Mendel's First Law – Chapter 16 Open Genetics Lectures – Fall 2015

A series of vocabulary flashcards based on Mendel's First Law and the process of meiosis, covering key terms and concepts.

Mendel's First Law

Also known as The Law of Equal Segregation, stating that during gamete formation, the two alleles at a gene locus segregate from each other.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene that can exist for a single trait, such as green seeds or yellow seeds.

Meiosis

A process of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid gametes from one diploid cell.

Gametes

Reproductive cells that fuse during fertilization to form offspring, typically sperm and eggs in animals.

Synapsis

The pairing of homologous chromosomes during Prophase I of meiosis, forming a bivalent.

Crossing Over

A process during Prophase I of meiosis where non-sister chromatids exchange genetic material, leading to genetic diversity.

Chiasma

The cross-structure formed between non-sister chromatids during crossing over.

Reductional Division

Meiosis I, which reduces the chromosome number from diploid (2N) to haploid (1N) in daughter cells.

Equational Division

Meiosis II, which resembles mitosis and separates sister chromatids to produce daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes.

Polar Bodies

The three smaller cells produced during oocyte development that do not become functional eggs but are discarded.

Synaptonemal Complex

A protein structure that forms between homologous chromosomes during synapsis, facilitating crossing over.