Reproduction and Human Development pt. 2

Question 1

What is the difference between a characteristic and a trait? Give an example.

Answer 1

A characteristic is a feature (such as eye color) and a trait is a variation of a characteristic (such as blue or brown).

Question 2

Define heredity.

Answer 2

Characteristics that are passed on from parent to offspring (skin colour, hair texture).

Question 3

Differentiate between heritable and non-heritable characteristics and give an example of each.

Answer 3

Heritable characteristics are passed on from parent to offspring (e.g., skin colour, hair texture). Non-heritable characteristics can’t be passed on (e.g., tattoos, dyed hair).

Question 4

Explain how discrete variation and continuous variation are different and give an example of each.

Answer 4

Discrete variation refers to traits with a defined form (either/or) such as attached or detached earlobes. Continuous variation refers to traits with a range of forms such as height and skin colour.

Question 5

What does DNA stand for?

Answer 5

Deoxyribonucleic acid.

Question 6

When DNA is packed tightly together, it forms a structure called what? Which organelle do you find these structures in?

Answer 6

Chromosomes, found in the nucleus.

Question 7

What are the letters we use to represent DNA bases?

Answer 7

A, T, C, G.

Question 8

What do genes do?

Answer 8

Genes make proteins.

Question 9

How many chromosomes are in all body cells except gametes?

Answer 9

46.

Question 10

How are chromosomes organized in body cells?

Answer 10

Organized into 2 sets of 23 chromosomes each, one set from mom and one from dad.

Question 11

How do the sex chromosomes of a male differ from those of a female?

Answer 11

Females are XX, males are XY.

Question 12

Are we the most intelligent animals because we have the most chromosomes?

Answer 12

No, there is no correlation.

Question 13

What is an allele?

Answer 13

A variant of a gene.

Question 14

When your 2 alleles are the same, what are the 2 terms that can be used to describe them?

Answer 14

Homozygous.

Question 15

When your 2 alleles are different, what are the 2 terms that can be used to describe them?

Answer 15

Heterozygous or hybrid.

Question 16

When one allele overpowers another one, it is called what? What is the overpowered one called?

Answer 16

Dominant allele; the overpowered one is called the recessive allele.

Question 17

How would you explain what biotechnology is?

Answer 17

The use of living things to improve our lives in areas like medicine, agriculture, and engineering.

Question 18

What is genetic engineering? What is one product produced by it?

Answer 18

Any technology-based process that directly changes the DNA of an organism; an example is creating insulin for diabetics.

Question 19

What is a clone?

Answer 19

An identical copy of a single animal; Dolly the sheep was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.

Question 20

What is a carcinogen and how does it work? Give some examples of them.

Answer 20

Chemicals or toxins that cause cancer; examples include asbestos, smoking, and pesticides.

Question 21

How are genetic conditions caused?

Answer 21

By recessive alleles or an error in the copying of DNA during cell reproduction.

Question 22

Where are sex linked genes located?

Answer 22

They are genes that are located only on the X or Y chromosome.

Question 23

Are males or females more likely to get sex linked genes? Why?

Answer 23

Males are more likely to get them because they have only one X chromosome, needing only one recessive allele instead of two like a female would.

Question 24

How is Down syndrome caused?

Answer 24

An extra chromosome 21, resulting in 47 chromosomes in total instead of 46.

Question 25

How is puberty explained?

Answer 25

Our bodies start getting signals (hormonal change) to produce mature gametes.

Question 26

Which hormone triggers puberty to begin?

Answer 26

FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone).

Question 27

What are male and female gonads?

Answer 27

Ovaries and testes.

Question 28

What do FSH and testosterone do in male reproduction?

Answer 28

They result in the development of broader shoulders, deeper voice, body hair growth, and production of sperm.

Question 29

Where are sperm made and stored?

Answer 29

Made in the testes, stored in the epididymis.

Question 30

Explain the path of sperm after being stored.

Answer 30

Vas deferens, past bladder, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, urethra.

Question 31

Which structures create seminal fluid?

Answer 31

Seminal vesicles and prostate gland.

Question 32

How many sperm can be in one drop of semen?

Answer 32

5 million.

Question 33

What do FSH, estrogen, and progesterone do in female reproduction?

Answer 33

These hormones cause characteristics like body hair growth and breast development.

Question 34

Explain how eggs are matured and ovulated.

Answer 34

It takes 14 days for eggs to mature and then ovulate.

Question 35

Explain the pathway the egg follows after ovulation.

Answer 35

Down the fallopian tube, uterus (if no pregnancy), cervix, vagina.

Question 36

What happens during menstruation and which hormones are involved?

Answer 36

Progesterone drops which triggers menstruation, leading to the shedding of the endometrium.

Question 37

What happens during the follicle stage of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 37

FSH and estrogen increase, causing the endometrium to grow and maturing a follicle (egg) in an ovary.

Question 38

What is ovulation?

Answer 38

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary, triggered by LH (luteinizing hormone) at its peak.

Question 39

What is the luteal phase?

Answer 39

The luteal phase occurs from days 15 to 28 of the menstrual cycle, during which progesterone levels are high.

Question 40

What is the relationship between menstruation and ovulation?

Answer 40

Menstruation always happens 14 days after ovulation.

Question 41

What happens after fertilization?

Answer 41

After fertilization, the zygote moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus, starting to divide and becoming an embryo.

Question 42

What structures are formed from the outer layer of cells after fertilization?

Answer 42

The outer layer of cells forms the amnion (amniotic sac) and chorion (placenta).

Question 43

What is the function of the umbilical cord?

Answer 43

The umbilical cord attaches the placenta to the fetus, transferring nutrients.

Question 44

What are some signs of pregnancy?

Answer 44

Signs of pregnancy include missed period, tiredness, food cravings, implantation bleed, nausea, irritability, breast tenderness, breast enlargement, and metallic taste.

Question 45

What triggers labor?

Answer 45

Labor is triggered by the hormone oxytocin, and the cervix must dilate to 10 cm before birth can occur.

Question 46

What are some methods of contraception?

Answer 46

Methods of contraception include condoms, oral & injected contraceptives, diaphragm, intrauterine device, vasectomy, tubal ligation, and natural family planning.

Question 47

What is intrauterine insemination?

Answer 47

Intrauterine insemination is a type of artificial insemination where sperm are collected and inserted into the female's uterus.

Question 48

What is in vitro fertilization?

Answer 48

In vitro fertilization involves collecting sperm and eggs, combining them in a petri dish, and inserting developed embryos into the female's uterus.