Mitosis, Meiosis and Genetics Flashcards
Do egg and sperm cells have as many chromosomes as somatic cells? What might be the problem if they did?
No because them offspring would have double as many chromosomes as their parents. The number of chromosomes would double each generation.
Why might it be advantageous for an organism to exchange or combine DNA from two organisms reproducing?
It might be advantageous because this way the organisms will be able to evolve and change through the generations. Also, it allows for variation either through mutations, crossover, segragation or random mating.
What are the disadvantages and advantages if a species reproduces exclusively by cloning?
The advantages are that if an organism has a good set of DNA that is working in their environment, it is able to pass those genes on. Also, cloning is very fast, so more mutations will occur The disadvantages are that there is only one way for variation to occur, by mutations.
Mitosis
Used: when a cell needs to divide
Purpose: to replicate body cells
Meiosis
Used: to form sex cells/gametes
Purpose: to halve the number of
Sources of Genetic Variation
- Mutation
- Segregation
- Crossover
- Random Mating
What did we learn from the probablity pennies experiemnt?
The longer you do something, the more likely a rare thing will happen.
Mendel
“Father of genetics” because he applied math to genetics.
Laws
- Dominant/Receissive Traits
- Segregation
- Independent Assortment
Mutation
mistake when replicating DNA (this is the only way asexual organisms can have variation)
Segregation
random distribution of chromosomes to different egg and sperm, by the process of random assortment
Crossover
when chromosomes line up, they can exchange genetic marterial
Random Mating
random which sperm meets which egg
Independent Assortment
Genes on different choromosomes are inherited independently
