Theodor Boveri — Questions and answers
Read the full story
What important thing did Theodor Boveri discover about chromosomes?
Choices
- They are just temporary parts of a cell.
- They carry the instructions for life. ✓
- They only appear in sea urchin babies.
- Scientists already knew all about them.
Answer: They carry the instructions for life.
From page 1
Before Theodor Boveri, what was one idea people had about how traits were passed down?
Choices
- Everyone knew exactly how it worked.
- Traits were passed down perfectly the same every time.
- Parental traits mixed together, like mixing paints. ✓
- Only the egg carried tiny, pre-made organisms.
Answer: Parental traits mixed together, like mixing paints.
From page 2
Why were sea urchin eggs a good choice for Theodor Boveri to study?
Choices
- They were very colorful and easy to see.
- Their eggs were clear, so he could watch what happened inside. ✓
- They had the largest chromosomes of any animal.
- They were easy to find and collect from the ocean.
Answer: Their eggs were clear, so he could watch what happened inside.
From page 3
What happened when more than one sperm fertilized a sea urchin egg in Boveri's experiments?
Choices
- The offspring grew into very healthy larvae.
- The offspring became deformed and couldn't survive. ✓
- The eggs didn't develop at all.
- The offspring developed faster and stronger.
Answer: The offspring became deformed and couldn't survive.
From page 4
What was Boveri's important idea about what makes chromosomes special?
Choices
- Only the total number of chromosomes is important.
- Each chromosome has a unique job and specific combination that matters. ✓
- Having an extra chromosome always helps an organism grow better.
- Chromosomes are just structures that don't do anything special.
Answer: Each chromosome has a unique job and specific combination that matters.
From page 6
Who also made similar discoveries about chromosomes and combined his work with Boveri's?
Choices
- Gregor Mendel, who studied pea plants.
- Walter Sutton, who worked with grasshoppers. ✓
- A different German biologist named Hans.
- An early scientist who discovered DNA.
Answer: Walter Sutton, who worked with grasshoppers.
From page 7
How did the Boveri-Sutton theory help doctors and scientists?
Choices
- It showed that all developmental disorders cannot be helped.
- It connected abnormal chromosome numbers to developmental problems. ✓
- It proved that Down syndrome was not caused by chromosomes.
- It made genetic counseling unnecessary for families.
Answer: It connected abnormal chromosome numbers to developmental problems.
From page 8
What is one big lasting impact of Theodor Boveri's work?
Choices
- He proved that DNA was not important for how traits are passed down.
- He showed that chromosomes carry heredity and connected cell study with genetics. ✓
- His work is now considered old and not very useful in science.
- He only studied sea urchins, so his work doesn't help us understand humans.
Answer: He showed that chromosomes carry heredity and connected cell study with genetics.
From page 10