A genetic engineer is exploring methods to develop a new kiwi variety resistant to purple melon disease. They are considering two techniques: CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, which allows targeted modifications in a specific gene linked to disease resistance, and mutation breeding, which induces a wider range of genetic changes. Which of the following best highlights an advantage of CRISPR-Cas9 over mutation breeding?

Identical (monozygotic) twins were adopted by different families at birth and were raised in different parts of the country. However, both twins grow up to have perfect pitch. This observation would suggest what about the shared musical talent of these twins?

Bacteria use restriction enzymes and Cas9 enzymes that target specific sequences of DNA to defend themselves against which of the following selfish genetic elements?

The statement that racial categories are social constructs, and have no basis in biology is, in part, predicated on observations of human genetic diversity.  Which of the following statements best describes the distribution of genetic variation among racial groups? 

Below are estimates for the heritability of several complex human traits. Which of the following statements is most accurate, based on these data? Trait heritability (h2) Height 0.79 Weight 0.70 Alcoholism 0.52

This phylogenetic tree depicts the evolutionary relationships of eight major vertebrate classes.  Tiktaalik is an intermediate fossil that represents an early ancestor of tetrapods (four-limbed animals) and the transition from water to shoreline. If you were to add Tiktaalik to this phylogeny, where would the Tiktaalik branch extend from?

Brain size and higher orders of intelligence are thought to be distinguishing features of humans (Homo sapiens).  As we learned in class, larger, more intelligent brains can evolve in other organisms too, like guppies. Why then aren’t more organisms “intelligent”?

What evidence in living cells today suggests that RNA was the first self-replicating “information” molecule?

Which of the following best describes the difference between group selection and natural selection at the individual level?

One of the first commercially available genetically engineered drugs was Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which was used to treat human growth hormone deficiency. To produce HGH, genetic engineers modified the genome of the bacteria E. coli to express the HGH gene. To do this, scientists first had to create a DNA vector with a bacterial regulatory sequence and human coding sequence (insulin gene). This DNA vector, containing two genes from different organisms, is known as…