ORIGINS OF GENETIC VARIABILITY Flashcards

1
Q

WHAT IS GENETIC VARIABILITY?

A

presence of genetic differences
-individuals differing in genotype / many alleles

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2
Q

WHAT DEC/INCREASES ALLELE FREQUENCIES?

A

natural evolution
-the fittest will survive

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3
Q

DEFINE EVOLUTION.

A

change of alleles in a population from one generation to an other

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4
Q

GIVE EXAMPLES OF SOURCES OF GENETIC VARIABILITY.

A

-segregation of alleles in meiosis and their combination in gametes
-diffuse centromeres
-mutations
-sexual reproduction / random mating
-recombination as a result of crossing over between homologous chromosomes in meiosis

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5
Q

WHAT IS CLOSELY LINKED TO GENETIC VARIABILITY?

A

the cell cycle

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6
Q

DEFINE THE CELL CYCLE.

A
  • continuously repeating process, during which a somatic cell grows, duplicates material and then divides.
  • 1 cycle= time between one mitotic division to the other
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7
Q

DISCUSS INTERPHASE.

A
  • G1 → growth
  • S → DNA synthesis
  • G2 → growth and preparation for mitosis
  • G0 → “break
    -microtubules extend from these centrosomes
    -chromosomes threadlike structure of chromatid
    -nucleolus and nuclear envelope distinct
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8
Q

DISCUSS MITOSIS.

A

-cell division (a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells)
-for growth and to repair broken down cells

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9
Q

DISCUSS PROPHASE AND PROMETAPHASE.

A

PROPHASE :
-condensation of chromosomes
-nuclear envelope breaks down
-formation of mitotic spindle

PROMETAPHASE:
-further condensation of chromosomes
-mitotic spindle attaches to kinetochores on chromosomes (found in centromeres)

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10
Q

DISCUSS METAPHASE.

A

-maximally condensed chromosomes
-chromosomes line up neatly end-to-end along the centre (equator) of the cell.
-centrioles are now at opposite poles of the cell with the mitotic spindle fibres extending from them
-checkpoint

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11
Q

DISCUSS ANAPHASE.

A

-sister chromatids are then pulled apart by the mitotic spindle which pulls one chromatid to one pole and the other chromatid to the opposite pole

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12
Q

DISCUSS TELOPHASE.

A

-at each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather together.
-membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new nuclei (nuclear envelope and nucleolus reform)
-single cell then pinches in the middle to form two separate daughter cells each containing a full set of chromosomes within a nucleus (cytokinesis)

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13
Q

WHAT ARE CHECKPOINTS?

A

check cell cycle for mistakes
-DNA damage in G1
-Incomplete replication in G2
-Bad attachment between the mitotic spindle and chromosomes during metaphase and anaphase

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14
Q

WHAT IS G0 OF INTERPHASE?

A

found outside the cell cycle and only highly differentiated non-dividing cells (e.g.
neurons) are found in his phase

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15
Q

WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF MAINTAINING A CORRECT CELL CYCLE?

A

phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of various proteins

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16
Q

WHAT IS CYCLIN DEPENDENT KINASE?

A

kinases which regulate the passage of cells through the cycle
-dependent on cyclins
-positive and negative regulation

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17
Q

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REGULATION OF THE CELL CYCLE?

A

POSITIVE: allows passage of cells
cyclin E binds to CDK2 → protein synthesis of necessary proteins → next phase

NEGATIVE: does not allow passage of cells
error occurs → checkpoint releases factor p53 → stops cell cycle, DNA reparation

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18
Q

WHICH 2 MOLECULES ARE INVOLVED IN CARRYING ON THE CELL CYCLE?

A

Rb (retinoblastoma)
- tumor suppressor protein (dysfunctional in some major cancers)
- prevent excessive cell growth → prohibits cell cycle progression with mistakes

E2F
-transcription factor
-Rb binds to E2F1 → blocks transcription

19
Q

WHAT ARE THE CENTROSOMAL PROTEINS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS?

A

A: GAMMA TUBULIN
-site of microtubule growth (mitotic spindle origin)

B: PROTEIN NuMA
-reorganizes and stabilizes mitotic spindle at -end

C: KINETOCHORE PROTEINS
- motor proteins: dynein, dynactin, kinesins
- regulatory proteins: kinases, phosphates, etc.
- Kinetochore proteins encoded by MAD and BUB genes ensure and monitor attachment of kinetochores to mitotic spindle

20
Q

WHAT ARE SPINDLE CHECKPOINTS?

A
  • control correct attachment of chromosomes and mitotic spindle
  • responsible for correct transition from metaphase to anaphase
21
Q

WHAT IS THE ANAPHASE PROMOTING COMPLEX?

A
  • sister chromatids are held together through cohesion proteins
  • cohesion proteins can be spliced by separase (enzyme)
  • separase is inhibited by securin
  • APC activates breakdown of securin → releases separase → breaks down cohesin

→ chromatids are divided

22
Q

WHAT IS MEIOSIS?

A

cell division of gametes results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell

23
Q

EXPLAIN PROPHASE OF MEIOSIS 1.

A

PROPHASE = homologous chromosomes must pair and exchange genetic information

Leptotene = two chromatids of each homolog (black, wavy lines) are associated with a chromosome core, beginning of condensation
Zygotene = chromosomal cores become parallel aligned and commence ‘zipping up’
by means of the interaction of transverse filaments with the core proteins, building of synaptonemal complex
-pairing of bivalents (pair of homologous chromosomes, held together by at least one DNA crossover)
Pachytene = - crossing-over and exchange of DNA between paired chromosomes (non-sister chromatids)
- checkpoint → meiosis only proceeds if synapsis and recombination are complete
Diplotene = separation of bivalents
-bivalents may hold together where DNA exchange is occurring → chiasmata
Diakinesis = homologous chromosomes are still connected by at least 1 chiasma, maximal chromosome condensation
-nucleolusdisappears, the nuclear envelopedisintegrates and the centrioles
move to the equator of the cell

24
Q

EXPLAIN THE MECHANISM OF MEOITIC RECOMBINATION.

A

homologous recombination (HR) includes the formation of double stranded DNA breaks
-exonuclease cleaves nucleotides of one strand at each broken end of a DSB leaving the single-stranded tail at the 3‘ end
-these sequences now hold the ability to exchange places and during DNA exchange an unstable state forms - Holliday junction
-DNA polymerase β fills the gaps in the first molecule (in which DSBs were formed) using the other DNA molecule as a template.
Resolution of an unstable molecule (cut by topoisomerase) may result in recombination (crossing-over)
-Numerous proteins are involved in each of these processes

25
Q

WHAT IS A BIVALENT?

A

the association of a pair of homologouschromosomesphysically held together by at least one DNA crossover.
-This physical attachment allows for the alignment and segregation of the homologouschromosomesin the first meiotic division

26
Q

EXPLAIN METAPHASE, ANAPHASE AND TELOPHASE OF MEIOSIS 1.

A

METAPHASE = chromosome pairs on equator, centromers don´t split
ANAPHASE = separation of homologs at opposite poles (randomly in terms of parental origin)
TELOPHASE = nuclear envelope reappears, spindle disappears, nuclei form, cytokinesis

27
Q

WHAT IS THE END PRODUCT OF MEIOSIS 1?

A

2 haploid cells

28
Q

WHAT IS THE END PRODUCT OF MEIOSIS 2?

A

4 haploid cells

29
Q

DISCUSS SPERMATOGENESIS.

A

-begins at puberty
-mitotically division → formation of spermatogonia
-spermatogonia grow → form primary spermatocytes
-primary spermatocytes (2n) → 2x secondary spermatocytes (n, two chromatids) → 4x spermatids (n, one chromatid) → sperm

30
Q

DISCUSS OOGENESIS.

A

-starts during embryonic development
-mitotic division → oogonia
-oogonia grows → primary oocyte (formed during 3. month of life)
-primary oocytes continue to meiosis 1 → stay in prophase until puberty = diakinaze stage
-puberty: meiosis 1 is completed → secondary oocyte + polar body
-division stops until fertilization

31
Q

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE GAMETOGENESIS?

A
32
Q

WHEN IS THE INCREASED RISK FACTOR OF NONDISJUNCTION?

A

M1 and ovulation
-increased risk in older women

33
Q

WHAT IS NONDISJUNCTION?

A

the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division
M1 = CHROMOSOMES
M2 = CHROMATIDS

34
Q

NAME AND EXPLPAIN 3 ERRORS IN MEOISIS.

A

NONDISJUNCTION: two chromosomes dont split → move into one cell together
-one gamete with 22 chromosomes (=nullisomic = abortion unless monosomy X - Turner syndrome 45, X0)
-one gamete with 24 chromosomes (=disomic = trisomy, most famous = trisomy 21 (Down-syndrome) )

UNEQUAL CROSSING OVER: part of DNA is missing or duplicated
-inversion of chromosome

ERROR IN CENTROMERE SPLITTING: results in Isochromosome
-EG: long arm of X-chromosome remains, short arm is lost

35
Q

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF MEIOSIS?

A

-reduction of diploid chromosomal number to haploid
- segregation of alleles in MI, MII (Mendel’s law)
- random assortment of homologs into gametes (according to parental origin)
- increased genetic variability through crossing over

36
Q

NAME AND EXPLAIN 3 ERRORS OF MITOSIS.

A

DISPERMY: fertilization of an ovum by two sperm → triploidy (69 chromosomes)

CHIMAERAS: fertilization of ovum and polar body (by sperm with different gonosome)

ENDOREDUPLICATION = failure of cytokinesis leads to tetraploidy

37
Q

NAME AND EXPLAIN 4 ERRORS OF MITOSIS.

A

DISPERMY: fertilization of an ovum by two sperm → triploidy (69 chromosomes)

NONDISJUNCTION: anaphase lag = monosomy/trisomy
- postzygotic - mosaic of 2 cell lines with different karyotype

CHIMAERAS: fertilization of ovum and polar body (by sperm with different gonosome)

ENDOREDUPLICATION = failure of cytokinesis leads to tetraploidy (92 chromosome)

38
Q

WHAT IS PARTHENOGENESIS?

A

spontaneous division of an unfertilized egg
-karyotype = 46,XX
-result is not-life compatible organism
-leads to origin of ovarial teratoma
-Partial mole = triploid product with additional set of paternal chromosomes
-due to : dispermy or duplication of sperm chromosomes in ovum with completely destroyed female nucleus

39
Q

WHAT IS GYNOGENESIS IN PARTHOGENESIS?

A

-ovarial teratoma (benign tumor) = division of ovum without fertilization
-duplication of chromosomes
-karyotype - 46,XX

40
Q

WHAT IS ANDROGENESIS IN PARTHENOGENESIS?

A

hydratiform mole = complete
-pathological pregnancy / hypertrophy of trophoblast / fetal tissues not present

41
Q

WHEN DOES FERTILIZATION TAKE PLACE IN MEIOSIS?

A

metaphase M II

42
Q

EXPLAIN GAMETOGENESIS.

A

the development and production of the male and female germ cells required for the formation of a new individual
-meiosis via gonads
1: migration of primordial germ cells to gonads during early fetal development
2: multiplication via mitosis - referred to as gametogonia when they reach the gonadal ridge in late embryonic stage
3: from gametogonia - spermatogenesis and oogenesis can take place

43
Q

WHAT DO ABNORMAL GAMETES PRODUCE WHEN THEY FERTILIZE WITH NORMAL GAMETES?

A

monosomy or trisomy