective Breeding
Directions
For multiple choice questions, write the letter that best answers the question or completes the
statement on the line provided. For other question types, follow the directions provided.
For questions 1 and 2, circle the choice that correctly completes the sentence.
1. In the process of (selective breeding / natural selection / hybridization /
DNA replication), plants or animals with desired traits are mated. By repeating
the process over many generations, useful plant strains or animal breeds are
developed. The process is an example of (bioremediation / natural selection /
biotechnology / feedback inhibition).
2. Breeders use the strategy of (DNA replication / natural selection /
DNA transcription / hybridization) to produce offspring with a combination of
traits from both parents. Breeders also use the strategy of (natural selection/
inbreeding / hybridization / feedback inhibition) by mating organisms with
similar traits, which ensures that traits are preserved.
_______ 3. A team of scientists is studying several plant species that they think could
become new farm crops. The scientists want to apply selective breeding to
develop one of the species into useful crop plants.
Which property of a plant species would be MOST USEFUL for meeting the
scientists’ goal?
a. very low genetic variation
b. very high genetic variation
c. producing only a few fruits and seeds each growing season
d. growing slowly from seedlings to maturity
1
Name Class Date
_______ 4. A scientist treats a population of bacteria with a combination of mutagens,
including high-energy radiation and certain chemicals. Which is the MOST
LIKELY benefit of this treatment?
a. The genetic variation of the population decreases, allowing the bacteria to be
easier to kill.
b. The genetic variation of the population increases, and some of the mutants
have useful properties.
c. Many bacterial genes are deactivated, making the bacteria less harmful.
d. The bacterial genome increases in length, and some of the new genes may
have useful products.
_______ 5. The table shows the number of chromosomes per cell for several crop plants.
Each of the crop plants was bred from a wild ancestor over many generations.
The table also shows the likely haploid number for the wild ancestors.
Polyploid Crops
Plant Probable Chromosome
Ancestral Number
Haploid
Number
Domestic oat 7 42
Peanut 10 40
Sugar cane 10 80
Banana 11 22, 33
Cotton 13 52
Which conclusion is MOST STRONGLY supported by the data in the table?
a. Plants develop polyploidy only through selective breeding, and not natural
processes.
b. Plants may naturally increase their ploidy levels with each generation.
c. Plants can survive 3, 4, or 5 times the haploid number of chromosomes, but
not greater ploidy levels.
d. Introducing polyploidy to plants can increase certain desirable or beneficial
traits.
2
Name Class Date
For Questions 6-9, match the example with the probable method used to introduce the
mutation. Each answer can be used more than once.
___ 6. Bacteria that clean up radioactive substances A. radiation or chemicals
___ 7. Larger, stronger banana trees B. polyploidy
___ 8. Bacteria that clean up metal pollution
___ 9. Watermelons that grow faster and larger
10. Is it easy for breeders to produce mutants with desirable mutations? Explain.
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11. Why are radiation and chemicals useful techniques for producing mutant bacteria?
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12. What technique do scientists use to produce mutant plants?
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13. What are polyploid plants?
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