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Chapter 3: Problem 11

What is the basis for homology among chromosomes?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The basis for homology among homologous chromosomes is their shared ancestry. They have the same size, shape, and gene locations due to being derived from the same ancestral chromosome. This contributes to genetic variation as homologous chromosomes carry different versions of genes called alleles, which can affect the traits expressed in an organism.

Step by step solution

01

Define Homologous Chromosomes

Homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent, that have the same size, shape, and gene locations (also called loci). These chromosomes carry the same type of information but can have different versions of the genes, called alleles.
02

Define Homology

Homology is the similarity between two structures, such as chromosomes, due to their shared ancestry. In this context, we are looking for the basis for homology among chromosomes, meaning the reasons why homologous chromosomes share similarities.
03

Explain the Basis for Homology among Chromosomes

The basis for homology among chromosomes lies in their shared ancestry, as mentioned in the definition of homology. During the process of evolution, organisms inherit genetic information from their ancestors, which is then passed down through generations in the form of chromosomes. As a result, homologous chromosomes carry similar genes in corresponding loci because they are derived from the same ancestral chromosome.
04

Discuss Genetic Variation within Homologous Chromosomes

While homologous chromosomes have a shared ancestry, they are not identical. They contain different versions of genes, called alleles, which can lead to genetic variation within a species. The presence of different alleles within homologous chromosomes can affect the traits expressed in an organism, such as eye color or blood type.
05

Summary

In summary, the basis for homology among chromosomes is their shared ancestry. Homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes with the same size, shape, and gene locations that are derived from the same ancestral chromosome. Although these chromosomes carry the same type of information, they can have different versions of genes, which contribute to genetic variation within a species.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a rare, autosomal, dominantly inherited disease of the teeth that occurs in about one in 8000 people (Witkop 1957 ). The teeth are somewhat brown in color, and the crowns wear down rapidly. Assume that a male with dentinogenesis imperfecta and no family history of the disease marries a woman with normal teeth. What is the probability that (a) their first child will have dentinogenesis imperfecta? (b) their first two children will have dentinogenesis imperfecta? (c) their first child will be a girl with dentinogenesis imperfecta?

Galactosemia is a rare recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of galactose- 1 -phosphate uridylyltransferase, leading to the accumulation of toxic levels of galactitol in the blood. It leads to a \(75 \%\) mortality rate in infants as infants cannot metabolize galactose from breast milk. In many countries, newborns are given a heel prick test to measure the levels of metabolic enzymes. As a genetic counselor, how would you explain to a couple whose baby has tested positive for galactosemia where the disease has come from?

The autosomal (not X-linked) gene for brachydactyly, short fingers, is dominant to normal finger length. Assume that a female with brachydactyly in the heterozygous condition is married to a man with normal fingers. What is the probability that (a) their first child will have brachydactyly? (b) their first two children will have brachydactyly? (c) their first child will be a brachydactylous girl?

The basis for rejecting any null hypothesis is arbitrary. The researcher can set more or less stringent standards by deciding to raise or lower the \(p\) value used to reject or not reject the hypothesis. In the case of the chi- square analysis of genetic crosses, would the use of a standard of \(p=0.10\) be more or less stringent about not rejecting the null hypothesis? Explain.

In a family of six children, where one grandparent on either side has red hair, what mathematical expression predicts the probability that two of the children have red hair?
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