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Biology Inheritance

The document discusses several key concepts in biology related to inheritance and cell division. It defines inheritance as the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation. Chromosomes contain genes and determine an organism's characteristics. Mitosis and meiosis are types of cell division - mitosis produces identical cells for growth/repair, while meiosis in ovaries/testes produces gametes with half the normal chromosome number for sexual reproduction. Genetic variation arises from mutations and combinations of parental genes during meiosis.

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Ignacio
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35 views

Biology Inheritance

The document discusses several key concepts in biology related to inheritance and cell division. It defines inheritance as the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation. Chromosomes contain genes and determine an organism's characteristics. Mitosis and meiosis are types of cell division - mitosis produces identical cells for growth/repair, while meiosis in ovaries/testes produces gametes with half the normal chromosome number for sexual reproduction. Genetic variation arises from mutations and combinations of parental genes during meiosis.

Uploaded by

Ignacio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOLOGY: INHERITANCE

Inheritance: is the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation.


A chromosome is a thread of DNA, made up of a string of genes.
A gene is a length of DNA that codes for a protein.

Inside a nucleus there are chromosomes, each of which has certain characteristics when
ready to divide: there are two chromatids. Each chromatid is a string of genes, coding for the
persons characteristics.
In females, two sex hormones, known as X chromosomes, are the same size as each other.
In males, two sex chromosomes of different sizes. One responds to the X chromosome and
the other is the Y chromosome. Female cells contain XX and male cells contain XY.
Meiosis takes place in the female's ovary. It makes gametes that have half the normal
number of chromosomes. During the process, each ovum receives one of the X
chromosomes, so all the ova are the same for this.6

GENE EXPRESSION
A haploid nucleus is a nucleus containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes present,
for example, in sperm and egg cells.
A diploid nucleus is a nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes present, for example, in
body cells.
Specialized cells all contain the same genes in their nuclei, but only the genes needed to
code for specific proteins are expressed.
Because chromosomes are in pairs, the diploid number is always an even number.
The chromosomes of each pair are called homologous chromosome

MITOSIS
Mitosis is nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells.
In sexual reproduction, a new organism starts as a zygote. The tissues and organs were
produced by cell division. So, what dictated which cells were to become what all have been
present in this first cell.
The process of mitosis is important in growth, repair and replacement for cells that rely on
mitosis.
When plants and animals grow, their cells increase in number by dividing. Each cell divides
to produce two daughter cells, which may divide again, but usually one of the cells grows
and changes its shape and structure and becomes specialized.
At the same time it looses the ability to keep on dividing.
Each chromosome duplicates itself and is seen to be made up of chromatids. When the
nucleus divides into two, one chromatid from each chromosome goes into each daughter
nucleus. The chromatids now become chromosomes they will make copies of themselves
ready for the next cell division, this process is called replication.
Mitosis will be taking place in any part of a plant or animal that is producing new cells fro
growth and replacement.
Cells that are not involved in the production of gametes are called somatic cells.

MEIOSIS
Meiosis is nuclear division, which gives rise to cells that are genetically different. The
process of meiosis takes place in the testes and ovaries. The cells formed are gametes, they
have half the normal number of haploid chromosomes.

Meiosis Mitosis

occurs in the final stags of cell division occurs during cell division of somatic cells
leading to production of gametes

only half the chromosomes are passed on a full set of chromosomes is passed on to
to the daughter cells each daughter cell; this is the diploid
number of chromosomes

homologous chromosomes and their genes the chromosomes and genes in each
are randomly assorted between their daughter cell are idéntical
gametes

new organisms produced by meiosis in if new organisms are produced by mitosis in


sexual production will show variations from asexual reproduction they will all resemble
each other and their parents each other and their parents; they are said
to be clones.
MONOHYBRID INHERITANCE
An allele is a version of a gene
Genotype is the genetic make up of an organism in terms of the alleles present
Phenotype is the visible features of an organism
Homozygous means having two identical alleles of a particular gene.
Heterozygous means having two different alleles of a particular gene.
An allele that is expressed if it is present is dominant.
An allele that is only expressed when there is no dominant allele of the gene present is
recessive.
The genes that occupy corresponding positions on homologous chromosomes and control
the same characteristics are alleles.

VARIATION
Variation is the differences between individuals of the same species.
Those variations that can be inherited are determined by genes. They are genetic
variations. Phenotypic variations may be brought about by genes, but can also be caused
by the environment.

DISCONTINUOUS VARIATION
Has different features:
- An organism can either has the characteristic or it doesn’t have it
- These characteristics usually cannot be measured
- They are the result of genes only, they are not affected by the environment.

CONTINUOUS VARIATION
Has different features
- Every organism within one species shows the characteristic, but to a different extent.
- They can be measured
- They result from several genes acting together, or from both genes and the
environment.

MUTATION
A mutation is a spontaneous genetic change. Mutation is the way new alleles are formed.
Exposure to mutagens, namely certain chemicals and radiation, is known to increase the
rate of mutation.
ADAPTIVE FEATURES
An adaptive feature is an inherited feature that helps an organism to survive and reproduce
in its environment.

SELECTION
Natural selection:
- Individuals within a species are all slightly different from each other. These
differences are called variations
- If the climate or food supply changes, individuals possessing some variations may be
better able to survive than others.
- If one variety lives longer than others, it is also likely to leave behind more offspring
- If some of the offspring inherit alleles responsible for the variation that helped the
parent survive better, they too will live longer and have more offspring

Artificial selection / selective breeding:


The process involves humans selecting individuals with desirable features, these are then
cross bred to produce the next generation. Offspring with desirable features to continue the
breeding programs and the process is repeated over a number of generations.

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