Textbook Question
How do we know that X chromosomal inactivation of either the paternal or maternal homolog is a random event during early development in mammalian females?
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Ch. 5 - Sex Determination and Sex Chromosomes
Klug10th EditionEssentials of GeneticsISBN: 9780135588789
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Introduction to Genetics16
- Ch. 2 - Mitosis and Meiosis28
- Ch. 3 - Mendelian Genetics37
- Ch. 4 - Modification of Mendelian Ratios53
- Ch. 5 - Sex Determination and Sex Chromosomes32
- Ch. 6 - Chromosome Mutations: Variation in Number and Arrangement37
- Ch. 7 - Linkage and Chromosome Mapping in Eukaryotes36
- Ch. 8 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages24
- Ch. 9 - DNA Structure and Analysis38
- Ch. 10 - DNA Replication29
- Ch. 11 - Chromosome Structure and DNA Sequence Organization22
- Ch. 12 - The Genetic Code and Transcription36
- Ch. 13 - Translation and Proteins27
- Ch. 14 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Transposition34
- Ch. 15 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria22
- Ch. 16 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes37
- Ch. 17 - Recombinant DNA Technology27
- Ch. 18 - Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Proteomics30
- Ch. 19 - The Genetics of Cancer21
- Ch. 20 - Quantitative Genetics and Multifactorial Traits37
- Ch. 21 - Population and Evolutionary Genetics45
Chapter 5, Problem 3a
As related to sex determination, what is meant by:
homomorphic and heteromorphic chromosomes
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand that chromosomes are structures within cells that carry genetic information, and in many organisms, sex determination involves specific chromosomes called sex chromosomes.
Step 2: Define homomorphic chromosomes as pairs of chromosomes that are similar in size, shape, and gene content. In the context of sex determination, homomorphic sex chromosomes look alike and are not easily distinguishable under a microscope.
Step 3: Define heteromorphic chromosomes as pairs of chromosomes that differ in size, shape, or gene content. In sex determination, heteromorphic sex chromosomes are visibly different, such as the human X and Y chromosomes.
Step 4: Recognize that homomorphic sex chromosomes are often found in species where sex chromosomes have not diverged much, while heteromorphic sex chromosomes indicate a more differentiated system of sex determination.
Step 5: Summarize that homomorphic and heteromorphic chromosomes describe the physical similarity or difference between sex chromosome pairs, which is important for understanding how sex is genetically determined in different species.
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Sex Determination
Sex determination is the biological system that decides the development of sexual characteristics in an organism. It often involves specific chromosomes, such as X and Y in humans, which influence whether an individual develops as male or female.
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04:24
Sex Determination
Homomorphic Chromosomes
Homomorphic chromosomes are chromosome pairs that are similar in shape, size, and gene content. In the context of sex determination, homomorphic sex chromosomes appear identical under a microscope and do not differ visibly between sexes.
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07:10Chromosome Structure
Heteromorphic Chromosomes
Heteromorphic chromosomes are chromosome pairs that differ in size, shape, or gene content. In sex determination, heteromorphic sex chromosomes, like the human X and Y, are visibly distinct and carry different genetic information related to sex traits.
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07:10Chromosome Structure
Related Practice
Textbook Question
How do we know that Drosophila utilizes a different sex-determination mechanism than mammals, even though it has the same sex-chromosome compositions in males and females?
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Textbook Question
Write a short essay that discusses sex chromosomes as they contrast with autosomes.
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Textbook Question
Distinguish between the concepts of sexual differentiation and sex determination.
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Textbook Question
Contrast the XX/XY and XX/X0 modes of sex determination.
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