6. Meiosis Flashcards
What is Genetics?
Genetics is the scientific study of heredity and variation
What is Heredity?
Heredity = transmission of traits (characteristics) from one generation to the next
What is Variation?
Variation = differences in appearance that offspring show from their parents and siblings
What are Genes?
Genes are segments of DNA that contain instructions for building and functioning of living organisms.
What are Gametes?
- Reproductive Cells
- Sperm and Egg Cells
What are Alleles?
Alleles
- different versions of specific genes
What is a LOCUS?
specific location on a chromosome holding a gene
What is FERTILIZATION?
Fertilization is the union of
gametes (sperm cell and egg cell)
DIPLOID ZYGOTE
The fertilized egg is called a diploid zygote
- has one set of chromosomes from each parent
(so a total of two sets of chromosomes)
What are Somatic Cells?
all other cells in body excluding egg and sperm cells
What produces eggs and sperm?
At sexual maturity, the ovaries produce egg cells while testes produce sperm cells
Chromosomes in Somatic vs Gametic Cells?
Gametic Cells (sperm and egg)
- haploid
- one set of chromosomes
- 23 chromosomes
Somatic Cells are
- diploid
- two sets of chromosomes
- 46 chromosomes
How are Gametes produced?
Gametes are the only types of human cells produced by meiosis, rather than mitosis
What are Homologous Chromosomes?
(4)
The two chromosomes in each pair are called
homologous chromosomes,
one chromosome is from the mother and one is from the father
can exist as unreplicated or replicated
- Homologous chromosomes are the same size (i.e. length), and they have genes which are arranged in the same order
What are CONDENSINS?
*Condensins are protein rings along the length of chromosomes for the purpose of compacting chromosomes just before cell division
What is a Karyotype?
A karyotype is an ordered display of chromosomes of an individual cell
What is Colchicine Drug?
After growing cells, a drug called colchicine is added before the karyotype processing
– Colchicine arrests the cell at metaphase during cell division
– At metaphase, the chromosomes are most condensed
Male vs Female Sex Chromosomes?
The sex chromosomes are called X and Y
o Human females have a homologous pair of X chromosomes (XX)
o Human males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY)
What are Autosomes?
The 22 pairs of chromosomes that do not determine sex are called autosomes
What is a Diploid Cell?
A diploid cell (2n) has two sets of chromosomes
What is Down Syndrome?
- Down syndrome due to three copies of chromosome 21
– Most common chromosome abnormality in humans
– Typically associated with a delay in cognitive ability and physical growth
What is Klinefelter syndrome?
Klinefelter syndrome, an XXY male
– Individual has male sex organs, but are sterile
– May display feminine characteristics
– Intelligence is normal
What is Turner syndrome?
Turner syndrome, an XO female
– Do not mature sexually during puberty (sterile)
– Short stature and normal intelligence
Result of Meiosis?
The two cell divisions result in four daughter cells, rather than the two daughter cells in mitosis
* Each daughter cell has only half as many chromosomes as the parent cell
What is Reductional Division?
Meiosis I starts with diploid parent cell and results in two haploid daughter cells with replicated chromosomes; it is called reductional division
What is Equational Divison?
Meiosis II results in four haploid daughter cells with unreplicated chromosomes; it is called equational division
What is a Centrosome?
Centrosome
– Organelle that serves as a microtubule organizing center
– Replication leads to two centrosomes that migrate to opposite ends of the cell, as spindle microtubules grow out of them
What is an Aster?
Aster
– A radial array of short microtubules that extends from each centrosome, connecting to proteins on the inner surface of cell membrane