Question

why are worker bees sterile (not able to reproduce)?
○ a they are genetically different from queens
○ b they lose chromosomes during development
○ c they do not eat royal jelly, so gene expression changes
○ d they are exposed to too much sunlight

question 10
the fact that queen and worker bees are genetically identical shows that...
○ a environment can influence traits
○ b genetics alone determines traits
○ c only diet affects genes
○ d mutations create queen bees

Explanation:

First Question (Why are worker bees sterile?):

• Option a: Worker bees and queens are genetically similar (not different), so a is wrong.
• Option b: Worker bees don't lose chromosomes during development; their sterility is due to diet/ gene expression, so b is wrong.
• Option c: Worker bees don't eat royal jelly (queens do), which changes gene expression, leading to sterility. This matches the biological mechanism.
• Option d: Sunlight exposure isn't related to bee sterility, so d is wrong.

• Option a: Queen and worker bees are genetically identical but have different traits (queen reproduces, worker is sterile) because of environment (diet like royal jelly) influencing traits. This is correct.
• Option b: Since they are genetically identical but have different traits, genetics alone doesn't determine traits, so b is wrong.
• Option c: Diet affects gene expression, not genes themselves, so c is wrong.
• Option d: Queens and workers are genetically identical, so mutations aren't the cause of their differences, so d is wrong.

Answer:

c. They do not eat royal jelly, so gene expression changes

Question 10 (The fact that queen and worker bees are genetically identical shows that...):