Dna and reproduction

• What does DNA stand for?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What is the role of DNA in a cell?

  It contains coded information - all the instructions to put an organism together and make it work.
• How does DNA determine inherited characteristics?

  It contains instructions for traits passed down
• What are chromosomes?

  Long structures made of DNA
• What type of molecule is DNA?

  It is a polymer
• What is the structure of DNA?

  Two strands coiled in a double helix
• What is a gene?

  A small section of DNA on a chromosome
• What does each gene code for?

  A particular sequence of amino acids which are put together to make a specific protein
• What is a genome?

  The entire set of genetic material
• Why is understanding the human genome important?

  It helps identify genes linked to diseases
• How can knowing disease-linked genes help us?

  It aids in understanding and developing treatments
• What can scientists trace using genomes?

  The migration of populations around the world
• What happens to genomes as populations migrate?

  They develop tiny differences over time
• How do scientists use genomic differences?

  To determine migration routes and splits
• What is sexual reproduction?

  Where genetic information from two organisms is combined to produce offspring which are genetically diff to either parent.

  Production of gametes by meiosis.
• How are offspring produced in sexual reproduction?

  By combining genes from both parents
• What are gametes?

  Reproductive cells produced by meiosis
• What types of gametes do animals produce?

  Egg and sperm cells
• How many chromosomes does each human gamete contain?

  23 chromosomes
• What is the result of fertilization in terms of chromosomes?

  A cell with the full number of chromosomes
• Why do offspring inherit features from both parents?

  They receive a mixture of chromosomes
• What does the mixture of genetic information produce in offspring?

  Variation among the offspring
• How do flowering plants reproduce sexually?

  Using egg cells and pollen
• What is asexual reproduction?

  Produces offspring which are genetically identical to that parent by mitosis making a clone.
• How does asexual reproduction occur?

  Through mitosis, where a cell divides
• What is a clone?

  A new cell identical to the parent
• What is the main difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?

  Sexual involves two parents; asexual involves one
• What are the key characteristics of sexual reproduction?

  • Involves two parents
  • Produces genetically different offspring
  • Involves fusion of male and female gametes
  • Results in genetic variation
• What are the key characteristics of asexual reproduction?

  • Involves one parent
  • Produces genetically identical offspring (clones)
  • No fusion of gametes
  • No genetic variation
• Which organisms can reproduce asexually?

  Bacteria, some plants, and some animals
• What are the main messages about sexual and asexual reproduction?

  1. Sexual reproduction requires two parents and the offspring contains a mixture of their parents genes.
  2. Asexual reproduction requires one parent and produces genetically identical cells (clones). No fusion of gametes and no genetic variation.