Mitosis & Meiosis

Question 1

Chromosome

Answer 1

Chromosomes are thread-like molecules that carry genetic information for everything. They are made of protein and one molecule of DNA, which contains an organism’s genetic instructions, passed down from parents. Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 from each parent).

Question 2

Sex Chromosome

Answer 2

X and Y, determine a person’s biological sex: XX specifies female and XY specifies male. X and Y chromosomes are different and carry different genes.

Question 3

Interphase

Answer 3

The resting phase between successive mitotic divisions of a cell, or between the first and second divisions of meiosis.

Question 4

Homologous Chromosones

Answer 4

They are chromosome pairs that are similar in length, gene position, and confronted location. They contain DNA and genetic instructions for the direction of all cell activity. They also carry genes that determine individual traits.

Question 5

Telophase

Answer 5

The final stage in cell division. During telophase, the nuclear envelopes reform around the new nuclei in each half of the dividing cell. Telophase is ended by a process known as cytokinesis, which cleaves the cell into two new cells.

Question 6

Meiosis

Answer 6

Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells – sperm in males, eggs in females.

Question 7

Gamete

Answer 7

The two most common gametes are sperm and ova. These two haploid cells can undergo internal or external fertilization and can differ from each other in size, form, and function. Some species produce both sperm and ova within the same organism. They are called hermaphrodites. However, the majority of sexually reproducing organisms have distinct sexes with each producing a single type of gamete.

Question 8

Cancer

Answer 8

A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread.

Question 9

Prosphase

Answer 9

the first stage of cell division, before metaphase, during which the chromosomes become visible as paired chromatids and the nuclear envelope disappears. The first prophase of meiosis includes the reduction division.

Question 10

Mutation

Answer 10

When a DNA gene is damaged or changed in such a way that it alters the genetic message carried by that gene.

Question 11

Anaphase

Answer 11

The stage in mitosis or meiosis following metaphase in which the daughter chromosomes move away from each other to opposite ends of the cell.

Question 12

Zygote

Answer 12

The cell formed when two gametes fuse during fertilization. The DNA material from the two cells is combined in the resulting zygote. The cellular mechanisms present in the gametes also function in the zygote, but the newly fused DNA produces a different effect in the new cell. In single-celled organisms, the zygote becomes a fully functioning organism, and can divide through mitosis to produce offspring.

Question 13

Somatic cell

Answer 13

Somatic cells are any cell in the body that are not gametes (sperm or egg), germ cells (cells that go on to become gametes), or stem cells. Essentially, all cells that make up an organism’s body and are not used to directly form a new organism during reproduction are somatic cells. .

Question 14

Homologous Chromosones

Answer 14

They are chromosome pairs that are similar in length, gene position, and confronted location. They contain DNA and genetic instructions for the direction of all cell activity.

Question 15

Mitosis

Answer 15

a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth

Question 16

Cell Cycle

Answer 16

the cycle of growth and asexual reproduction of a cell, consisting of interphase followed in actively dividing cells by prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase

Question 17

Metaphase

Answer 17

the second stage of cell division, between prophase and anaphase, during which the chromosomes become attached to the spindle fibers

Question 18

Diploid

Answer 18

(of a cell or nucleus) containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Question 19

Crossing Over

Answer 19

Crossing over is the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes during meiosis, which results in new allelic combinations in the daughter cells

Question 20

Haploid

Answer 20

Haploid is the quality of a cell or organism having a single set of chromosomes. Organisms that reproduce asexually are haploid. Sexually reproducing organisms are diploid (having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent). In humans, only their egg and sperm cells are haploid.