Genetics & Heredity Flashcards
Define Meiosis
A cell division process that produces reproductive cells with half the number of chromosomes.
Define Allele
One of two or more alternate forms of a gene.
Define Gene
The basic unit of heredity. It is a series of nucleotides that encodes for a physical trait.
Define Chromosome
A DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism.
Define Homologous Chromosomes
Chromosomes that contain the same genes; each chromosome in the homologous pair may have different alleles.
Define Chromatid
One of two molecules of DNA joined together by a centromere.
What are Mendel’s three laws?
Law of dominance, law of segregation, law of independent assortment
Describe the law of dominance
Mendel’s law of dominance states that in heterozygous (hybrid) offspring, only the dominant trait will be expressed in the phenotype.
Describe the law of segregation
Mendel’s law of segregation states that one of the two gene copies present in an organism is distributed to each gamete, and the allocation of the gene copies is random.
Describe the law of independent assortment
Mendel’s law of independent assortment states that the alleles of two (or more) different genes get sorted into gametes independently of one another. The allele a gamete receives for one gene does not influence the allele received for another gene. The law always holds true for genes that are located on different chromosomes, but not for genes on the same chromosome.
What is the difference between a gene and an allele?
A gene is a portion of DNA (or RNA) that codes for a trait. An allele is a specific variation of a gene.
In what type of organs are the cells that enter meiosis I found?
Sex organs (ovaries and testicles)
What event must take place during interphase before a cell proceeds to division?
DNA replication
What are the key differences between mitosis and meiosis?
Mitosis produces two identical daughter cells, while meiosis produces four unique haploid daughter cells.
Mitosis involves one cell division, while meiosis involves two successive cell divisions.
Mitosis occurs in all organisms except viruses, while meiosis occurs only in sexually reproducing organisms.
Mitosis has no recombination/crossing over in prophase, while meiosis does.
What two structures make up a single replicated chromosome?
Sister chromatids
At which stage in meiosis I do the pairs of homologous chromosomes come together?
Late prophase I
Once the chromosomes have formed a pair, what are they called?
Tetrads
What is the difference between diploid and haploid cells?
Diploid (or 2n) have a full set of chromosomes, while haploid (or n) have half the number of chromosomes.
At which stage(s) of meiosis I are cells diploid?
Prophase, metaphase, anaphase
At which stage(s) of meiosis I are cells haploid?
Telophase after the cell has split.
Describe the relationship between the cells at the end of telophase I and the original cell
The new cells have two copies of half of the genetic information in the original cell.
Will the cells at the end of telophase I be genetically identical to each other?
No, because the homologous pairs separated and the alleles on each homologous pair are not necessarily identical.
During anaphase I, which structures separated?
Homologous chromosomes
During anaphase II, which structures separated?
Sister chromatids
Describe the cells produced at the end of meiosis II
Four daughter cells are produced. They are haploid and each contain one chromosome (sister chromatid) from each homologous pair. Each chromosome contains a complete set of genes.
Describe the relationship between the cells at the end of meiosis II and the original cell
The new cells have one copy of half of the genetic information in the original cell.
What is the name of the cells produced at the end of meiosis I in males?
Secondary spermatocyte
What is the name of the cells produced at the end of meiosis I in females?
Secondary oocyte
What is the name of the cells produced at the end of meiosis II in males, and what do these cells eventually become?
Spermatids, mature sperm
During fertilization, which two cells come together?
Mature sperm and secondary oocyte
During meiosis II, the secondary oocyte divides unevenly. Describe how.
One cell, the ovum, receives half of the chromosomes and nearly all of the cytoplasm and organelles. The other cell, the polar body, is much smaller and eventually degenerates.
Why does the second oocyte divide unevenly?
The ovum will receive more organelles, such as mitochondria for making energy, which will provide the zygote with all of its cytoplasm and organelles (sperm contains only scant cytoplasm, a few mitochondria, and haploid chromosomes). Nuclear division is necessary to produce the correct number of chromosomes in the oocyte.