Simple inheritance in animals and plants Flashcards
(27 cards)
Mitosis
Asexual cell division where two identical cells are formed
Allele
A version of a particular gene
Stem cell
An undifferentiated cell with the potential to form a wide variety of cell types
Meiosis
The two-stage process of cell division which reduces the chromosome number of the daughter cells - involved in making the gametes for sexual reproduction
Ova
The female sex cells (eggs)
DNA fingerprint
Patterns produced by analysing the DNA, which can be used to identify an individual
Sex chromosome
A chromosome which carries the information about the sex of an individual
Dominant
The characteristic that will show up in the offspring even if only one of the alleles is inherited
Recessive
The characteristic that will show up in the offspring only if both of the alleles are inherited
Genetic disorder
A disease which is inherited
Polydactyly
A genetic condition inherited through a dominant allele which results in extra fingers and toes
Cystic fibrosis
A genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive and reproductive system - inherited through a recessive allele
Carrier
An individual who is heterozygous for a faulty allele that causes a genetic disease in the homozygous to form
Heterozygous
The two alleles are different (Dd)
Phenotype
The physical appearance of a characteristic
Genotype
The genetic make up - which alleles are inherited?
Homozygous
Both alleles are the same (DD or dd)
How are chromosomes arranged in body cells?
They are found in pairs
Why do body cells divide by mitosis to produce more identical cells?
Growth, repair, replacement, and occasionally asexual reproduction
What is cell differentiation, and how does it differ in animals and plants?
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
What happens to the chromosomes when gametes are formed?
The genetic material is copied and the cell then divides twice to form four gametes, each with a single set of chromosomes
How does sexual reproduction give rise to variation?
Genetic information from two parents is combined
How can we use stem cells to cure people?
We could grown nerve cells or whole new organs for people who need them
What did Mendel’s experiments teach us about inheritance?
They suggested separately inherited factors: what we now call genes
