Genetics Flashcards
Eg of inherited characteristics
Eye colour
Length of eyelashes
Shape of shape
Blood group
What are inherited characteristics
Those that’s are passes from parent to child by genes during sexual reproduction
Eg of non inherited characteristics
Ability to speak languages
An interest in a sport
Writing
Riding a bike
Hat are non inherited characteristics
They are characteristics that are learned during life and can be influenced by the environment. They are not controlled by genes
What are chromosomes
Thread like structures made of DNA AND PROTEIN found in the nucleus of cells
What are genes
Short sections of DNA located on chromosomes
Hat is the function of genes
They control the production of inherited characteristics. One gene will instruct the cell to make the haemoglobin in the blood and another will form the colour of the eye
How many chromosomes in a normal body cell
46 (2 sets of 23)
How many chromosomes in a sex cell
23
Why do sex cells only have 23 cells
The special type of cell division that forms sperm and egg results in the number of chromosomes being halved so they only carry 23 chromosomes.
Why does the zygote have 46 cells and can split and still have 46
At fertilisation, the sperm and egg unite creating a single cell called a zygote. This means it has the normal number of 46 chromosomes, half from the mother and half from the father. A different type of cell division forms in the zygote which allows each new cell to have the same amount of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Why might some children have characteristic that resemble their parents
Because each person inherits half of their chromosomes (and genes) from their mother and half from their father
What is genetics
The study of how traits or characteristics are inherited
