PSYC20008 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Messenger Rna, Karyotype, Cell Nucleus
22 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
Genotype the genetic constitution of an individual organism. Observable properties of an organism produced by the genotype and environmental influences. Hair colour, executive function abilities, psychiatric condition etc. A chromosome carries the genetic information of the body. Most of our cells contain 46 chromosomes (23 pairs, 1 set from each parent) Chromatin is made up of nucleic acids (dna and rna) and proteins. Chromosomes are only visible during cell division processes, called mitosis and meiosis. Otherwise, they unfold and uncoil into a diffuse network within the nucleus. The karyotype is a description of the chromosomal content of a cell - including a total count of the chromosomes and a description of the sex chromosomes. The autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) are numbered 1 to 22. The sex chromosomes are either x or: the x chromosome is considerably larger than the y and contains more genetic information. Recombination of genetic material enables genetic variation in the population.
