Unit One: Genetics

Question 1

What are the three stages in the cell cycle?

Answer 1

Interphase, Mitosis, and Cytokenesis

Question 2

Describe the appearance of a cell’s genetic material during prophase

Question 3

Describe the appearance of a cell’s genetic material during metaphase

Question 4

Describe the appearance of a cell’s genetic material during anaphase

Question 5

Describe the appearance of a cell’s genetic material telophase

Question 6

The length of the cell cycle varies between cell types. Predict which of the three phases of the cell cycle varies, and provide an explanation for your answer

Question 7

Do you expect the rate of cell division to be higher in an adult or a child? Explain

Question 8

Describe the four phases of mitosis. Include a key distinguishing feature to identify each stage.

Question 9

Describe the relationships among the following structures: nucleotide, DNA, gene, allele, chromatin, and chromosome

Question 10

Why is the word homologous used to describe chromosome pairs, rather than the word identical?

Question 11

Describe a pair of homologous chromosomes as they would appear during metaphase of mitosis. Including the following: sister chromatids, centromere, gene, and allele

Question 12

Why are the X and Y chromosomes commonly referred to as the sex chromosomes?

Question 13

List the 4 nucleotide bases and describe which bases will pair with each other

Question 14

Differentiate between a gene and an allele

Question 15

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. How many of these pairs are autosomes?

Question 16

Describe the difference between a zygote and a gamete

Question 17

The diploid number of chromosomes for dogs is 78. How many chromosomes are in the gamete cell of a dog? Explain your answer.

Question 18

Explain how the end product of meiosis differs from that of mitosis

Question 19

If the number of chromosomes were not reduced during meiosis, how many chromosomes would a human gamete have? How many chromosomes would result after fertilization?

Question 20

The somatic cells of a horse have 64 chromosomes.
What is the diploid number for a horse?
What is the haploid number for a horse?
How many chromosomes are present in a normal gamete?
How many chromosomes are present in a cell at prophase I?

Question 21

What process produces diploid cells from haploid cells?

Question 22

How many genetically different gametes can be produced from a diploid cell with seven chromosome pairs? Explain your reasoning.

Question 23

Explain how the end result of meiosis is different from that of mitosis.

Question 24

Although you will inherit a combination of traits from your parents, you may notice that some traits seem to be inherited in combination (for example hair colour and eye colour). Why may some traits be inherited together?

Question 25

Name the four common errors during meiosis, and provide one specific example of a disorder caused by each.

Question 26

Explain what is meant by the term nondisjunction, and list two specific disorders that could be the result of this phenomenon.

Question 27

In what part of the human body does meiosis take place?