Name__________________________________________________Date________________

Thanksgiving Science Trivia

1. What is the genus and species of the turkey?                                      

2. What is a snood?

3. How many pounds of turkey did the average American consume in the year 2018?

4. Why are cranberries described as epigynous?

5. Firearms hunting season for white tailed deer often begins close to

Thanksgiving. In which five U.S. states are white tailed deer not naturally found?

6. Approximately how many feathers does a mature turkey have?

7. By popular legend, how did male turkeys become known as “toms”?

8. Sweet potatoes are quite nutritious and provide the greatest percentage

recommended daily allowance of which vitamin?

9. According to a recent study, professional football players often suffer from

dementia due to repeated concussions. How much greater is a pro football

player’s risk of dementia than that of an average person?

10. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in turkey. Which codon

specifies tryptophan?

11. Turkey meat may be categorized as dark meat or white meat. Which type is

made of slow twitch muscle fibers?

12. What pigments in leaves are responsible for the yellow, red, and orange

colors seen in autumn before deciduous trees drop their leaves?

13. Tryptophan in turkey has been blamed for making people feel sleepy after a

meal. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is a precursor for which

neurotransmitter that might be associated with sleepiness?

14. The correct term for the wishbone is the __________? It forms by the fusion

of which other bones?

15. Native Americans taught the Pilgrims to plant corn. Corn hundreds of years

ago was probably more similar in appearance and taste to what is now fed to

animals. A mutation in a corn gene is thought to have replaced starchiness with

sugar. Name the gene that is responsible for this.

16. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the largest ever baked pumpkin pie weighed how many pounds?

17. What health benefits do cranberries offer?

18. The Thanksgiving occasion is officially held on the last Thursday of November in the US, due to the Thanksgiving Proclamation. Which American president issued this order?

19. There are 4 towns named Turkey in the US.  Which states are they located in?

20. New archaeological evidence shows that humans were making flour (for rolls) from plants like cattails as long ago as ___________________years ago!