Genetic Inheritance

Question 1

Describe meiosis

Answer 1

Duplicated homologous chromosomes locate and attach side by side on metaphase plate then segregate at meiosis 1, sister chromatids segregate in meiosis 2

Question 2

What is a bivalent?

Answer 2

Association of two pairs of homologous chromosomes, very strong and stable so maintained for decades

Question 3

How is genetic diversity generated in meiosis 1?

Answer 3

Homologous recombination (crossing over)/ independent assortment (shuffled and random)

Question 4

What is the law of segregation?

Answer 4

Two alleles for a trait separate and unite at fertilisation

Homologous chromosomes pair and separate

Question 5

What is the law of independent assortment?

Answer 5

Alleles for different traits segregate independently

homologous chromosomes line up on metaphase plate independently

Question 6

What is crossing over?

Answer 6

If two genes are far enough away from each other on the same chromosome they will sort independently
inherited as a unit

Question 7

What is a genetic linkage map?

Answer 7

frequency of co-inheritance

crucial for isolating mutant genes for human diseases