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Most Repeated MDCAT Biology: Variation and Genetics MCQs
The most repeated Variation and Genetics questions in MDCAT Biology, measured from 377 real past papers. Variation and Genetics contributed 696 questions across those papers, and 15 distinct questions recurred with the same verified answer across 2 or more different exam years — listed below (ranked by how many years each recurs in), with the answer, an explanation, and the exact years.
Measured from 377 real past papers · updated July 2026
- 1Repeated in 3 yearsVariation and Genetics
Which one of the following is an X-linked dominant disorder?
- AHaemophilia
- BColor blindness
- CHypophosphatemic rickets✓
- DBecker muscular dystrophy
Explanation
Hypophosphatemic rickets is an X-linked dominant disorder. X-linked dominant disorders are genetic conditions caused by mutations in genes located on the X chromosome.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2023, 2024
- 2Repeated in 3 yearsVariation and Genetics
Which type of disease ADA is?
- Aviral
- Benvironmental
- Cgenetic✓
Explanation
ADA, or Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency, is a genetic disorder that affects the immune system. Specifically, it is a type of primary immunodeficiency disorder. This condition is caused by mutations in the ADA gene, which leads to a deficiency in the enzyme adenosine deaminase. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the development and function of certain immune cells, particularly lymphocytes.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2011, 2012, 2014
- 3Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
A woman can be bald only when she is
- AHomozygous dominant
- BHeterozygous
- CHomozygous recessive✓
- DNone of these
Explanation
Pattern baldness is a sex-influenced trait, meaning its expression differs between males and females. In men, it is an autosomal dominant trait, allowing baldness to occur with just one dominant allele. However, in women, it is an autosomal recessive trait, which means baldness occurs only if the woman has two recessive alleles (homozygous recessive). This is why a woman can only be bald if she is homozygous recessive. The other genotypes, homozygous dominant and heterozygous, result in the dominant allele masking the recessive allele, preventing baldness in females.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2015, 2017
- 4Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
The Law of Dominance Is illustrated in the garden pea by:
- AHomozygous tall x heterozygous tall
- BHeterozygous tall x heterozygous tall
- CHomozygous tall x homozygous tall
- DPure short x pure short
- EHomozygous tall x pure short✓
Explanation
The Law of Dominance states that in a heterozygous individual, the dominant allele will determine the phenotype while the recessive allele is masked. In this case, the cross between a homozygous tall plant (TT) and a pure short plant (tt) clearly illustrates this law, as all offspring (Tt) will be tall, demonstrating that the dominant allele 'T' expresses itself over the recessive 't'.The other options do not adequately illustrate the Law of Dominance: the first option shows both parents expressing the tall phenotype, while the second option leads to a mix of phenotypes.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2010, 2011
- 5Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
A woman with normal colour vision, whose father was red green colour blind, married a red green colour blind man. What is the probability of her born child being red green colour blind?
- A1.0
- B0.75
- C0.50✓
- D0.25
Explanation
Males have 1 X chromosome and 1 Y chromosome, and females have 2 X chromosomes. The genes that can give you red-green colour blindness are passed down on the X chromosome.The woman’s father is red-green colour blind. Since the woman got one of her X chromosomes from her father this means that she is a carrier. As it can be seen from the table the probability of having a colourblind child is 0.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2014, 2017
- 6Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Two animals are mated. One is homozygous dominant for one character and homozygous recessive for another. The other animal Is heterozygous for both characters. How many phenotypes are expected in the offspring of this cross?
- A1
- B2✓
- C3
- D4
Explanation
To understand and solve this, you can divide your thinking into two. For character 1. When genes are passed down to offspring, when the genes of this character pass down, the Dominant gene will always be present, so only one phenotype is possible from this character. For character 2. Three genotypes are possible, RR, Rr, and rr. RR and Rr are one phenotype and rr another.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2016, 2023
- 7Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Alleles both have an effect on the phenotype heterozygous organism
- ACodominance✓
- BIncomplete dominance
- CDominance
- DRecessive
Explanation
This is the correct answer. Codominance occurs when both alleles of a heterozygous individual are expressed simultaneously in the phenotype. Neither allele is dominant over the other, and both contribute equally to the observed trait. A classic example of codominance is the ABO blood type system, where the IA and IB alleles are codominant.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 8Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
The particular array of chromosomes that an individual possesses is called its
- AGenotype
- BPhenotype
- CKaryotype✓
- DAllele
Explanation
A karyotype is an individual's complete set of chromosomes. The term also refers to a laboratory-produced image of a person's chromosomes isolated from an individual cell and arranged in numerical order.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 9Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Haemophilia affects males than females because of:
- AX linked recessive✓
- BX linked dominant
- CDominant autosomes
- DY linked inheritance
Explanation
Haemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder, which means it is more commonly seen in males than females. This is because the gene responsible for haemophilia is located on the X chromosome. Males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes. If a male inherits the faulty gene on his X chromosome, he will have haemophilia because he does not have another X chromosome to compensate for the faulty gene. Females, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes, so even if one X chromosome carries the faulty gene, the other X chromosome can often compensate for it. That's why haemophilia is more prevalent in males.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2012, 2020
- 10Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Locus of a gene on a chromosome means its:
- APosition✓
- BFunction
- CStart point
- DEnd point
Explanation
The locus of a gene on a chromosome refers to its specific location or position on the chromosome. It is the precise point on the chromosome where the gene is situated, and it is usually described by its chromosomal coordinates (e.g., 3q21, meaning the gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 3, at position 21).
Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2023
- 11Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Rh-antigen was first discovered in.......
- AHuman Man
- BChirupanae
- CRhesus monkey✓
- DNone
Explanation
C) Rhesus monkey: While the Rh antigen was named after the Rhesus monkey due to its initial discovery in Rhesus monkey blood, the discovery of its significance in human blood transfusions came first. The Rh factor was identified in humans in 1937, followed by its discovery in Rhesus monkey blood in 1940. So, while it was discovered in Rhesus monkeys after humans, the term "Rh" itself came from the Rhesus monkey.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2010, 2013
- 12Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Black coat color in horses is caused by a dominant allele, while white coat color is due to the recessive allele. Two black horses produce a foal with a coat, if they were to produce a second foal, what would be the probability of the second foal having a black coat?
- A0
- B1/4
- C½
- D3/4✓
- E1
Explanation
If the black coat color in horses is the dominant phenotype, and both parental horses are black, then they must have at least one allele for the black coat color. Because the white coat color is the recessive phenotype, it can be caused only by a homozygous recessive genotype. The probability of these horses producing a foal with a black coat is 75%, or 3 out of 4.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2013, 2016
- 13Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
In the 𝐹 generation of a dihybrid cross between yellow, round seeded and green, wrinkled seeded pea plants, 17 out of 254 seeds were green and wrinkled other seeds were:Yellow and roundGreen and roundYellow and wrinkledWhat do these results indicate?
- ACrossing-over has occurred
- BGreen and wrinkled are both recessive characters✓
- CThe alleles for green and wrinkled are linked
- DThe allele for green is recessive but not the allele for wrinkled
- EThe allele for wrinkled is recessive but not the allele for green
Explanation
The correct answer is that both green and wrinkled are recessive characters. This conclusion is based on the fact that recessive traits appear only when both alleles are recessive (homozygous recessive). The observation of 17 green and wrinkled seeds out of 254 suggests these traits follow Mendel's laws of inheritance for recessive traits. Other options are incorrect because they either suggest genetic phenomena not supported by the data (crossing-over, linkage) or propose incorrect inheritance patterns for the traits involved.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2013, 2016
- 14Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Genes P, Q, R, and S occur on the same chromosome.Investigation of a large population produced the following cross-over values between pairs of genes.P and R 34% P and Q 59% R and S 12% S and Q 37% Which of the following sequences represents the sequence of genes on the chromosome?
- APRSQ
- BPSRQ✓
- CQSPR
- DRQSP
- ESPRQ
Explanation
The correct sequence of genes on the chromosome is PSRQ. This arrangement makes sense given the crossover values provided:The low crossover value of 12% between R and S indicates they are closely linked, which is consistent with having them next to each other in this sequence.The higher crossover value of 59% between P and Q suggests they are further apart on the chromosome, which is also supported in this arrangement.The other options (PRSQ, QSPR, RQSP, SPRQ) do not appropriately reflect the crossover data, leading to contradictions with the provided percentages.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2014, 2015
- 15Repeated in 2 yearsVariation and Genetics
Dominance is the physiological effect of an allele over its partner allele occupying the;
- ASame locus on same chromosome
- BDifferent locus on same chromosome
- CSame locus on respective homologue✓
- DDifferent locus on respective homologue
Explanation
Dominance is the physiological effect of an allele over its partner allele occuping the same locus on respective homologue. Therefore, option C is correct.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2023