Simple inheritance in animals and plants

Question 1

Mitosis

Answer 1

Asexual cell division where two identical cells are formed

Question 2

Allele

Answer 2

A version of a particular gene

Question 3

Stem cell

Answer 3

An undifferentiated cell with the potential to form a wide variety of cell types

Question 4

Meiosis

Answer 4

The two-stage process of cell division which reduces the chromosome number of the daughter cells - involved in making the gametes for sexual reproduction

Question 5

Ova

Answer 5

The female sex cells (eggs)

Question 6

DNA fingerprint

Answer 6

Patterns produced by analysing the DNA, which can be used to identify an individual

Question 7

Sex chromosome

Answer 7

A chromosome which carries the information about the sex of an individual

Question 8

Dominant

Answer 8

The characteristic that will show up in the offspring even if only one of the alleles is inherited

Question 9

Recessive

Answer 9

The characteristic that will show up in the offspring only if both of the alleles are inherited

Question 10

Genetic disorder

Answer 10

A disease which is inherited

Question 11

Polydactyly

Answer 11

A genetic condition inherited through a dominant allele which results in extra fingers and toes

Question 12

Cystic fibrosis

Answer 12

A genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive and reproductive system - inherited through a recessive allele

Question 13

Carrier

Answer 13

An individual who is heterozygous for a faulty allele that causes a genetic disease in the homozygous to form

Question 14

Heterozygous

Answer 14

The two alleles are different (Dd)

Question 15

Phenotype

Answer 15

The physical appearance of a characteristic

Question 16

Genotype

Answer 16

The genetic make up - which alleles are inherited?

Question 17

Homozygous

Answer 17

Both alleles are the same (DD or dd)

Question 18

How are chromosomes arranged in body cells?

Answer 18

They are found in pairs

Question 19

Why do body cells divide by mitosis to produce more identical cells?

Answer 19

Growth, repair, replacement, and occasionally asexual reproduction

Question 20

What is cell differentiation, and how does it differ in animals and plants?

Answer 20

Differentiation is when certain genes switch on and off to give a cell certain characteristics. Animal cells differentiate early on in their development, but many plant cells can differentiate throughout their life

Question 21

What happens to the chromosomes when gametes are formed?

Answer 21

The genetic material is copied and the cell then divides twice to form four gametes, each with a single set of chromosomes

Question 22

How does sexual reproduction give rise to variation?

Answer 22

Genetic information from two parents is combined

Question 23

How can we use stem cells to cure people?

Answer 23

We could grown nerve cells or whole new organs for people who need them

Question 24

What did Mendel’s experiments teach us about inheritance?

Answer 24

They suggested separately inherited factors: what we now call genes

Question 25

What is DNA?

Answer 25

A protein made up of genes, which code for a specific protein. Large DNA molecules make up chromosomes

Question 26

Why was Mendel’s work unrecognised in his lifetime?

Answer 26

Scientists did not know about chromosomes and genes until after Mendel died

Question 27

How would you construct a Punnett square?