Mitosis
During which phase of mitosis do the sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell
Anaphase
What is meiosis?
Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
What does ATP stand for and what is its main function?
ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate, and it is the main energy carrier in cells.
What is a gene?
A gene is a segment of DNA that contains instructions to make a specific protein or trait.
What is evolution?
Evolution is the process by which species change over time
What is the main purpose of mitosis in multicellular organisms
Growth and repair
Why is meiosis important for sexual reproduction?
Meiosis is important because it produces gametes (sperm and eggs) and creates genetic variation in offspring.
How is ADP different from ATP?
ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) has two phosphate groups instead of three and stores less energy than ATP.
Where are genes found in a cell?
Genes are found on chromosomes inside the cell’s nucleus.
Who is known as the father of the theory of evolution
Charles Darwin is known as the father of the theory of evolution.
What happens in each stage of mitosis
Prophase: Chromosomes condense and spindle fibers form.
Metaphase: Chromosomes line up at the center of the cell.
Anaphase: Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles.
Telophase: Nuclear membranes reform and chromosomes uncoil.
How does meiosis reduce the chromosome number by half?
Meiosis I separates homologous chromosomes, making cells haploid.
How does ATP release energy for cellular processes?
ATP releases energy when its third phosphate group is broken off, forming ADP and a free phosphate.
How do genes control the traits of an organism?
Genes carry instructions to make proteins, which influence an organism’s traits, like eye color or blood type.
How does natural selection lead to evolution in a population
Natural selection favors individuals with traits that help them survive and reproduce. Over time, these traits become more common, causing the population to evolve.
How does improper spindle fiber attachment affect mitosis?
If spindle fibers do not attach properly, chromosomes may not separate evenly, leading to daughter cells with the wrong number of chromosomes.
What is crossing over, and why is it important in meiosis?
Crossing over is the exchange of genes between chromosomes, creating genetic variation.
Explain the cycle between ATP and ADP in energy transfer.
Energy from food is used to add a phosphate to ADP, forming ATP. Then ATP releases energy by losing a phosphate, turning back into ADP. This ATP–ADP cycle provides energy for the cell.
What is the difference between dominant and recessive genes?
Dominant genes show their trait even if only one copy is present, while recessive genes only show their trait if both copies are present.
What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures, and what do they tell us about evolution?
Homologous structures have similar anatomy but may have different functions, showing common ancestry.
Analogous structures have similar functions but different anatomy, showing adaptation to similar environments rather than common ancestry.
How does the cell cycle checkpoint system detect and respond to errors during mitosis, and what are the possible consequences if these checkpoints fail?
Cell cycle checkpoints ensure that chromosomes are correctly attached to spindle fibers before division. If these checkpoints fail, chromosomes may be unevenly distributed, leading to abnormal cells and possible diseases like cancer.
Explain how nondisjunction during meiosis can lead to genetic disorders, and give an example
Nondisjunction occurs when chromosomes fail to separate properly during meiosis, producing gametes with too many or too few chromosomes. This can cause genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, which results from an extra copy of chromosome 21.
How do enzymes like ATP synthase facilitate the production of ATP, and why is this process essential for cellular respiration?
ATP synthase uses a proton gradient to add a phosphate to ADP, forming ATP. This process is essential because it produces most of the cell’s energy.
How can mutations in a gene affect protein function, and what are the possible consequences for an organism?
Mutations change a gene’s DNA sequence, which can alter the protein it codes for. This may make the protein nonfunctional, overactive, or harmful, potentially causing genetic disorders or diseases.
How can genetic drift and gene flow influence evolution differently from natural selection
Genetic drift changes allele frequencies randomly, while gene flow moves alleles between populations. Unlike natural selection, neither necessarily favors traits for survival or reproduction.