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Reporting Category 2: Mechanisms of Genetics

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How is the structure of DNA suited to storing information and being copied accurately?

Identify the components of DNA, describe the structure of the double helix and base pairing, and explain how DNA is replicated accurately before cell division (TEKS Biology, Reporting Category 2; structure and function; patterns).
A TEKS-level answer on DNA for the Texas STAAR Biology EOC: the components of a nucleotide, the double helix and complementary base pairing, and how DNA replication produces two identical copies before a cell divides.
11 min answer →

How do scientists read, copy, and change DNA, and why does it matter to society?

Describe applications of DNA technology, including gel electrophoresis, DNA fingerprinting, recombinant DNA, and genetically modified organisms, and evaluate their benefits and concerns (TEKS Biology, Reporting Category 2; cause and effect; structure and function).
A TEKS-level answer on biotechnology for the Texas STAAR Biology EOC: gel electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting, recombinant DNA and genetic engineering, genetically modified organisms, and the benefits and concerns of these tools.
10 min answer →

What is a mutation, and why can the same kind of change be harmful, helpful, or have no effect?

Recognize the types of gene mutations and explain how a change in the DNA base sequence may be harmful, beneficial, or neutral and how it can be inherited (TEKS Biology, Reporting Category 2; cause and effect; stability and change).
A TEKS-level answer on mutations for the Texas STAAR Biology EOC: what a mutation is, substitution, insertion, and deletion, why an effect can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral, and how mutations in gametes are inherited and supply variation.
10 min answer →

Why must gametes have half the usual number of chromosomes, and how does meiosis create variation?

Explain the role of meiosis in producing gametes with half the chromosome number and in generating genetic variation, and contrast meiosis with mitosis (TEKS Biology, Reporting Category 2; patterns; cause and effect).
A TEKS-level answer on meiosis for the Texas STAAR Biology EOC: chromosomes and the role of meiosis in halving the chromosome number, how crossing over and independent assortment create variation, and how meiosis differs from mitosis.
11 min answer →

How are traits passed from parents to offspring, and how can we predict the outcomes of a genetic cross?

Apply Mendel's laws and use Punnett squares to predict the genotype and phenotype ratios of monohybrid crosses, and identify patterns of inheritance including dominant, recessive, codominant, and incomplete dominance (TEKS Biology, Reporting Category 2; patterns; using mathematics).
A TEKS-level answer on inheritance for the Texas STAAR Biology EOC: alleles, genotype and phenotype, dominant and recessive traits, using Punnett squares to predict ratios and probabilities, and codominance and incomplete dominance.
13 min answer →

How does the sequence of bases in DNA end up determining a protein and a trait?

Describe how the information in DNA is used to build proteins through transcription and translation, and explain how the order of bases determines the order of amino acids (TEKS Biology, Reporting Category 2; cause and effect; structure and function).
A TEKS-level answer on protein synthesis for the Texas STAAR Biology EOC: transcription of DNA into mRNA, translation of codons into amino acids at the ribosome, and how the base sequence determines the protein and the trait.
12 min answer →