Match samples with a DNA fingerprint
Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Use this
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (-) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp.
A classmate says Plant C matches the seed packet because two of three bands line up. Which reply fits, by Esme's reading?
- Correct; two of three bands is close enough to call the two plants a match
- Correct; matching plants share most bands, not every one
- No; its 350 bp band differs, and a match needs every band to line up
- No; Plant C is not a tomato, so it cannot be compared at all
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Mother dog, bands: 900, 600, 400, 150 bp. Male X, bands: 750, 600, 300, 200 bp. Male Y, bands: 850, 500, 350, 250 bp. Puppy, bands: 900, 750, 300, 150 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Mother dog, bands: 900, 600, 400, 150 bp. Male X, bands: 750, 600, 300, 200 bp. Male Y, bands: 850, 500, 350, 250 bp. Puppy, bands: 900, 750, 300, 150 bp. Model gel not to scale; model data Ladder Mother dog Male X Male Y Puppy negative (-) positive (+) 1000 bp 500 250 100 bp 900 600 400 150 750 600 300 200 850 500 350 250 900 750 300 150 A student says the puppy's pattern should match its mother's exactly. Which reply fits OpenStax, by Jun's reading?
- No; it inherits from both parents, so some bands come from the father
- Correct; a puppy inherits the whole of its DNA from its mother's side of the family
- No; it should match the father's pattern exactly
- Correct; the father's DNA doesn't show up on the gel
A student says the bands show genes for coat color and size. Which reply fits OpenStax, by Kira's reading?
Use the picture in question 2.
- No; they show the lengths of repeated stretches, often in non-coding DNA
- Correct; bigger bands mean bigger animals
- No; they show the animal's proteins
- Correct; each band is one gene for a visible trait, such as coat color or size
A new male, Z, has bands at 750, 450, 300 and 100 bp. Could Z be the puppy's father, by Luz's reading?
Use the picture in question 2.
- No; Z's 450 bp band is not in the puppy, so Z cannot be its father
- Yes; Z has both of the puppy's bands that the mother lacks
- Yes; Z has four bands, like the puppy
- No; Z shares no bands with the mother
Use this
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (-) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp.
Which evidence best shows that Plant A came from the seed packet's line, by Pia's reading?
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp. Ladder Seed packet sample Plant A Plant B Plant C - + 1000 500 250 100 bp - Plant A's bands run farther than Plant B's
- Plant A's tomatoes are the same color
- Each of Plant A's bands lines up with the sample's
- Plant A shares its 450 bp band with Plant B and with the seed packet
Use this
Model gel (not to scale; model data).
Which evidence best rules out Tree 3 as Variety R, by Ren's reading?
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250 bp. Variety R reference, bands: 950, 600, 400 bp. Tree 1, bands: 950, 600, 400 bp. Tree 2, bands: 950, 550, 400 bp. Tree 3, bands: 900, 600, 350 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250 bp. Variety R reference, bands: 950, 600, 400 bp. Tree 1, bands: 950, 600, 400 bp. Tree 2, bands: 950, 550, 400 bp. Tree 3, bands: 900, 600, 350 bp. negative (-) end positive (+) end Ladder Variety R Tree 1 Tree 2 Tree 3 1000 bp 500 bp 250 bp 950, 600 400 bp 950, 600 400 bp 950, 550 400 bp 900, 600 350 bp - It shares the 600 bp band with Variety R
- It has the same number of bands as Variety R, three in each lane
- Its leaves are a different shape
- Its 900 bp and 350 bp bands are not in Variety R's lane
A lab runs the calf twice and gets the same bands both times. Why does that help, by Tala's reading?
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1200, 600, 300, 100 bp. Mother cow, bands: 1000, 700, 500, 200 bp. Calf, bands: 1000, 650, 500, 300 bp. Bull P, bands: 650, 550, 300, 100 bp. Bull Q, bands: 800, 650, 400, 250 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1200, 600, 300, 100 bp. Mother cow, bands: 1000, 700, 500, 200 bp. Calf, bands: 1000, 650, 500, 300 bp. Bull P, bands: 650, 550, 300, 100 bp. Bull Q, bands: 800, 650, 400, 250 bp. Wells negative (-) end positive (+) end Ladder lane Mother cow Calf Bull P Bull Q 1200 bp 600 bp 300 bp 100 bp 1000 bp 700 bp 500 bp 200 bp 1000 bp 650 bp 500 bp 300 bp 650 bp 550 bp 300 bp 100 bp 800 bp 650 bp 400 bp 250 bp - It shows the calf has two fathers
- It shows the calf's genes for color
- It shows big pieces run farther
- It shows the band pattern can be trusted
Use this
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (-) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp.
Which summary of reading a DNA fingerprint fits OpenStax, by Zee's reading?
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Seed packet sample, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant A, bands: 800, 450, 300 bp. Plant B, bands: 700, 450, 250 bp. Plant C, bands: 800, 350, 300 bp. Ladder Seed packet sample Plant A Plant B Plant C - + 1000 500 250 100 bp - Cut DNA sorts by size, smallest farthest; samples match when every band lines up
- Cut DNA sorts by gene; samples match when they share a trait
- Cut DNA sorts by size, largest farthest; samples match when most of their bands line up
- Uncut DNA sorts by color; samples match when the lanes look alike
Which summary of a parent and offspring check fits, by Ari's reading?
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Mother dog, bands: 900, 600, 400, 150 bp. Male X, bands: 750, 600, 300, 200 bp. Male Y, bands: 850, 500, 350, 250 bp. Puppy, bands: 900, 750, 300, 150 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1000, 500, 250, 100 bp. Mother dog, bands: 900, 600, 400, 150 bp. Male X, bands: 750, 600, 300, 200 bp. Male Y, bands: 850, 500, 350, 250 bp. Puppy, bands: 900, 750, 300, 150 bp. Model gel not to scale; model data Ladder Mother dog Male X Male Y Puppy negative (-) positive (+) 1000 bp 500 250 100 bp 900 600 400 150 750 600 300 200 850 500 350 250 900 750 300 150 - The offspring must match one parent's pattern exactly
- An offspring shares no bands with its parents
- Each offspring band must appear in the mother's lane
- Each offspring band must appear in one parent or the other
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Which summary of what the bands are fits OpenStax, by Bo's reading?
Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1200, 600, 300, 100 bp. Mother cow, bands: 1000, 700, 500, 200 bp. Calf, bands: 1000, 650, 500, 300 bp. Bull P, bands: 650, 550, 300, 100 bp. Bull Q, bands: 800, 650, 400, 250 bp. Model gel (not to scale; model data). Wells at the top, next to the negative (−) end. The positive (+) end is at the bottom. Ladder lane, top to bottom: 1200, 600, 300, 100 bp. Mother cow, bands: 1000, 700, 500, 200 bp. Calf, bands: 1000, 650, 500, 300 bp. Bull P, bands: 650, 550, 300, 100 bp. Bull Q, bands: 800, 650, 400, 250 bp. Wells negative (-) end positive (+) end Ladder lane Mother cow Calf Bull P Bull Q 1200 bp 600 bp 300 bp 100 bp 1000 bp 700 bp 500 bp 200 bp 1000 bp 650 bp 500 bp 300 bp 650 bp 550 bp 300 bp 100 bp 800 bp 650 bp 400 bp 250 bp - Genes for traits such as horn shape and coat color
- Proteins, sorted by their charge
- Pieces of different lengths, from repeats that vary between individuals
- Whole chromosomes, one per band