meiosis

Question 1

describe the process of meiosis

Answer 1

homoloigous chromosomes pair up and their chromatids wrap around each other - crossing over can happen at this lstage
- they will then separate
with one chromosome from each pair going into one of the two daughter cells
- in the meiotic division the chromatids move apart
- four daughter cells will form each containing 23 chromosomes

Question 2

what happens during crossing over -

Answer 2

• the chromatids of each pair become twisted around each other
• during the twisting process portions of the chromatids break off
• these broken portions might then rejoin with the chromatids of its homologous partner
• the equivalent portions of homologous chromosomes are exchanged

Question 3

what is independent segregation

Answer 3

where homologous chromosomes line up in the centre of the cell to to give random combinations of chromosomes —- increases genetic diversity
allocation of chromosome sis random

Question 4

define gene

Answer 4

a length of DNA that codes for a polypeptide

Question 5

define a locus

Answer 5

the position of a gene on a chromosome

Question 6

define allele

Answer 6

different versions of a gene

Question 7

define homologous chromosomes

Answer 7

a pair of chromosomes, one maternal and one paternal