B12 - Reproduction & Genetics

Question 1

The genetic material in the nucleus of a cell is composed of a chemical called…

Answer 1

DNA

Question 2

Describe the structure of DNA?

Answer 2

DNA is a polymer made up of two strands forming a double helix. DNA is contained in structures called chromosones

Question 3

What is a Gene?

Answer 3

A gene is a small section of DNA on a chromosone. Each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids,to make a specific protien (the order of ‘bases’ on the double helix are used as instructions to determine the sequence of amino acids in a protein)

Question 4

What is a genome?

Answer 4

The genome of an organism is the entire genetic material of thatorganism. The whole human genome has now been studied and this will have great importance for medicine in the future.

Question 5

Phenotype

Answer 5

The physical appearence/biochemistry of an individual for a particular characteristic

Question 6

Genotype

Answer 6

The genetic makeup of an individual for a particular characteristic, for example hair or eye colour..

Question 7

Allele

Answer 7

Different forms of the same gene sometimes referred to as varients

Question 8

Dominant

Answer 8

The phenotype will be apparent in the offspring even if only one of the alleles is inherited

Question 9

Recessive

Answer 9

Anphenotype that will only show up in the offspring if both of the alleles coding for that characteristic are inherited.

Question 10

Homozygous

Answer 10

Individual with two identicle alleles for a characteristic.

Question 11

Heterozygous

Answer 11

Individual with different alleles for characteristics