The continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA. In a short essay (100-150 words), relate the structure and behavior of chromosomes to inheritance in both asexually and sexually reproducing species.

Short Answer

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All organisms have pair of homologous chromosomes which segregate and are transmitted to the daughter cells during mitosis and recombines during meiosis. This accounts for the inheritance of genetic material in sexual and asexual organisms.

Step by step solution

01

Chromosomes contain DNA

All the cells in the body have DNA which is present in the nucleus of the cell. DNA is packed into thread-like structures called chromosomes. Thus,chromosomes are condensed pieces of genetic material.

Chromosomes are made up of chromatin. Each chromatin fiber contains one DNA molecule. As DNA is transmitted to future generations in the form of chromosomes, they serve as the physical basis of heredity.

02

Cell division

Mitosis and meiosis are two types of cell division. Mitosis is the process where the cell duplicates its cellular content and genetic material. These cells then divide to produce two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis is called reductional division because it produces daughter cells (eggs and sperms) with half the chromosome number of the parent cell. The egg and sperms, when united to form a zygote during fertilization, they restore the original chromosome number.

Mitosis is considered the basic process for life where identical daughter cells are produced. On the other hand, meiosis ensures that offspring have the same amount of genetic material in all generations.Mitosis and meiosis are two types of cell division. Mitosis is the process where the cell duplicates its cellular content and genetic material. These cells then divide to produce two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis is called reductional division because it produces daughter cells (eggs and sperms) with half the chromosome number of the parent cell.The egg and sperms, when united to form a zygote during fertilization, they restore the original chromosome number.

Mitosis is considered the basic process for life where identical daughter cells are produced. On the other hand, meiosis ensures that offspring have the same amount of genetic material in all generations.

03

Inheritance of traits in a sexual and asexual organism

Asexual organisms reproduce during mitosis.Mitosis ensures the distribution of the exact amount of genetic material to daughter cells as parental chromosomes.However, both mitosis and meiosis occur in sexual organisms.

The crossing over of homologous chromosomes during meiosis results in variation. It also leads to the formation of gametes and ensures the correct amount of genetic material for the offspring.

Thus, the structure and behavior of chromosomes account for the inheritance of traits in sexually and asexually reproducing organisms.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

When two genes are located on the same chromosome, what is the physical basis for the production of recombinant offspring in a testcross between a dihybrid parent and a double-mutant (recessive) parent?

Butterflies have an X-Y sex determination system that is different from that of flies or humans. Female butterflies may be either XY or X0, while butterflies with two or more X chromosomes are males. This photograph shows a tiger swallowtail gynandromorphy, which is half male (left side) and half female (right side). Given that the first division of the zygote divides the embryo into the future right and left halves of the butterfly, propose a hypothesis that explains how nondisjunction during the first mitosis might have produced this unusual looking butterfly.

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Review the description of meiosis (see Figure 13.8) and Mendel’s laws of segregation and independent assortment (see Concept 14.1). What is the physical basis for each of Mendel’s laws?

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