T6 reproduction Flashcards
what is sexual reproduction
involves the production of gametes by meiosis
a gamete from each parent fuses to form a zygote
genetic information from each gamete is mixed so the resulting zygote is unique
what are gametes
sex cells (sperm and egg cells in animals, pollen and egg cells in flowering plants)
haploid (half the number of chromosomes)
what is meiosis
form of cell division involved in the formation of gametes in reproductive organs
chromosome number is halved
involves 2 divisions
what must occur prior to meiosis
interphase - copies of genetic information are made during this process
what happens during the first stage of meiosis
chromosome pairs line up along the cell equator
pair of chromosomes are separated and move to opposite poles of the cell
chromosome number is halved
what happens during the second stage of meiosis
chromosomes line up along the cell equator
chromatids are separated and move to opposite poles of the cell
four unique haploid gametes are produced
why is meiosis important for sexual reproduction
increases genetic variation
ensures that the zygote formed at fertilisation is diploid
describe fertilisation and its resulting outcome
gametes join together to restore the normal number of chromosomes and the new cell then divides by mitosis
as the embryo develops, cells differentiate
advantage of sexual reproduction
creates genetic variation in offspring, increasing chances of species adapting and surviving environmental changes
natural selection can be speeded up by humans in selective breeding to increase food production
disadvantages of sexual reproduction
two parents required making reproduction difficult in endangered populations or in species which have solitary lifestyles
more time and energy is required so fewer offspring are produced
what is asexual reproduction
involves mitosis only
produces genetically identical offspring known as daughter cells
advantages of asexual reproduction
1 parent required
lots of offspring produced quickly, enabling rapid colonisation of an area and reducing competition from other species
requires less energy and time as don’t need mate
disadvantage of asexual reproduction
no genetic variation reducing the chances of a species being able to adapt to environmental change
describe the circumstances in which malarial parasites reproduce sexually and asexually
sexual in mosquito
asexual in human host
describe the circumstances in which fungi and plants reproduce sexually and asexually
a - spores, seeds
s - to give variation, runner or bulb division
what is DNA
double-stranded polymer of nucleotides would to form a double helix
genetic material of the cell found in its nucleus
define genome
entire genetic material of an organism
why is understanding the human genome important
important for development of medicine
searching for genes linked to disease
understanding and treating inherited disorders
tracing human migration patterns from the past
what is a chromosome
long, coiled molecule of DNA that carries genetic information in the form of genes
define gene
small section of DNA that codes for a specific sequence of amino acids which undergo polymerisation to form a protein
what are the monomers of DNA
nucleotides
what are DNA nucleotides made of
common sugar
phosphate group
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