Textbook Question
Discuss the factors that control the division of eukaryotic cells grown in the laboratory. Cancer cells are easier to grow in the lab than other cells.
Why do you suppose this is?
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Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Biology: The Study of Scientific Life19
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life17
- Ch. 3 The Molecules of Cells21
- Ch. 4 A Tour of the Cell20
- Ch. 5 The Working Cell17
- Ch. 6 How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy18
- Ch. 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food15
- Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance22
- Ch. 9 Patterns of Inheritance17
- Ch. 10 Molecular Biology of the Gene13
- Ch. 11 How Genes Are Controlled13
- Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics23
- Ch. 13 How Populations Evolve17
- Ch. 14 The Origin of Species19
- Ch. 15 Tracing Evolutionary History18
- Ch. 16 Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists16
- Ch. 17 The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity15
- Ch. 18 The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity13
- Ch. 19 The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity18
- Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function11
- Ch. 21 Nutrition and Digestion16
- Ch. 22 Gas Exchange16
- Ch. 23 Circulation17
- Ch. 24 The Immune System16
- Ch. 25 Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance20
- Ch. 26 Hormones and the Endocrine System10
- Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development12
- Ch. 28 Nervous Systems10
- Ch. 29 The Senses12
- Ch. 30 How Animals Move19
- Ch. 31 Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction9
- Ch. 32 Plant Nutrition and Transport12
- Ch. 33 Control Systems in Plants15
- Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments15
- Ch. 35 Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment12
- Ch. 36 Population Ecology15
- Ch. 37 Communities and Ecosystems14
- Ch. 38 Conservation Biology14
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and InheritanceProblem 18
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and InheritanceProblem 18Chapter 8, Problem 18
Suppose you read in the newspaper that a genetic engineering laboratory has developed a procedure for fusing two gametes from the same person (two eggs or two sperm) to form a zygote. The article mentions that an early step in the procedure prevents crossing over from occurring during the formation of the gametes in the donor's body. The researchers are in the process of determining the genetic makeup of one of their new zygotes. Which of the following predictions do you think they would make? Justify your choice, and explain why you rejected each of the other choices.
a. The zygote would have 46 chromosomes, all of which came from the gamete donor (its one parent), so the zygote would be genetically identical to the gamete donor.
b. The zygote could be genetically identical to the gamete donor, but it is much more likely that it would have an unpredictable mixture of chromosomes from the gamete donor's parents.
c. The zygote would not be genetically identical to the gamete donor, but it would be genetically identical to one of the donor's parents.
d. The zygote would not be genetically identical to the gamete donor, but it would be genetically identical to one of the donor's grandparents.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of gametes and zygotes. Gametes (sperm and egg cells) are haploid cells, meaning they contain half the number of chromosomes (23 in humans). A zygote is formed when two gametes fuse, resulting in a diploid cell with 46 chromosomes. In this scenario, the gametes are from the same individual, and crossing over is prevented during gamete formation.
Step 2: Analyze the implications of preventing crossing over. Crossing over is a process during meiosis where homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, increasing genetic diversity. If crossing over is prevented, the gametes will contain chromosomes that are exact copies of the donor's original chromosomes, without any recombination.
Step 3: Consider the genetic makeup of the zygote formed by fusing two gametes from the same individual. Since the gametes are from the same person and crossing over is prevented, the zygote will inherit chromosomes that are a combination of the donor's maternal and paternal chromosomes. However, the arrangement of chromosomes in the zygote will depend on how the chromosomes segregated during meiosis.
Step 4: Evaluate each choice based on the information provided: (a) The zygote would not be genetically identical to the gamete donor because the zygote is formed by combining two gametes, which may have different combinations of the donor's maternal and paternal chromosomes. (b) This choice is plausible because the zygote could have a mixture of chromosomes from the donor's parents, but the exact combination is unpredictable due to random segregation during meiosis. (c) The zygote would not be genetically identical to one of the donor's parents because it contains chromosomes from both parents. (d) The zygote would not be genetically identical to one of the donor's grandparents because it does not directly inherit chromosomes from the grandparents.
Step 5: Conclude that the most likely prediction is choice (b). The zygote could be genetically identical to the gamete donor, but it is much more likely to have an unpredictable mixture of chromosomes from the donor's parents due to random segregation during meiosis. This choice aligns with the biological principles of gamete formation and zygote development.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Gametes and Zygotes
Gametes are the reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) that carry half the genetic information of an organism. When two gametes fuse during fertilization, they form a zygote, which contains a complete set of chromosomes, half from each parent. In this scenario, the zygote is formed from two gametes from the same individual, leading to a unique genetic outcome.
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Haploid and Diploid Dominant Life Cycles
Crossing Over
Crossing over is a process that occurs during meiosis, where homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material. This process increases genetic diversity by creating new combinations of alleles. The article mentions that crossing over is prevented, meaning the gametes will retain the same genetic information as the donor, which is crucial for understanding the genetic makeup of the resulting zygote.
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Genetic Identity
Genetic identity refers to the genetic similarity between individuals. In this case, since the zygote is formed from two gametes of the same donor, it will have a complete set of chromosomes from that single individual, making it genetically identical to the donor. This concept is essential for predicting the genetic outcome of the zygote in the context of the question.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Compare cytokinesis in plant and animal cells.
In what ways are the two processes similar?
In what ways are they different?
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Textbook Question
Sketch a cell with three pairs of chromosomes undergoing meiosis, and show how non-disjunction can result in the production of gametes with extra or missing chromosomes.
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Textbook Question
Bacteria are able to divide on a faster schedule than eukaryotic cells. Some bacteria can divide every 20 minutes, while the minimum time required by eukaryotic cells in a rapidly developing embryo is about once per hour, and most cells divide much less often than that. State at least two testable hypotheses explaining why bacteria can divide at a faster rate than eukaryotic cells.
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Textbook Question
Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to body tissues, live for only about 120 days. Replacement cells are produced by cell division in bone marrow.
How many cell divisions must occur each second in your bone marrow just to replace red blood cells? Here is some information to use in calculating your answer: There are about 5 million red blood cells per cubic millimeter (mm³) of blood. An average adult has about 5 L (5,000 cm³) of blood. (Hint: What is the total number of red blood cells in the body?
What fraction of them must be replaced each day if all are replaced in 120 days?
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Textbook Question
A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey. A donkey sperm contains 31 chromosomes and a horse egg cell contains 32 chromosomes, so the zygote contains a total of 63 chromosomes. The zygote develops normally. The combined set of chromosomes is not a problem in mitosis, and the mule combines some of the best characteristics of horses and donkeys. However, a mule is sterile; meiosis cannot occur normally in its testes (or ovaries). Explain why mitosis is normal in cells containing both horse and donkey chromosomes but the mixed set of chromosomes interferes with meiosis.
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