Inheritance, variation and evolution Flashcards
Asexual reproduction
Reproduction in which a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent
No mixing of gametes
Mitosis
e.g. strawberries, malaria
sexual reproduction
A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents
Uses gametes (sperm, egg or pollen)
Meiosis
Stages of mitosis
Interphase—DNA is copied, cell doubles in size
prophase—Nuclear membrane disappears (beginning of mitosis)
metaphase—chromosomes line up in the centre of the cell
anaphase—each chromosome spits into 2 chromatids, which split and are pulled to the edge of the cell
telophase—nuclear membrane reforms (end of mitosis)
cytokinesis—cytoplasm divides, leaving 2 full identical cells
Stages of meiosis
Interphase, Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, teleophase I, cytokinesis, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II, cytokinesis
Haploid cells contain
23 chromosomes
Sex cells need half, so when 2 haploid cells combine, they produce a diploid number
Diploid cells contain
23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes)
Advantages of sexual reproduction
- Creates a lot of genetic variation among offspring, so evolution happens faster (a bit of a double-edged sword)
- Allows selective breeding
Advantages of asexual reproduction
- 1 parent needed
- Faster
- More energy efficient (don’t have to look for a mate)
- Identical offspring (a bit of a double-edged sword)
Genome is
all of an organism’s genetic material
Gene
A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait
Phenotype
the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Allele
An alternative form of a gene.
What is in one nucleotide (1 monomer of the DNA polymer)
What is the structure of DNA
- a sugar (not glucose)
- a phosphate
- One of 4 bases, Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine (ACGT)
- 2 nucleotides are linked together to form the double helix
- C links to G and A to T
What is a codon
a sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule.
How does protein synthesis occur?
Transcription—DNA code is copied to make mRNA Translation—tRNA brings amino acids to the ribosomes to make an amino acid sequence
The amino acid sequence folds into a protein
What are mutation
Changes to the DNA may result in changes to the protein produced which may cause that protein to not function or not function as well which can affect the organism, especially if lots of cells then copy this change through mitosis
Do all parts of DNA code for proteins?
No, Non-coding parts of DNA can switch genes on and off, so variations in these areas of DNA may affect how genes are expressed
How should we care about Gregor Mendel
He did experiments with pea plants
He discovered a genetic unit (now called a gene) that was passed down from parents to children
He disproved the idea that sexual reproduction blended characteristics (e.g. breeding a red and white flower makes a pink one)
Work was not recognised because he was a monk not a scientist so did not publish his work
Genotype
The combination of alleles present in a gene (e.g. having the dominant brown-eyed gene from your mum and recessive blue-eyed gene from your dad)