topic 3 and 10 Flashcards
define a gene
a heritable factor that consists of a length of DNA and influences a specific characteristics
where are genes located?
a gene occupies a specific position on one type of chromosome- this is called a locus
define an allele
alternative forms of the same gene
alleles have the same —— and only one allele can occupy the —–
locus; the locus of the gene on a chromosome
how do alleles differ from each other?
alleles differ from each other by one or a few bases only
how many chromosomes do humans have?
46 chromosomes; 23 pairs of chromosomes, where half come from the mother and half come from the father
how are new alleles formed?
new alleles are formed by gene mutation, or random changes to the base sequence of DNA
what is a genome?
the whole of the genetic information of an organism
what does the genome of humans consist of?
the 46 molecules that form the chromosomes in the nucleus plus the DNA molecule in the mitochondrion
what does the genome of plants consist of?
the DNA molecules of chromosomes in the nucleus plus the DNA molecules in the mitochondrion and the chloroplast
what does the genome of prokaryotes consist of?
the DNA in the circular chromosome, plus any plasmids that are present
what was done during the human genome project?
the entire base sequence of human genes was sequenced
what is the cause of sickle cell anaemia ?
- a mutation of the gene that codes for the beta-globin polypeptide in haemoglobin
- normal allele= Hb^A, 6th codon of gene is GAG
- sickle cell allele= Hb^s, 6th codon of gene is GTG
- mutation only inherited by offspring if it occurs in a cell of the very or testis that develops into egg or sperm
- when Hb^s allele is transcribed, the mRNA has GUG as its 6th codon instead of GAG, so when mRNA is translated the 6th AA in the polypeptide is valine instead of glutamic acid
- this causes haemoglobin molecules to stick together in tissues with low oxygen concentrations
- bundles of haemoglobin are rigid so distort the RBCs into a sickle shape
give the consequences of sickle cell anaemia
- sickle cells become trapped in blood capillaries, blocking them and reducing blood flow
- both haemoglobin and plasma membrane damaged and life of a RBC shortened to as little as 4 days
- RBCs not replaced at a fast enough rate= anaemia develops
describe prokaryotic genetic material
prokaryotes have one chromosome consisting of a circular DNA molecule, which is naked as it is not associated with proteins. There is a single copy of each gene
what types of organisms contain plasmids?
some prokaryotes but NOT eukaryotes
what are plasmids?
small extra DNA molecules that are commonly found in prokaryotes- they are usually small, circular and naked, containing few genes that may be useful to the cell but not those needed for its basic life processes
give an example of a gene that may be in a plasmid
genes for antibiotic resistance
what is the problem with plasmids?
they are not always replicated at the same time as the chromosomes of a prokaryotic cell or at the same rate.
- may not be passed on to both cells formed by cell division
- may be multiple copies of a plasmid in a cell
what is different about plasmids?
copies of plasmids can be transferred from one cell to another, allowing spread through a population. they can also cross the species barrier.
how did John Cairns measure the length of DNA?
by autoradiography
describe eukaryotic genetic material
eukaryotic chromosomes are linear DNA molecules associated with histone proteins
different chromosomes carry different genes
how many types of chromosome are there in humans?
23
what are homologous chromosomes?
chromosomes that carry the same sequence of genes but not necessarily the same alleles of those genes
compare the genome sizes of T2 Phage, E.Coli, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens and Paris Japonica
T2 Phage- virus- 0.18 m base pairs
E.coli- gut bacterium- 5 m bp
Drosophila melanogaster- fruit fly- 140 m bp
Homo sapiens- human- 3,000 m bp
Paris Japonica- woodland plant- 150,000 m bp
describe haploid nuclei and give an example
have one chromosome of each pair (eg 23 in humans) human sex cells or gametes
describe diploid nuclei
have pairs of homologous chromosomes
- have two copies of each gene, apart from genes on sex chromosomes
give an advantage of having diploid nuclei
the effects of harmful recessive mutations can be avoided if a dominant allele is also present
explain the importance of chromosome numbers
the number of chromosomes is a characteristic feature of members of a species
compare the diploid chromosome numbers of Homo sapiens, pan troglodytes, Canis familiaris, oryza sativa, parascaris equorum
parascaris equorum- horse threadworm- 4
oryza sativa- rice- 24
Homo sapiens- 46
pan troglodytes- chimpanzee- 48
canis familiaris-dog- 78
what is sex determined by?
sex chromosomes
what are autosomes?
chromosomes that do not determine sex
describe the 2 chromosomes that determine sex in humans
- the X chromosome is relatively large and has its centromere near the middle
- the Y chromosome is much smaller and has its centromere near the end
why must all humans have the X chromosome?
it has many genes that are essential in both males and females
what chromosome gene causes a foetus to develop as a male?
SRY or TDF- initiates the development of male features, including testes and testosterone production
when is the sex of a human determined and why?
at fertilisation. this is because when sperm are formed, half contain the X chromosome and half the Y chromosome.
what is a karyogram?
a karyogram shows the chromosomes of an organism in homologous pairs of decreasing length
when can we get the clearest view of chromosomes?
during metaphase, in cells that are in mitosis
how do we obtain a karyogram?
- dividing cells stained and placed on microscope slide
- burst
- chromosomes become spread
- micrograph taken
describe meiosis
when one diploid nucleus divides to produce 4 haploid nuclei
what are the 2 divisions in meiosis known as
meiosis I and meiosis II
define a diploid nucleus
has two chromosomes of each type
chromosomes of the same type are known as….
homologous chromosomes
define a haploid nucleus
has one chromosome of each type
meiosis is also known as…because…
a reduction division because it involves a halving of the chromosome number
the halving of the chromosome number allows
a sexual life cycle with fusion of gametes
what does sexual reproduction involve in eukaryotic organisms?
fertilisation (the fusion of gametes)
when in the sexual life cycle does meiosis occur?
any stage, but in animals it happens during the process of creating gametes
main events in meiosis
x2:
- prophase
- metaphase
- anaphase
- telophase
prophase I
-Chromosomes condense
- nuclear membrane dissolves
- homologous chromosomes form bivalents (synapsis)
- crossing over occurs
metaphase I
Spindle fibres from opposing centrioles connect to bivalents (at centromeres) and align them along the middle of the cell
orientation of paternal and maternal chromosomes on either side of the equator is…
random and independent of other homologous pairs
anaphase I
- homologous pairs separated by spindle fibres
- one chromosome of each pair moves to each pole
telophase I
- chromosomes decondense
- nuclear membrane may reform
- cell divides (cytokinesis) to form two haploid daughter cells.
prophase II
- Chromosomes condense
- nuclear membrane dissolves
- centrioles move to opposite poles
metaphase II
Spindle fibres from opposing centrioles attach to chromosomes (at centromere) and align them along the cell equator
anaphase II
centromeres separate and chromatids are moved to opposite poles
telophase II
- chromatids reach opposite poles
- nuclear envelope forms
- cytokinesis occurs
what is meiosis preceded by?
interphase- DNA is replicated to produce chromosomes consisting of two sister chromatids
diploid human cell
46 chromosomes in 23 pairs
n
=23=haploid no of chromosomes
what three things promote genetic variation in meiosis?
- random orientation
- crossing over
- fusion of gametes from different parents
random orientation
in metaphase I, the orientation of bivalents is random and the orientation of one bivalent does not influence the orientation of the others.
- this generates genetic variation among genes that are on different chromosome types
for every additional bivalent, the no of possible chromosome combinations in a cell produced by meiosis…
doubles