Genetics terms

Question 1

clone

Answer 1

a group of genetically identical cells derived from a single ancestral cell

Question 2

allele

Answer 2

alternate version of a gene

Question 3

differentiated cell

Answer 3

has become specialised, doesn’t undergo mitosis

Question 4

stem cells

Answer 4

retains ability to undergo mitosis

Question 5

soma

Answer 5

cells that make up the individual, will die when the individual does (somatic cells)

Question 6

germline

Answer 6

able to give rise to subsequent generation i.e. gametes

Question 7

genetic mosaic

Answer 7

idea that an individual contains more than one genotype due to heritable mutations in genetic information but is derived from a single zygote

Question 8

cytogenetics

Answer 8

study of chromosomes as carriers of genetics

Question 9

karyotype

Answer 9

an individuals collection of chromosomes

Question 10

autosomes

Answer 10

any chromosome thats not a sex chromosome

Question 11

sister chromatid cohesion

Answer 11

proteins (cohesins) glue sister chromatids together until next mitosis where they separate

Question 12

euchromatin

Answer 12

loosely packed chromatin, accessible for translation

Question 13

heterochromatin

Answer 13

remains condensed even in interphase so isn’t transcribed

Question 14

monosomy

Answer 14

one homologue where it would typically be two e.g. XO instead of XX/XY

Question 15

trisomy

Answer 15

three homologues when there would ordinarily be two e.g. in downs syndrome (21 +1)

Question 16

polyploidy

Answer 16

extra whole sets of chromosomes

Question 17

triploidy, tetraploidy

Answer 17

3n and 4n respectively, examples of polyploidy

Question 18

monoploid

Answer 18

n when 2n would be normal

Question 19

deletion

Answer 19

part of a chromosome is missing

Question 20

duplication

Answer 20

part of chromosome is duplicated

Question 21

translocation

Answer 21

part of chromosome has moved to an abnormal site

Question 22

inversion

Answer 22

in the same place just the reverse orientation

Question 23

mutation

Answer 23

heritable change to a single gene

Question 24

wild type

Answer 24

‘normal’ allele