5. Chromosomes and Genetic Diversity
Page 1:
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
Base Pairs
Chromosome
Telomere
p arm
Centromere
q arm
Chromatid
Page 2:
Key Knowledge From Chromosomes to genomes
Homologous chromosomes and autosomes
Variability of chromosomes in different organisms
Karyotyping for identifying chromosome abnormalities
Meiosis and genetic diversity
Page 3:
Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
DNA packaging in chromosomes
Circular chromosomes in prokaryotes
Plasmids in prokaryotes
Page 4:
DNA packaging in chromosomes
Identical copies of DNA in every cell
Chromosomes tightly wound around histones and proteins
Centromere divides chromosome into two sections
Page 5:
Chromosomes in Humans
22 pairs of homologous autosomes
1 pair of sex chromosomes
46 chromosomes in total
Same gene located on the same loci of each part of the pair
Page 6:
Sex Chromosomes
Mammals: female = XX, male = XY
Male determines the sex of the offspring
X chromosome carries more genes than Y chromosome
Page 7:
Structure of Chromosomes
Centromere divides chromosome into two sections
Arms of the chromosome: p arm and q arm
Page 8:
Chromosome size
Range in size from 50 million - 300 million base pairs
Different number of genes on each chromosome
Genes separated by spacer DNA regions
Page 9:
Homologous chromosomes and genetic loci
Inherited from male and female parents
Genetic locus is the location of a gene on a chromosome
Homozygous and heterozygous alleles
Page 10:
Structure of chromosomes
Centromere position varies in different chromosomes
Descriptive names given based on centromere position
Page 11:
Centromere, chromatids, and chromosomes
Page 12:
Diploid numbers of chromosomes in various species
Different diploid numbers in animals, plants, and fungi
Page 13:
Chromosome numbers of Australian plants
Diploid numbers provide evidence of evolutionary relationships
Page 14:
Key Knowledge From Chromosomes to Genomes
Homologous chromosomes and autosomes
Variability of chromosomes in different organisms
Karyotyping for identifying chromosome abnormalities
Meiosis and genetic diversity
Page 15:
Meiosis process and genetic diversity
Page 16:
Differences between asexual and sexual reproduction
Number of parents or parental contributions
Page 17:
Sexual reproduction and genetic contributions from two parents
Gametes and gonads
Advantage of sexual reproduction in generating genetic diversity
Page 18:
Chromosome numbers before and after replication and division
Page 19:
Meiosis video
Page 20:
Stages of meiosis: Interphase, Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I, Cytokinesis, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II, Cytokinesis
Page 21:
Meiosis process and production of gamete cells (sperm and egg)
Page 22
Homologous Chromosomes
One paternal and one maternal chromosome pair inside a cell during meiosis
Crossing Over
Process where homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material to form new chromosomes
Haploid Cells
Four cells as a result of meiosis, genetically different from each other and the parent cells
Page 23
Quick Action - Meiosis Draw
Make a quick drawing of homologous chromosome pair crossing over
Tells about the genetic makeup of the four gametes (sex cells - sperm or egg)
Page 24
Crossing Over
Significance: produces chromosomes with new combinations of genetic information
Occurs during the first division of Meiosis I
Point where crossing over occurs is called Chiasma (Chiasmata plural)
New combination of genes referred to as recombinant chromosomes
Page 25
Independent Assortment
When crossing over is complete, pairs line up along the equatorial plate of the cell in Metaphase I
Maternal and paternal chromosomes do not line up on the same side
Process called independent assortment
Formula 2ⁿ can be used to calculate the number of possible chromosome combinations due to independent assortment
n represents the organism's haploid number (23 in humans)
Page 26
Meiosis I - Prophase l
First phase of Meiosis l
Chromosomes become visible under a microscope
Duplication of homologous chromosome pair and cross-over occurs
Nuclear envelope disappears
Spindles enter nucleus
Page 27
Meiosis I - Metaphase l
Crossover is complete
Chromosomes move toward the center and line up
Spindle fibers attach to the centromere of each chromosome
Page 28
Meiosis I - Anaphase I
Cell starts to lengthen
Two of each chromosome pairs separate and are pulled by the spindle fibers toward opposite poles
In meiosis, the chromatids remain together
Contrast with mitosis, where sister chromatids separate
Page 29
Meiosis I - Telophase I
Chromosomes decondense
A cleavage furrow appears
By the end of the stage, the parent cell has divided into two daughter cells
Separation of cytoplasm called cytokinesis
2 new daughter cells form (Animal Cell: Contractile ring causes a cleavage furrow to form, Plant Cell: Cell plate forms new cell wall between the nuclei)
Page 30
Interkinesis in Meiosis
Period of rest called interkinesis
No replication of DNA occurs during this phase
Daughter cells
Page 31
Meiosis II - Prophase II
First step in Meiosis II
Begins with two daughter cells from Meiosis I
Chromosomes are condensed
Nuclear envelope begins to break down
Centrosomes have replicated and are moving toward the poles
Crossing over does not occur
Page 32
Meiosis II - Metaphase II
Second stage of Meiosis II
Replicated chromosomes alone at the equatorial plate
Spindle fibers attach on either side of the chromosomes' centromere
Page 33
Meiosis II - Anaphase II
Third step of Meiosis II
Very similar to mitosis anaphase
Two sister chromatids of each chromosome are pulled apart by the spindle fibers
Spindle fibers shorten and separate the sister chromatids to opposite ends
Cell elongates so that the poles are farther apart
Page 34
Meiosis II - Telophase II
Chromosomes reach opposite poles
Chromosomes decondense
Nuclear envelopes reform
Four Haploid cells form
Page 35
Meiosis - Cytokinesis
Occurs after meiosis II
Cytoplasm divides by forming a cleavage furrow
Four haploid cells form
Meiosis is complete with four daughter cells (haploid) each different from each other and different from the parent cell
Page 36
Summary of Meiosis
Form of cell division that results in half the number of chromosomes in gametes or sex cells (sperm and ova)
Maintains the same number of chromosomes from generation to generation
Results in an assortment of genetic material passed on to offspring
Page 37
Comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis: Happens in body cells, a type of cell division
Meiosis: Happens in sex organs (testes and ovaries)
Page 38
Meiosis I
Meiosis II
Spermatocyte (diploid)
Spermatids
Sperm cells (haploid)
Oocyte
Egg cell (diploid)
Polar bodies (haploid)
Gamete formation in the male
Gamete formation in the female
Page 39
Meiosis: source of variation
Biological significance of meiosis: produces genetic variability among the offspring produced
Variation is produced by:
Crossing-over between homologous chromosomes (Prophase I)
Independent assortment (separation of homologous chromosomes during meta/anaphase I)
Random segregation of non-matching chromosomes
Page 40
Unit 2, AOS 1: Key Knowledge
From Chromosomes to genomes
Nature of a pair of homologous chromosomes carrying the same gene loci and the distinction between autosomes and sex chromosomes
Variability of chromosomes in terms of size and number in different organisms
Karyotyping as a visual representation that can be used to identify chromosome abnormalities
Production of haploid gametes from diploid cells by meiosis, including the significance of crossing over of chromatids and independent assortment for genetic diversity
Page 41
Are all chromosomes the same size?
Members of each pair are the same size and shape, and they have the same banding patterns
Each pair of chromosomes can be a different size, holding a different number of genes
Seen in a karyotype
Page 42
Human Karyotype
Karyotype is the full complement of chromosomes in a particular species (map of chromosomes)
Chromosomes differ in size, banding pattern, and location of centromere
Chromosomes assigned numbers according to size, except for sex chromosomes
Page 43
Chromosomal abnormalities
Chromosome change resulting in a syndrome
Approximate incidence rate
Addition: whole chromosome extra number- 21 (47, +21) Down syndrome 1/700 live births
Page 44
Variations in chromosomes
Monoploidy: Cell or organism with a functional genome consisting of one copy of each chromosome (1n)
Examples: male bees, ants, and wasps
Page 45
Variations in chromosomes
Polyploidy: Cell or organism with a genome comprising 3 or more copies of each chromosome (3n, 4n, 5n, 6n, etc.)
Common in flowering plants, ferns, and green algae
Many varieties of fruit are generated polyploids, e.g. seedless grape and strawberries
Page 46
Variations in chromosomes
Aneuploidy: Condition in which there is an addition or loss of one chromosome from a cell (2n+1 or 2n-1)
Result of non-disjunction
Page 47
Non-disjunction
During meiosis, homologous pairs of chromosomes separate with the help of spindle fibers during anaphase II (disjunction)
Non-disjunction: Failure of homologous pairs in meiosis to separate and move to opposite poles
Results in the formation of 2 types of gametes - one has 2 copies of a particular chromosome and the other has none
Can occur with both autosomes and sex chromosomes
Page 48
Non-disjunction
Parent cell
MEIOSIS I
Homologous chromosomes fail to segregate
Gametes
MEIOSIS II
Gametes
Page 49
Analyzing karyotypes - Aneuploidy
Karyotypes analyzed to find mistakes in chromosome numbers or abnormalities of single chromosomes resulting in congenital disorders
Trisomy: Somatic cells contain 3 copies of a particular chromosome
Monosomy: Somatic cells contain one copy of a particular chromosome
May have a huge effect on the development of a baby, sometimes leading to death
Some types of aneuploidy survive in humans, e.g. Down Syndrome
Page 50
Analyzing karyotypes - Aneuploidy
KB First division nondisjunction
Normal disjunction
Haploid
Trisomic
Monosomic
Monosomic gamete
Page 51
Possible causes of chromosomal abnormalities
Duplication, deletion, or translocation of a segment in gametes
Offspring can have chromosomes that look different from parents
Page 52
Down syndrome karyotype
Down Syndrome caused by extra copy of chromosome 21
Page 53
Possible cause of Down syndrome
Chromosomal non-disjunction during Anaphase I of Meiosis
Page 54
Klinefelter's syndrome
Also known as 47, XXY
Symptoms: infertility, small testicles
Other names: XXY syndrome
Cause: Two or more X chromosomes in males
Page 55
Klinefelter Syndrome karyotype
KARYOTYPE: XXY
Page 56
Turner syndrome
Only affects females
Missing or partially missing X chromosome
Can cause medical and developmental problems
Page 57
Turner syndrome karyotype
KARYOTYPE: XX
Page 58
Review Questions
Heinemann key Questions: 1-9 page 261 Biozone
The nature of chromosomes
Species have different chromosome numbers
Karyotyping
Meiosis
Meiosis and Variation
Heinemann Activity Book:
Worksheet 24