B6 - Inheritance, variation and evolution Flashcards
What is a gene?
Genes are the instructions to make proteins.
They are small sections of DNA that code for specific sequences of amino acids which undergo polymerisation to form a protein.
What is DNA?
The molecule/chemical that makes up your genetic material.
What is a genome?
The entire genetic material of an organism.
What is a gamete?
A sex cell (sperm and ova/eggs)
What is a chromosome?
The structures that carry genes.
Each chromosome carries thousands of genes.
How many chromosomes are found in a normal body cell?
46 or 23 pairs.
How many chromosomes are found in a gamete?
23
What is the nucleus?
Organelle found in eukaryotic cells that controls the activities of the cells and contains genetic material.
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid.
Is DNA a polymer or monomer?
Polymer.
What is the DNA of a cell split into?
46 chromosomes.
How many different types of chromosomes do we have in each cell?
23 types - because we have 2 of each type, one from each parent.
What sex chromosomes do women have?
Two X chromosomes.
What sex chromosomes do men have?
One X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
What is a mutation?
A change to an organism’s DNA/genes.
When do mutations occur?
Randomly when a chromosome isn’t replicated correctly.
What increases the chance of a mutation?
Ionising radiation.
Substances called mutagens.
What are alleles?
Different versions of the same genes.
Caused by mutations. Affect things like eye colour.
In what circumstance will a gene mutation have little effect?
Characteristics, such as eye colour, are controlled by several genes, so a mutation in one of these genes will not lead to a big change.
What can be the drastic effects of mutations?
It can change the function of the protein it codes for or the protein won’t be made at all.
What is an insertion?
A new base is added into the DNA sequence when it shouldn’t be.
What is a deletion?
A random base is removed from the DNA sequence.
What is a substitution?
A random base is changed to a different base.
How many types of mutations are there?
3
What is the effect of an insertion or deletion on a triplet code?
Known as “frame shift mutation”. Has a knock on effect on more that one triplet code and therefore more than one amino acid.
How many bases code for one amino acid?
3 ( a base triplet)
What is the effect of substitution on a triplet code?
There is a different triplet code, meaning a different amino acid is used when it is “read” to make a protein.
Describe the 5 steps of mitosis.
- Genetic material duplicated.
- Chromosomes are pulled apart by fibers.
- Chromosomes are separated.
- Membrane forms around each set of chromosomes.
- Cytoplasm and membrane divide producing 2 daughter cells.
How does mitosis lead to cancer?
If one cell is damaged, it creates lots of cells that are damaged leading to tumours.
Do cells divide forever?
No, they will eventually die.
What is meiosis?
Form of cell division involved in the formation of gametes.
What stage must occur prior to meiosis?
Interphase - copies of genetic information made.
What happens during the first stage of meiosis?
Chromosome pairs line up along cell equator.
Pairs of chromosomes are separated and moved to opposite ends of the cell.
Chromosome number halved.
What happens during the second stage of meiosis?
Chromosomes line up along cell equator.
Chromatids are separated and moved to opposite ends of the cell.
4 unique haploid gametes are produced.
What is an immature sex cell/parent cell?
Has a full set of 46 chromosomes.
What happens during the first stage of meiosis that causes variation in the cells produced?
When the pairs line up the chromosomes pulled to the left and the chromosomes pulled to the right are completely random.
Allowing each cell to have a different combination of maternal and paternal chromosomes.
What is a haploid cell?
Contains half the genetic material of a normal cell.
What happens when 2 gametes combine?
They form a normal cell that can grow into a new organism.
What are the 2 types of reproduction?
Sexual and asexual.
Why is reproduction important?
It gives rise to more members of a species which is important for the survival of the species.
How many organisms are needed for sexual reproduction?
2
How many organisms are needed for asexual reproduction?
1
What cell division process is involved in making sexual reproduction?
Meiosis.
What cell division process is involved in making asexual reproduction?
Mitosis. Binary fission in bacterial cells.
Why type of reproduction produces organisms that are identical to each other and the parent(s)?
Asexual.
What organisms reproduce asexually?
Some plants, bacteria and an animal called Hydra.
What is an advantage of sexual reproduction?
Variation in genetics, meaning the chance of extinction is reduced.
What are some disadvantages of sexual reproduction?
Takes time.
Two parents are needed.
What are some advantages of asexual reproduction?
It’s fast.
Only one parent is needed.
What is a disadvantage of asexual reproduction?
No variation increases the chance of extinction as they are less likely to be able to adapt to conditions.
Give examples of organisms that use both methods of reproduction.
The parasite that causes malaria.
Fungi.
Some plants.
Why does the parasite that causes malaria reproduce both sexually and asexually?
Reproduces sexually in the mosquito but reproduces asexually in humans.
What is a zygote?
A fertilised egg cell.
What type of chromosomes does a normal body cell have?
22 pairs of autosomes.
1 pair of sex chromosomes.
What is an autosome?
Chromosomes that contain genes that don’t determine sex.
What type of chromosomes does a gamete have?
22 single autosomes.
1 sex chromosomes.
What is a genotype?
The alleles a person had inherited.
What is a phenotype?
The visible characteristics.
For how many weeks is our development determined purely by X chromosomes?
5-6 weeks.
What is the sex determining gene on the Y chromosome called?
SRY
What does the SRY cause?
Gonads to develop into testes. The testes produce a hormone called androgen which causes the embryo to develop into a male.
What is an allele?
Different version of the same gene.
What is the dominant allele?
Only 1 copy of the allele is needed to have a characteristic.
What is the recessive allele?
Two copies of the allele are needed to inherit a characteristic.
What is the male gamete in flowering plants?
Pollen.
What are 2 ways a person can reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes?
- Eat less carbohydrates
- Exercise more
How can a diagram showing the inheritance of a disease through a family show the disease to be recessive?
Parents without the disease have a child with the disease.
Give 2 examples of structural proteins in a living organism.
Keratin - makes nail, hair and horns in animals
Collagen - cartilage, tendons, teeth and skin.
Give 3 examples of chemical proteins in a living organism.
Enzymes
Hormones
Haemoglobin
What is the dominant allele?
Only 1 copy of the allele is needed to have a characteristic.
What is the recessive allele?
2 copies of the allele are needed to inherit a characteristic.
What is the age of onset for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) ?
Birth
What are the symptoms of CF?
Thick sticky mucus in lungs and digestive system.
Is there a cure for CF?
No
What is the effect on life expectancy for CF?
Shortened life expectancy.
How many faulty alleles are needed to inherit CF?
2
Is CF caused by the dominant or recessive gene?
Recessive
What is the age of onset for Polydactyly (Poly)?
Birth
What are the symptoms of poly?
Additional fingers or toes.
What is the cure for poly?
Extra fingers/toes removed by small surgical procedure or clamping.
What is the affect of poly on life expectancy?
No affect.