Meiosis and Inheritance Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the human life cycle, Meiosis I and II, Mendelian genetics, inheritance patterns, and ABO blood group biology.

Asexual Reproduction

Requires only $1$ parent; cells make exact copies called clones with $100\%$ the same chromosomes as the parent via mitosis.

Meiosis

Process by which the number of chromosomes per cell is cut in half through the separation of homologous chromosomes in a diploid cell.

Embryo

An organism in its early stage of development.

Zygote

A fertilized egg that contains all of the genetic information; it develops after fertilization, which is the joining of egg and sperm.

Sexual Reproduction

Requires $2$ parents (male and female) to contribute half of the genetic information via gametes (sperm and egg) to produce genetically unique offspring.

Diploid

Occurs in somatic or body cells and involves two sets of chromosomes; in humans, this is $2n = 46$.

Haploid

Occurs in gametes or sex cells and involves one set of chromosomes; in humans, this is $n = 23$.

Crossing Over

Process occurring in Prophase I where homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material to increase genetic diversity.

Interkinesis

The stage between Meiosis I and Meiosis II where two different cells have formed.

Prophase I

The phase in which chromosomes find their pair and exchange genetic information.

Metaphase I

The phase where homologous chromosome pairs align independently along the middle of the cell.

Anaphase I

The phase where the chromosome pairs split and are pulled to the sides of the cell.

Telophase II

The phase where chromosomes reach opposite poles, spindle fibers disappear, and the nuclear envelope reforms.

Cytokinesis

The stage in Meiosis II where the cells split into $4$ different haploid cells.

Genetics

The study of how traits are inherited.

Trait

A specific characteristic, such as fur length or fur color, that varies from one individual to another.

Genes

A section of DNA on the chromosomes that codes for a protein responsible for a trait.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene for a given trait; individuals have $2$ alleles for each trait (one maternal and one paternal).

Homozygous

Term used to refer to an organism that has two identical alleles for a particular trait, such as $AA$ or $aa$.

Heterozygous

Term used to refer to an organism that has two different alleles for the same trait, such as $Aa$.

Hybrids

The offspring of parents who have contrasting traits when parents are homozygous for that trait.

Genotype

The genetic makeup or allele combinations of an organism, such as $FF$, $Ff$, or $ff$.

Phenotype

The physical characteristics or gene expression of an organism, such as having freckles.

Probability

The likelihood that a particular event will happen, such as a coin landing heads up being $50/50$.

Incomplete Dominance

Situation in which an allele is not completely dominant over another, resulting in a heterozygous phenotype that is a blending of the two homozygous phenotypes.

Codominance

Situation in which both alleles of a gene contribute to the phenotype; both traits are expressed, such as speckled feathers in chickens.

Polygenic Traits

Traits controlled by more than one gene; for example, human skin color is controlled by more than $100$ genes.

Multiple Alleles

When three or more alleles of the same gene exist in a population, such as the $I^A$, $I^B$, and $i$ alleles for blood types.

Antigens

Molecules, usually carbohydrates or proteins, found on the membrane of a cell that can stimulate an immune response.

Type AB Blood

A blood group with both $A$ and $B$ antigens on red blood cells and no anti-$A$ or anti-$B$ antibodies; known as the Universal Recipient.

Type O Blood

A blood group with neither $A$ nor $B$ antigens on red blood cells, but both anti-$A$ and anti-$B$ antibodies; known as the Universal Donor.

Nucleic Acids

The macromolecule category to which DNA belongs.

Nucleotide

The monomer of DNA.