Ch. 10 - How cells divide Flashcards
What is an example of a prokaryotic organism?
Bacteria
What process do prokaryotic organisms use to divide?
Binary fission.
What is binary fission?
A process where a cell divides into approximately equal halves.
What is a genome?
All of the genetic information (all the DNA)
How is the genome of bacteria stored?
In a circular strand
What is done before binary fission occurs?
The DNA is replicated.
What initiates the DNA replication?
When does it proceed?
A group of proteins.
Once the entire strand has been copied.
How large does the bacterial cell grow before splitting in half?
Twice its normal size.
Who first observed chromosomes, and when?
How was it discovered?
Walther Fleming in 1882.
By examining cell division of salamander larvae.
What are chromosomes composed of?
Chromatin.
What is chromatin composed of?
40% DNA and 60% protein.
How is the DNA found in each chromosome?
In one long unbroken strand.
How many nucleotides does a typical human chromosome contain?
140 million strands all strung together.
How many chromosomes are located in a cells nucleus?
46 chromosomes (23 pairs)
What are chromosome strands coiled around?
Histones.
What is the function of histones?
Proteins that package the DNA during cell division.
What is heterochromatin?
Highly condensed chromatin.
When is DNA packaged?
Only during cell division.
What is unpacked DNA called?
Euchromatin.
What constitutes the karyotype of chromosomes?
The difference in appearance (Length of the arms, the location of the centromere, the staining properties of the chromosome.)
How many pairs of chromosomes are there?
23 homologous pairs, and 1 pair of sex chromosomes.
What are homologous pairs of chromosomes?
Chromosomes that have the same genes on them (same karyotype), but the genes don’t have to code the same information.
What is an example of a trait that is coded by homologous pairs of chromosomes?
Eye color, hair type and color, height.
What are somatic cells?
Diploid (2n) which means they have two copies of the genome.
What cells are somatic?
All except sperm and eggs (46 chromosomes, 23 pairs).
What are gametes?
What type of cells are gametes?
Sperm and eggs.
Haploid (1n) (1 copy of the genome)