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Biology > Inheritance > Flashcards

Inheritance Flashcards

1
Q

Def. Inheritance

A

The transmission of genetic information from generation to generation

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2
Q

Def. Chromosome

A

Thread-like structures of DNA, carrying genetic information in the form of genes

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3
Q

Def. Gene

A

A short length of DNA found on a chromosome that codes for a specific protein

(e.g. structural protein, enzymes or hormones)

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4
Q

Def. Allele

A

Different versions of a particular gene which give organisms their characteristics.

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5
Q

Def. Variation

A

Differences between individuals within the same species generated by genetics or mutations

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6
Q

Def. Haploid

A

A nucleus containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes

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7
Q

Def. Diploid

A

A nucleus with two sets of each chromosome

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8
Q

How DNA is linked to inheritance?

A
  • DNA carries genetic information in the form of genes that can be passed on from parent to offspring.
  • It is carried in the chromosomes, which are transferred from parent to offspring by gametes.
  • These gametes fuse and create a new organism which inherits its genetic information from its parents.
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9
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribose nucleic acid

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10
Q

What is the role and appearance of DNA?

A

DNA strands are helical thread-like structures that carry genetic information in the form of genes. This genetic information is used to program the synthesis of proteins and is passed on through inheritance to allow for the creation of offspring.

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11
Q

What is the polymer of DNA?

A

Nucleotides

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12
Q

What are the four different types of nucleotides (bases)?

A

A, T, G, C

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13
Q

What does complementary mean?

In terms of nucleotides

A

Bases that always pair with another specific base on the opposite strand of DNA

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14
Q

Which nucleotide is complementary to A?

A

T

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15
Q

Which nucleotide is complementary to G?

A

C

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16
Q

What determines the shape and function of a protein?

A

The order of amino acids gives the protein a shape, and the shape dictates its function

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17
Q

How many different types of amino acids are there in humans?

A

20

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18
Q

What determines the sequence of amino acids?

A

The mRNA strand base order is used to synthesise a protein

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19
Q

How does a cell read a DNA sequence?

A

The DNA is transferred into messenger RNA which is small enough to pass through the nuclear pores and a ribosome reads the strands

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20
Q

What are the stages of protein synthesis and where do they take place?

A

Transcription takes place in the DNA molecule

Translation takes place in the ribosome

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21
Q

What occurs during transcription?

A

The base code of each gene in the DNA is transcribed onto an RNA molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA)

22
Q

What occurs in translation?

A
  • The ribosome ‘reads’ the code on the mRNA in groups of three as each triplet of bases codes for a specific amino acid.
  • The ribosome translates the sequence of bases into a sequence of amino acids that make up a protein.
  • Once the amino acid chain has been assembled, it is released from the ribosome so it can fold and form the final structure of the protein.
23
Q

What is brought by carrier proteins to the ribosomes and what are these proteins called?

A

Amino acids are brought to the ribosomes by transfer RNA (tRNA)

24
Q

Compare the products and location of mitosis and meiosis

A

Somatic cells made from other somatic cells throughout the body vs gametes produced in sexual organs

25
Q

Compare the number of divisions and cells formed during mitosis and meiosis

A

Mitosis - 1 division, 2 cells formed

Meiosis - 2 divisions, 4 cells formed

26
Q

Compare the genetic similarities in cells formed by mitosis and meiosis

Compare the similarities between cells formed by only mitosis, then only meiosis

A

Mitosis produces genetically identical cells

Meiosis produces genetically non-identical cells

27
Q

What are cells formed by mitosis used for?

A
  • Growth
  • Repair of damaged tissues
  • Replacement of cells
  • Asexual reproduction
28
Q

What are cells formed by meiosis used for?

A

Production of gametes

29
Q

Compare the number of chromosomes and type of cells produced by mitosis and meiosis

A

Mitosis - Diploid - 46
Meiosis - Haploid - 23

30
Q

Def. Phenotype

A

Observable characteristics of an organism that are expressed by a gene

31
Q

Def. Genotype

A

The combination of alleles that control each characteristic

32
Q

Def. Dominant Allele

A

Only needs to be inherited from one parent for the characteristic to show up in the phenotype

33
Q

Def. Recessive Allele

A

It needs to be inherited from both parents for the characteristic to show up in the phenotype.

This means they are only expressed in homozygous genes

34
Q

What are the male and female sets of chromosomes?

A

XX - Female

XY - Male

35
Q

Def. Stem Cell

A

Unspecialised cells that divide by mitosis to produce daughter cells that can become specialised for specific functions

36
Q

What occurs before mitosis?

A

The exact replication of chromosomes occurs before mitosis.

37
Q

What occurs during mitosis

A

The copies of chromosomes separate, maintaining the chromosome number in each daughter cell.

38
Q

How does DNA control cell function?

A

Explain that DNA controls cell function by controlling the production of proteins, including enzymes, membrane carriers and receptors for neurotransmitters.

39
Q

How is a protein made?

A
  • The gene coding for the protein remains in the nucleus
  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a copy of a gene
  • mRNA molecules are made in the nucleus and move to the cytoplasm
  • The mRNA passes through ribosomes
  • The ribosome assembles amino acids into protein molecules
  • The specific sequence of amino acids is determined by the sequence of bases in the mRNA
40
Q

Describe the distribution of genes and their expression throughout cells in the body

A

Most body cells in an organism contain the same genes, but many genes in a particular cell are not expressed because the cell only makes the specific proteins it needs.

41
Q

Def. Meiosis

A

A reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid resulting in genetically different cells (details of the stages of meiosis are not required).

42
Q

Def. Mitosis

A

Nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells (details of the stages of mitosis are not required).

43
Q

Def. Genetic variation

A

Differences between individuals that are inherited from parents, such as the colour of your eyes, hair and skin.

44
Q

Def. Environmental variation

A

Differences between individuals that are not inherited but caused by the environment that the organism lives in, including scars and tattoos

45
Q

Def. Codominance

A

A situation where both alleles in heterozygous organisms contribute to the phenotype.

e.g. AB blood type

46
Q

Explain the inheritance of ABO blood groups

A

The phenotypes are A, B, AB and O blood groups

The alleles are IA, IB and IO.

IA, IA = A

IA, IO = A

IB, IB = B

IB, IO = B

IA, IB = AB

IO, IO = O

Alleles IA and IB are dominant (and codominant if together), while IO is recessive

47
Q

Def. Sex-Linked characteristic

A

A feature in which the gene responsible is located on a sex chromosome and that this makes the characteristic more common in one sex than in the other.

e.g. Red-green colour blindness

48
Q

What is red-green colour blindness an example of?

A

Sex-linkage

49
Q

Def. Hydrophyte

A

Plants that only grow in or on water

50
Q

Def. Xerophyte

A

Plants that need very little water

51
Q

What are the typical adaptations of hydrophytes?

A
  • Large, thin leaves with most stomata on the upper surface rather than the lower surface
  • Little or no waxy cuticles on their leaves because water loss is not a problem
  • Long leaf stalks with large air spaces to help them float
  • A reduced root system because they do not need to be anchored in the ground
  • Aerial flowers to attract flying pollinators
  • Poorly developed xylem tissue that allows the transport of water but provides little support.
51
Q

What are the typical adaptations of xerophytes?

A
  • Thick waxy cuticle covering the upper epidermis of the leaves to reduce water loss
  • Few stomata, or stomata that are sunken into pits surrounded by hair to reduce water loss by transpiration
  • Curled, rolled or folded leaves, which reduce the surface area available for transpiration
  • Adaptations that help them to store water, including:
    • A thick succulent stem
    • Widely spread roots that are close to the surface, so the plant can absorb as much water as possible even when there is limited rainfall
    • Very deep roots to reach underground water sources.
    • Features that deter herbivores from consuming them for food and water e.g. leaves reduced to sharp spines/needles.

Biology (21 decks)

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