Traits from genes, traits from surroundings, and traits from both
Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Esme reads Chart A and Chart B. What do the two charts together show about the causes of these traits?
- The soil set the seed shape; the genes set the cutting height
- Genes set the seed shape; fertilizer changed the cuttings' genes
- Genes set both traits, since both are traits
- Genes set seed shape; fertilizer changed cutting height
Using both charts, Jun wants round seeds and tall cuttings. Which plan fits what the charts show?
Use the picture in question 1.
- Fertilize the peas, since fertilizer changes the seeds' genes
- Choose cuttings with tall genes, since fertilizer cannot matter
- Fertilize the peas to make seeds round, since soil sets shape
- Pick round-seed pea genes, and give the cuttings fertilizer
Kira compares what stays the same and what differs in Charts A and B. Which pair of statements is correct?
Use the picture in question 1.
- A and B: new genes in each row, since the traits differ
- A: same surroundings, new genes. B: same genes, new surroundings
- A: same genes, new surroundings. B: same surroundings, new genes
- A and B: same genes, so the traits must match
Luz claims that seeds from a hedge trimmed into a box shape will grow into box-shaped plants. Which response is best?
- No, because the hedge's shape is set by its genes, not trimming
- Yes, a shape gained in life is passed on to seeds
- Yes, trimming changed the hedge's genes, which the seeds receive
- No, trimming is a surrounding, so the shape is not in the genes
Milo says two piano players have a child who plays piano, so the skill must be in the genes. Which response is best?
- Not necessarily; the child may have learned it by practice
- Yes; a skill the parents gained is passed on to the child
- Yes; skills come from the genes, not from any practice
- Yes; practice by the parents changed the genes of the child
Noah's class grew mint cuttings: some from plant X in sun, some from plant Y in shade. The shade group was taller. Which statement about the test is best?
- Not fair; genes decide height, so light is not worth testing
- Not fair; the sun changed the genes of the cuttings
- Not fair; the parent plants and the light both differ
- Fair; plants from different parents have the same genes
Seeds from a tall sunflower grew short in poor soil. Ren reads the chart. Which explanation fits?
- Tall parents pass on height, so the chart must be wrong
- The poor soil changed the seeds' genes to short
- The shortness was learned from shorter plants nearby
- Poor soil limited growth; tall genes may still be there
A basil plant on a dim shelf grew tall and spindly. Tala plants seeds from that plant in bright light. The seedlings are shorter. Which explanation fits?
- Bright light changed the seeds' genes to make them short
- Dim light stretched the parent; stretch is not inherited
- The stretch is passed on, but bright light cancels it
- The seedlings have different genes, since they look different
Ari takes new cuttings from the tallest fertilized mint plant and grows them without fertilizer. Which claim and reason fit?
- About 18 cm; the extra height came from the fertilizer
- About 30 cm; tall plants make even taller cuttings
- About 26 cm; the extra height was gained and is passed on
- About 26 cm; fertilizer changed the plant's genes for height
Bo's class compared mint cuttings from one plant given 100 mL or 50 mL of water a day. Which student explains the heights?
- Jun: the genes made the gap, since height is a trait
- Ren: the water changed the genes of the short group
- Zee: water made the gap, since the cuttings share genes
- Esme: the heights must match, since the genes are the same