Cell Cycle, Cell Division, and Genetics Flashcards

Fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering cell cycle mechanisms, mitosis, meiosis, Mendelian genetics, non-Mendelian inheritance, pleiotropy, and polygenic traits.

Reproduction that involves only one parent and produces offspring genetically identical to the parent is called __________ reproduction.

asexual

Unlike asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction involves two parents and results in offspring that are genetically __________ from their parents and each other.

different

Pando, also known as the Trembling Giant in Utah, is a single organism consisting of approximately __________ clones.

47,000

Bacteria such as Clostridium difficile reproduce asexually through a process called __________.

binary fission

A Komodo dragon can lay eggs that hatch without mating through a process called __________, where a polar body fuses with the oocyte.

parthenogenesis

The first cervical cancer cells to grow successfully in cell culture, harvested from Henrietta Lacks, are known as __________ cells.

HeLa

Microscopic observations of actively dividing cells demonstrate that cells spend the majority of their time in __________.

interphase

In the human body, cell division by mitosis occurs in somatic cells for the main functions of growth, repair, and __________.

maintenance

During interphase, the cell duplicates its DNA during the __________ phase.

S

During the $G_1$ phase of interphase, the cell grows in size, increases ATP and protein production, and doubles its __________.

organelles

The spindle checkpoint in the cell cycle pauses cell division if chromosome centromeres are not properly attached to the __________.

mitotic spindle

A faulty control system with a hyperactive mutant relay protein in a stimulative pathway can cause __________ cell division.

excessive

Mitosis occurs in __________ cells, which are body cells that do not give rise to gametes.

somatic

The four main sequential nuclear division stages of mitosis are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and __________.

telophase

Chromosomes that occur in pairs containing the same gene locations, with one copy inherited from each parent, are called __________ chromosomes.

homologous

Human gametes contain 23 total chromosomes, consisting of 22 autosomes and 1 __________ chromosome.

sex

Cells containing two complete sets of chromosomes are described as __________ ($2n$).

diploid

Meiosis I is distinct from mitosis because it separates homologous chromosome pairs, reducing the cell's ploidy from diploid ($2n$) to __________ ($n$).

haploid

The exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes occurs during __________ of meiosis I.

Prophase I

During Metaphase I of meiosis, homologous chromosome pairs line up along the metaphase plate in structures known as __________.

tetrads

If the DNA content of a cell in $G_1$ is represented as $2X$, its DNA content in Prophase I is $4X$, and the resulting gamete will have a DNA content of __________.

$$1X$$

While genotype refers to the underlying nucleotide code of DNA, __________ refers to the physical expression of that genetic code.

phenotype

The ABCC11 gene, which determines earwax type and axillary odor variation, is located on human chromosome __________.

16

For the ABCC11 gene, the $W$ allele encoding wet earwax is dominant, while the $D$ allele encoding dry earwax is __________.

recessive

Gregor Johann Mendel published his foundational work on pea plant inheritance in the year __________.

1866

Mendel's Law of __________ states that the two alleles of a gene separate during meiosis I and end up in different gametes.

Segregation

The grid diagram used to predict offspring genotypes and phenotypes was developed by biologist Reginald __________.

Punnett

A monohybrid cross ($Aa \times Aa$) featuring complete dominance yields an expected phenotypic ratio of __________.

$$3:1$$

A cross between two heterozygotes ($Aa \times Aa$) produces a genotypic ratio of __________.

$$1:2:1$$

Mendel's Law of __________ Assortment states that alleles of two different genes segregate independently during meiosis.

Independent

A dihybrid cross ($AaBb \times AaBb$) between two fully dominant, independent traits yields an expected phenotypic ratio of __________.

$$9:3:3:1$$

When partial expression of both alleles in a heterozygote results in a blended phenotype, the inheritance pattern is known as __________ dominance.

incomplete

An inheritance pattern in which both alleles are simultaneously and fully expressed in the phenotype is called __________.

codominance

In the ABO blood group system, the $I^A$ and $I^B$ alleles are __________ with each other.

codominant

An individual with blood type O must have the homozygous recessive genotype __________.

$$ii$$

When a single gene mutation affects multiple distinct physical characteristics or body systems, it is called __________.

pleiotropy

Apert syndrome, caused by a mutation in the FGFR2 gene affecting skull bones, fingers, toes, and skin, is a clinical example of __________.

pleiotropy

Traits such as human skin color, which show continuous variation controlled by multiple independent genes, exhibit __________ inheritance.

polygenic

To describe human genetic diversity based on geographic origin without discrete racial categorization, modern biologists prefer the term __________.

ancestry