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Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene
Freeman - Biological Science 7th Edition
Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 14, Problem 12

Suppose you are heterozygous for two genes that are located on different chromosomes. You carry alleles A and a for one gene and alleles B and b for the other. Draw a diagram illustrating what happens to these genes and alleles when meiosis occurs in your reproductive tissues.

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1
Identify the chromosomes carrying the genes: Since the genes are on different chromosomes, let's denote the chromosome carrying alleles A and a as Chromosome 1, and the chromosome carrying alleles B and b as Chromosome 2.
Illustrate the initial arrangement in a cell before meiosis: Draw a cell with two pairs of homologous chromosomes. Chromosome 1 has one homolog with allele A and the other with allele a. Similarly, Chromosome 2 has one homolog with allele B and the other with allele b.
Show the separation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis I: Draw the cell undergoing meiosis I, where homologous chromosomes (Chromosome 1 pair and Chromosome 2 pair) separate into two different daughter cells. Each daughter cell receives one chromosome from each pair.
Depict the separation of sister chromatids during meiosis II: In the second phase of meiosis, show each daughter cell from meiosis I undergoing further division. The sister chromatids of each chromosome separate, leading to four haploid gametes.
Label the resulting gametes: Each of the four gametes will have one chromosome from Chromosome 1 and one from Chromosome 2. Label the possible combinations of alleles in the gametes as AB, Ab, aB, and ab, showing the result of independent assortment.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Meiosis

Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse gametes. It consists of two sequential divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, while meiosis II separates sister chromatids. This process is crucial for sexual reproduction, ensuring genetic variation through independent assortment and crossing over.
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Meiosis I & Meiosis II

Independent Assortment

Independent assortment is a principle of genetics that describes how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop. This means that the alleles for one gene segregate into gametes independently of the alleles for another gene. In the context of the question, the alleles A/a and B/b will assort independently during meiosis, leading to various combinations in the resulting gametes.
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Genetic Variation

Genetic variation refers to the diversity in gene frequencies among individuals within a population. It is primarily generated through processes such as mutation, recombination during meiosis, and independent assortment. In the scenario described, the combination of alleles A/a and B/b during gamete formation contributes to genetic variation, which is essential for evolution and adaptation in populations.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The smooth feathers on the back of the neck in pigeons can be reversed by a mutation to produce a 'crested' appearance in which feathers form a distinctive spike at the back of the head. A pigeon breeder examined offspring produced by a single pair of non-crested birds and recorded the following: 22 non-crested and 7 crested. She then made a series of crosses using offspring from the first cross. When she crossed two of the crested birds, all 20 of the offspring were crested. When she crossed a non-crested bird with a crested bird, 7 offspring were non-crested and 6 were crested. Which allele is dominant?

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Textbook Question

As a genetic counselor, you advise couples about the possibility of genetic disease in their offspring. Today you met with an engaged couple, both of whom are phenotypically normal. The man, however, has a brother who died of Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy, an X-linked recessive condition. His fiancée, whose family has no history of the disease, is worried that the couple's sons or daughters might be afflicted. How would you advise this couple?

1112
views
Textbook Question

As a genetic counselor, you advise couples about the possibility of genetic disease in their offspring. Today you met with an engaged couple, both of whom are phenotypically normal. The man, however, has a brother who died of Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy, an X-linked recessive condition. His fiancée, whose family has no history of the disease, is worried that the couple's sons or daughters might be afflicted. The sister of this man is planning to marry his fiancée's brother. How would you advise this second couple?

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Textbook Question
Suppose you are heterozygous for two genes that are located on different chromosomes. You carry alleles A and a for one gene and alleles B and b for the other. Label the stages of meiosis, the homologous chromosomes, sister chromatids, nonhomologous chromosomes, genes, and alleles.
1161
views
Textbook Question

Suppose you are heterozygous for two genes that are located on different chromosomes. You carry alleles A and a for one gene and alleles B and b for the other. Draw a diagram illustrating what happens to these genes and alleles when meiosis occurs in your reproductive tissues.

1163
views
Textbook Question

Suppose you are heterozygous for two genes that are located on different chromosomes. You carry alleles A and a for one gene and alleles B and b for the other. Label the stages of meiosis, the homologous chromosomes, sister chromatids, nonhomologous chromosomes, genes, and alleles.

913
views