11 Inheritence Flashcards
Define inheritance
Transmission of genetic information from generation to generation
Define chromosome
thread-like structure of DNA, carrying genetic information in the form of genes
Define gene
length of a DNA that codes for a protein
Define allele
Versions of a gene
Define mitosis
nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells
How many pairs of chromosomes are there in humans
23 pairs
Define haploid
Containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes
Role of mitosis (4)
Repair of damaged tissues
growth
asexual reproduction
replacement of cells
Define diploid
Containing two sets of chromosomes
Define meiosis
reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid, resulting in genetically different cells
How are gametes produced
Meiosis
gametes have single set of chromosomes. When the two gametes fuse, they become diploid cell with normal number of chromosome
Define genotype
genetic make-up of an organism in terms of alleles present
Define phenotype
observable features of an organism
Define homozygous
having two identical alleles for a particular gene
Define heterozygous
having two different alleles for a particular gene
Define dominant allele
allele that is expressed if present
Define recessive allele
allele that is only expressed when no dominant allele is present
Two types of phenotypic variation (2)
Discontinuous variation
continuous variation
What is discontinuous variation
characteristic can only have a limited number of specific phenotypes
Examples of discontinuous variation
sex, blood group, tongue rolling
What is continuous variation
where characteristic can have any value in a range
Examples of continuous variation
body weight, length of hair
Define variation
differences between indivudals of the same species
Causes of phenotypic variation
Environmental causes -
genetic causes -