Chapter 13- Meiosis

13.1 How Does Meiosis Occur?

  • The X and Y chromosomes are called sex chromosomes and are associated with an individual’s sex. 
  • Any chromosomes other than sex chromosomes are called autosomes.
  • Chromosomes that are the same size and shape are called homologous chromosomes, or homologs and the pair is called a homologous pair.
  • A gene is a segment of DNA, found at a specific place on a chromosome, that influences a trait. 
  • Biologists use the term allele to denote a particular version of a gene.
  • Insects, humans, trees, and other organisms that have two versions (homologs) of each type of chromosome are called diploid (“double-form”).
  • These cells and organisms are called haploid (“single-form”) .
  • The number of distinct types of chromosomes in a given cell is called the haploid number.
  • The number of chromosome sets is termed the cell’ s ploidy.
  • A maternal chromosome comes from the mother, and a paternal chromosome comes from father
  • ==The haploid number n indicates the number of distinct types of chromosomes present.==
  • Polyploid means that they have three or more of each type of chromosome in each cell. 
  • In animals, some or all of the haploid daughter cells go on to form egg cells or sperm cells in the process of gametogenesis
  • The diploid cell that results from fertilization is called a zygote, and it is the first cell of a new individual.
  • Life cycle is the sequence of events that occurs over the life of an individual, from fertilization to the production of offspring. 
  • Synapsis is a tight side-by-side pairing of homologous chromosomes along their corresponding regions. 
  • The homologs are held together by a network of proteins called the synaptonemal complex.
  • The structure that  results from synapsis is called a bivalent
  • Chromatids from different homologs are referred to as non-sister chromatids. 
  • They stay joined, however, by X-shaped structures called chiasmata
  • The process of chromosome exchange is called crossing over. Crossing over is a fundamental part of meiosis.

13.2 Meiosis Promotes Genetic Variation 

  • Asexual reproduction is any mechanism of producing offspring that does not involve the production and fusion of gametes.
  • Asexually produced offspring are clones-or exact genetic copies-of their parents.
  • Sexual reproduction is the production of offspring through the generation and fusion of gametes.  
  • ==The two aspects of meiosis that promote variation are:==
    • ==Separation and distribution of homologous chromosomes== 
    • ==Crossing over== 
  • The creation of new combinations of alleles is called genetic recombination. 

13.3 What Happens When Things Go Wrong in Meiosis 

  • Down syndrome, as the disorder came to be called, is observed in about one infant in every 700 live births in the United States.
  • Nondisjunction is when the homologs or sister chromatids fail to separate, or disjoin.
  • Monosomy is when there is only one copy of one of the chromosomes.
  • Trisomy is when each cell has three copies of that chromosome
  • Cells that have too many or too few chromosomes of a particular type are said to be aneuploid
  • ==Errors are especially common in== 
    • ==microtubule attachment to kinetochores early in meiosis I==
    • ==separation of chromosomes that have a single chiasma near their ends or their centromeres==
    • ==the failure to form a chiasma==
    • ==premature separation of sister chromatids.==
  • Primary oocytes, which are diploid precursors to eggs, enter meiosis I during embryonic development and arrest in prophase I until the female reaches sexual maturity

13.4 What Are the Benefits of Meiosis?

  • More biologists are becoming convinced that sexual reproduction is helpful for two reasons:
    • Offspring are not doomed to inherit harmful alleles
    • the production of genetically varied offspring means that at least some may be able to resist rapidly evolving pathogens and parasites.