Biology study guide

Question 1

Describe the difference between somatic cells and gametes.

Answer 1

Somatic cells make up our body and are diploid. Gametes are sex cells used for reproduction that are haploid.

Question 2

Differentiate between autosomes and sex chromosomes.

Answer 2

Autosome chromosomes make you up (first 22 pairs of chromosomes). Sex chromosomes carry traits for who you are and contain biological sex (23rd pair of chromosomes).

Question 3

Explain why cells going through meiosis must divide twice.

Answer 3

Meiosis needs 4 cells at the end of it that all have half the normal number of chromosomes which means, only one set. Dividing only once results in only 2 daughter cells.

Question 4

Differentiate between the purpose and results of meiosis I and meiosis II.

Answer 4

Meiosis 1’s purpose is to separate homologous chromosomes, for Meiosis 2 to separate those sister chromatids.

Question 5

Explain the significance of crossing over.

Answer 5

The process of crossing over allows new combinations of genes that have different parts from both parents.

Question 6

Sketch a picture of a cell going through each phase in meiosis. Next to each picture, briefly highlight any key events during the stage

Question 7

Summarize the key differences in purpose and results of meiosis and mitosis.

Answer 7

The purpose of mitosis is for growth and repair. The end product of mitosis is 1 cell becoming 2 identical diploid somatic daughter cells. The purpose of meiosis is to create sex cells to reproduce. Meiosis results in four unique haploid daughter sex cells.

Question 8

Explain the difference between a mistake made during meiosis and a mistake made during mitosis.

Answer 8

A mistake in Mitosis can show itself in the body of where the mistake was. A mistake in Meiosis can appear in an offspring.

Question 9

Diploid

Answer 9

2 full sets of chromosomes

Question 10

Haploid

Answer 10

1 full set of chromosomes

Question 11

Karyotype

Answer 11

A diagram showing the number and picture of the chromosomes in a cell

Question 12

Meiosis

Answer 12

The process of creating gametes

Question 13

Sexual reproduction

Answer 13

Fusing genetic information from two parents to create offspring

Question 14

Fertilization

Answer 14

The fusion of egg and sperm to form zygotes

Question 15

Homologous chromosomes

Answer 15

Chromosome pairs that have the same type of gene

Question 16

Sister chromatids

Answer 16

Two identical copies of the same chromosome