AQA Bio A Level Unit 4 Flashcards
In Meiosis the parent cell can be described as “2n” or “diploid”, how can we describe the daughter cells?
“n” or “haploid”
Meiosis is required to produce which types of cells?
Gametes
How many nuclear divisions are there in Meiosis?
2: Meiosis I and Meiosis II
What is a gene?
A gene is a DNA base/nucleotide sequence that codes for a specific polypeptide/protein, influencing a trait or function in an organism.
What is a locus?
A locus is the specific location of a gene on a chromosome.
What is an allele?
An allele is an alternative form of a gene, found at the same locus on homologous chromosomes.
What is a genome?
The genome is the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
What is transcription?
Transcription is the process by which a segment of DNA is copied into mRNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase.
What is translation?
Translation is the process in which mRNA is decoded by ribosomes to synthesize a polypeptide chain, which folds into a functional protein.
What are homologous chromosomes?
Homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent, that contain the same genes at the same loci but may have different alleles.
What is meiosis?
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four genetically different haploid gametes.
How does crossing over during meiosis increase genetic variation?
Crossing over is the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, creating new allele combinations in gametes.
What is independent assortment?
Independent assortment is the random separation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis, contributing to genetic variation in gametes.
What is a gene pool?
A gene pool is the total collection of alleles in a population at any one time.
What is genetic diversity?
Genetic diversity refers to the variety of alleles within a population, which enables adaptation and evolution through natural selection.