Genetics

Question 1

Gamete

Answer 1

a reproductive cell > sperm or ovum that can produce a new individual if it combines with a gamete from the other sex to make a zygote

Question 2

Zygote

Answer 2

the single cell formed from the union of two gametes (sperm and ovum)

Question 3

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer 3

the chemical composition of the molecules that contain the genes

Question 4

genes

Answer 4

The chemical instructions for cells to manufacture various proteins

Question 5

Chromosome

Answer 5

1 of the 46 molecules of DNA (in 23 pairs) that virtually each cell of the human body contains and that, together, contain all the genes

Question 6

Gene

Answer 6

a small section of a chromosome; the basic unit for the transmission of heredity

Consists of a long string of chemicals that provide instructions for the cell to manufacture certain proteins

Question 7

Allele

Answer 7

a variation that makes a gene different in some way from other genes for the same characteristics

Many genes never vary, others have several possible alleles

Question 8

Epigenetics

Answer 8

the study of how environmental factors affect genes and genetic expression

Enhancing, halting, shaping, or altering the expression of genes and resulting in a phenotype that may differ markedly from the genotype

Question 9

Genome

Answer 9

the full set of genes that are the instructions to make an individual member of a certain species

Question 10

Genotype

Answer 10

an organism’s entire genetic inheritance, or genetic potential

Question 11

Homozygous

Answer 11

two genes of one pair that are exactly the same in every letter of their code (most pairs are)

Question 12

Heterozygous

Answer 12

two genes of one pair that differ in some way

typically one allele has only a few base pairs that differ from the member of the pair

Question 13

23rd pair

Answer 13

the chromosome pair that determines sex

the other 22 pairs are autosomes

Question 14

XX

Answer 14

(female) X from mother and father

Question 15

XY

Answer 15

(male) X from mother and Y from father

Question 16

Stem Cells

Answer 16

cells from which any other specialized type of cell can form

Question 17

Monozygotic Twins

Answer 17

(identical) – from 1 zygote that splits apart very early in development

Question 18

Dizygotic Twins

Answer 18

(fraternal) – formed when two separate ova are fertilized by two separate sperm

Question 19

Assisted Reproduction Technology

Answer 19

the techniques designed to help infertile couples conceive and sustain pregnancies

Question 20

In Vitro Fertilization

Answer 20

fertilization that takes place outside a woman’s body (glass laboratory dish

Involves mixing sperm with ova that have been surgically removed from the woman’s uterus > if a zygote is produced. Inserted into woman’s uterus (where it may implant and develop into a baby

Question 21

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection

Answer 21

In Vitro Fertilization technique – single sperm cell is injected directly into an ovum