Genetic & Environmental Foundations Flashcards
Directly observable characteristics of a person:
phenotypes
The complex blend of genetic information that determines our species and influences all our unique characteristics:
genotype
Rodlike structures which store and transmit genetic information:
chromosomes
How many chromosomes do humans have?
23 matching pairs
Chromosomes are made up of a chemical substance called?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
A segment of DNA along the lengths of the chromosome:
gene
A unique feature of DNA is that it can duplicate itself through a process called?
mitosis
Another word for sex cells? (ovum and sperm)
gametes
How many chromosomes does a gamete contain?
23
Gametes are formed through a cell division process called?
meiosis
When sperm and ovum unite at conception, the resulting cell is called a?
zygote
22 of the 23 pairs of chromosomes are matching pairs called?
autosomes
The twenty-third pair of a chromosome is the ?
sex chromosome
Most chromosomal abnormalities result from errors during?
meiosis
What is the most common chromosomal abnormality?
down syndrome