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7th grade Genes, chromosomes and mutations worksheet

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Genes, chromosomes and mutations

Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. Ari's class reads the chart and the growth table. Which claim and reason fit what the data show?

    • No effect: strain Q is the same kind of bacteria as strain P
    • Helpful: strain Q planned the change when sugar Z appeared
    • Harmful: a changed gene breaks the protein in strain Q
    • Helpful: the changed gene lets strain Q use sugar Z
  2. Bo reads the same chart and table. Which line explains why strain P stays at 100 on sugar Z?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • It chose not to change its gene as sugar Z came
    • Its gene has a mutation that harmed its cells
    • Its chromosome is too small to hold the whole gene
    • Its protein cannot use sugar Z, so no growth
  3. Esme writes a sentence that uses both the chart and the table. Which sentence is correct?

    Use the picture in question 1.

    • Q's change harmed it, and the table shows Q losing many cells
    • P's gene changed as well, and the table shows P growing slowly
    • Q's gene is its growth, and the table shows the gene growing
    • Q's changed gene gives a protein using sugar Z, so Q grows
  4. Jun reads that a sunflower gene has one changed letter but makes the same protein. What goes in the Trait box, and why?

    • Brown petals: any changed letter changes the protein and trait
    • Yellow petals: the same protein gives the same trait
    • Brown petals: the plant chose a new color to match
    • Yellow petals: a changed gene is not counted as a mutation
  5. Kira finds a changed DNA letter in one leaf cell of a violet pea plant. Seeds from the plant grow into plants without the change. Which explanation fits?

    • A leaf cell does not form seeds, so no seed gets it
    • The change was harmful, so the seeds could not grow
    • The plant undid the change to protect its seeds
    • A gene is a trait, so leaf cells have no genes to change
  6. Luz finds the same changed DNA letter in every cell of a seedling, but not in the leaves of either parent plant. Which explanation fits?

    • A leaf change spreads through the plant into its seeds
    • The seedling copied the letter from the soil
    • The seedling chose the letter to grow faster
    • The change arose in a cell that formed the seed
  7. Milo claims that every DNA change harms a plant. Which response uses the chart to find the flaw?

    • Change W is a trait, so it is a gene, not a mutation
    • S and W did not harm, so the claim is wrong
    • Change T harmed the plant, so the claim is correct
    • Change S changed the trait, as a changed letter does
  8. Noah says the gene for petal color is the petal color, and a chromosome is one big gene. Which response corrects both parts?

    • Gene: bigger than a chromosome. Chromosome: a thread of DNA
    • Gene: the petal color itself. Chromosome: holds many genes
    • Gene: a section of DNA. Chromosome: one single gene
    • Gene: a section of DNA. Chromosome: holds many genes
  9. Pia says that when a dish ran low on food, the bacteria changed their DNA to use a new sugar. What is the flaw?

    • The change must have been harmful to the bacteria
    • Bacteria have no DNA, so they cannot change it
    • There is no flaw, since living things change DNA to fit
    • Changes come by chance; sugar only showed which grew
  10. Tala reads that a pea plant cell has 7 pairs of chromosomes. One of each pair comes from each parent. Which claim and reason fit for one parent?

    • 7 chromosomes, since a parent gives one of each pair
    • 7 pairs, since each parent gives whole pairs
    • 14 chromosomes, since each parent gives both of each pair
    • 28 chromosomes, since each parent gives two sets of 14
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7th grade Genes, chromosomes and mutations worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Genes, chromosomes and mutations. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can put the parts in order from biggest to smallest: cell, nucleus, chromosome, DNA, gene.
  • I can say that a gene is a section of DNA that holds instructions for a protein, and that proteins help make a trait.
  • I can say that humans have 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs, and that other living things have other numbers.
  • I can say that a mutation is a change in DNA, and that it can be harmful, helpful or make no difference.
  • I can follow a changed gene to a changed protein to a changed trait, and explain a case where the DNA changed but the trait did not.
  • I can say that mutations happen by chance, not because a living thing needs them.

Standard: MS-LS3-1

Words to know

cell: The smallest living part of a plant or animal

nucleus: The part inside a cell that holds the chromosomes

chromosome: A thread of DNA and protein in the nucleus

DNA: The long molecule that carries the instructions of a living thing

gene: A section of DNA with instructions for making a protein

protein: A part of a living thing that helps build it and run its cells

trait: A feature of a living thing, such as flower color or seed shape

mutation: A change in DNA; it can be harmful, helpful or make no difference

Common mistakes

Your child thought mutations are always harmful. Compare three cases: a seedling with pale leaves, bacteria that use a new food, and a change that alters nothing. Ask, 'What did this change do there?'

Your child mixed up a gene with the trait it helps make. Draw three boxes: Gene, Protein, Trait. Ask, 'Which box comes first, and which one can you see?'

Your child mixed up the sizes of cells, chromosomes, DNA and genes. Try nesting boxes: a cell holds a nucleus, which holds chromosomes, which are made of DNA, which has genes. Ask, 'Which holds which?'

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with genes, chromosomes and mutations?

Your child thought mutations are always harmful. Compare three cases: a seedling with pale leaves, bacteria that use a new food, and a change that alters nothing. Ask, 'What did this change do there?'

Are these 7th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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