Recombination and Sexual Reproduction

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to recombination and sexual reproduction, including definitions of genetic terms, types of reproduction, and stages of meiosis.

Asexual Reproduction

One cell produces offspring or daughter cells with identical genotypes.

Sexual Reproduction

One cell generates offspring or daughter cells with different genotypes, always involving meiosis.

Meiosis

A form of cell division in sexually reproducing eukaryotes that results in daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes and non-identical genetic material, playing a key role in genetic recombination.

Genotype

Determined by DNA or RNA nucleotide sequence variation.

Phenotype

Determined by genotype and non-genetic factors.

Gene

A discrete unit of heredity.

Locus (Loci)

A hypothetical position or location of a gene.

Allele

A variant in a gene due to one or many nucleotide difference(s).

Meiosis I

The first major stage of meiosis where the genome is doubled, and crossing over occurs, resulting in two 'normal' sized but recombinant genomes.

Meiosis II

The second major stage of meiosis following Meiosis I, involving the halving of each genome.

Zygote

A cell formed when one set of chromosomes from an egg and one set from a sperm combine.

Somatic Cells

The majority of cells in the human body (2n) that develop via mitosis and are not passed on to offspring.

Germ Cells

Cells (2n), such as oogonia or spermatogonia, that are capable of meiosis and produce gametes (egg and sperm).

Gametes

Reproductive cells (egg and sperm) produced by germ cells through meiosis.

Genetic Recombination

A mechanism generated by meiosis that produces new genotypes from existing ones at every generation, important for evolution.

Crossover

An event occurring in prometaphase I of meiosis, involving the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes.