Questions and Answers
What are genes and their role in heredity?
Genes are the basic physical and functional units of heredity that provide instructions to make proteins.
How are genes organized within a cell?
Genes are sections of DNA located on chromosomes within the nucleus of cells.
Explain the difference in chromosome pairs between somatic cells and gametes.
Somatic cells contain pairs of chromosomes, while gametes have only one member of each chromosome pair.
What is the structure of a typical chromosome?
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Why is DNA referred to as hereditary material?
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Study Notes
Basis of Heredity
- Genes are the basic physical and functional units of heredity, acting as instructions for protein synthesis.
- Each organism's characteristics (e.g., height, eye color, earlobe attachment, hair type) are determined by a pair of genes.
- Gene pairs consist of one gene inherited from the male parent (father) and one from the female parent (mother).
Structure of Genes and DNA
- Genes are sections of DNA located on chromosomes, which serve as hereditary material.
- DNA exists as thread-like structures in the nucleus, forming the genetic blueprint for the organism's development and characteristics.
- Chromosomes are primarily visible during cell division and consist of two arms known as chromatids, connected at a central point called the centromere.
Chromosome Characteristics
- The number of chromosomes is unique and constant for each species, varying between organisms.
- In somatic (body) cells, chromosomes typically occur in pairs. In contrast, gametes (sperms and eggs) contain a single chromosome from each pair due to meiosis.
- For instance, humans have 46 chromosomes organized into 23 pairs within somatic cells.
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Description
This quiz covers the fundamentals of heredity, focusing on the role of genes as the basic units. Learn about how genes influence physical traits and their locations on chromosomes. Test your understanding of gene pairs and inheritance from parents.
