Ploidy refers to the number of complete sets of chromosomes (genes) present in a cell. The number of chromosomes in a complete set is a fixed characteristic of a species. Humans are diploid with two sets of 23 chromosomes. Fruit flies are diploid with two sets of 4 chromosomes. Sexually reproducing organisms are diploid, each somatic cell of an organism has two complete sets ("di" is a prefix indicating 2.). To complete a life cycle and reproduce new members of a species, mating is required. Mating brings a donation from a male and a donation from a female together. However, if the male and female cells remain diploid, the fertilization will result in a tetraploid zygote. In general, these are not viable. A mechanism is needed to form special haploid cells, gametes. The diploid set is split precisely into two complete haploid sets. That mechanism is meiosis.

The complete set of chromosomes of a species is also the complete set of genes of a species, the genome. (Yes, there is a minor contribution from mitochondria and chloroplasts. Inheritance of this information is "cytoplasmic".)

Please answer the following questions:

1. How many chromosomes in a brain cell of a fruit fly? How many chromosomes are in a liver cell of a human? Explain both answers.

2. How many chromosomes are in a fruit fly unfertilized egg? How many chromosomes are in a human egg? Explain both answers.

3. Why is meiosis necessary for sexually reproducing organisms? How many chromosomes are in a human zygote? Relate the two answers.

4. What is a gene allele? Suppose there is a gene called "bingo" and it is present once in a complete haploid set. How many alleles of "bingo" does a diploid individual have? How many copies or versions of the gene "bingo" are present in a diploid individual?

5. Modern DNA sequencing clearly identifies alleles by showing the different DNA sequence of each allele. These alleles may be termed structural alleles (I coined the term for this problem.). Classical genetics only dealt with phenotypes or visible traits. As a result, alleles of genes were identified by functionality, usually normal or non-functional. Using your knowledge of gene structure and gene expression, postulate a relationship between structural alleles and functional alleles. (include relative amounts; more, less, or equal).

If an organismâs diploid chromosome number is 18, how many different possible combinations of homologous chromosomes lining up during meiosis exist for the eggs or sperm produced by that organism?

	A.	512
	B.	9
	C.	18
	D.	128
	E.	36

At the end of metaphase I, _______________ separate.

	A.	sister chromatids
	B.	germ cells
	C.	homologous chromosomes
	D.	haploid chromatids
	E.	centrioles

Mendel observed that dominant traits

	A.	are seen in all of the F1 hybrid pea plants in his experiments.
	B.	are expressed in all plants.
	C.	were absent in the F1 generation of pea plants that he used in his experiments.
	D.	were the only traits seen in the F2 generation of pea plants in his experiments.
	E.	are only expressed in hybrids.

Cytokinesis in plant cells differs from cytokinesis in animal cells because

	A.	there is no difference.
	B.	in plant cells, the cell plate must also divide into two parts.
	C.	the contractile protein, actin, is important only in plant cells.
	D.	plant cells have a rigid cell wall.
	E.	a contractile ring forms only in plant cells.

Sickle cell anemia is an example of what type of inheritance?

	A.	complete dominance
	B.	incomplete dominance
	C.	codominance
	D.	multiple alleles
	E.	recessive dominance

Which of the following statements is true:

	A.	The dominant allele is masked in homozygous dominant individuals.
	B.	With recessive genetic disorders, if both parents are carriers, the offspring will all be affected.
	C.	In carriers, the recessive allele causes an intermediate phenotype.
	D.	In recessive genetic disorders, the mother and/or father of an affected individual must also be affected.
	E.	With dominant genetic disorders, the mother and/or father of an affected individual must also be affected.

Skin cancers typically develop in the

	A.	upper layers of the epidermis.
	B.	lower layers of the dermis.
	C.	subcutaneous layer.
	D.	lower layers of the epidermis.
	E.	upper layers of the dermis.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MD) is inherited from an X-linked recessive allele. What is the probability that a son with Duchenne MD inherited this disease from his biological father?

	A.	1/2
	B.	0
	C.	1/16
	D.	1/4
	E.	1/8

The genetic makeup of a particular trait in an individual is its

	A.	genotype.
	B.	heterozygosity.
	C.	phenotype.
	D.	filial.
	E.	dominance.

What structure holds the sister chromatids to the spindle fibers?

	A.	chromatin
	B.	kinetochore
	C.	MPF
	D.	centromere
	E.	cyclin

If you view a cell in which the genetic material is beginning to be visible as separate bodies, and the nucleus has disappeared from view, you may surmise that the cells is in

	A.	telophase.
	B.	anaphase.
	C.	interphase.
	D.	metaphase.
	E.	prophase.

Gregor Mendel was successful in his analysis of the genetics of pea plants because

	A.	he examined and analyzed both the F1 and F2 generations.
	B.	he studied the parental plants to determine their differences.
	C.	he decided to only look at his results in an objective manner.
	D.	he studied a trait that had a strange inheritance pattern.
	E.	pea plants have genetics different from other organisms.

Tall corn plants (T) are dominant to dwarf plants (tt). Solid green leaves (G) are dominant to leaves with a white tip (gg). A cross between two corn plants yielded the following phenotypes: 51 tall plants with a white tip on their leaves; 43 dwarf plants with solid leaves; 48 dwarf plants with white tips on their leaves; 45 tall plants with solid leaves. What are the genotypes of the parents that produced these plants?

	A.	None of the above
	B.	TtGg x Ttgg
	C.	ttGG x TTgg
	D.	TtGg x TtGg
	E.	TtGg x ttgg

In humans, a gene that has been identified as causing a type of skin cancer is the

	A.	superwoman echidna.
	B.	mutant superman.
	C.	sonic hedgehog.
	D.	mutant mole rat.
	E.	superhero aardvark.

The segregation principle states that in sexually reproducing diploid organisms the two copies of each gene

	A.	segregate from each other during meiosis.
	B.	must always be the same allele.
	C.	separate from each other during mitosis.
	D.	will both wind up in either the sperm or egg.
	E.	move together as a unit during meiosis.

In what phases is the genetic material in the cell correctly referred to as chromatids?

	A.	metaphase and telophase
	B.	anaphase and metaphase
	C.	interphase and telophase
	D.	interphase and prophase
	E.	metaphase and prophase

Consider two traits for an organism, determined by two genes, each of which is governed by at least two alleles. In the case of a dihybrid individual, the gametes formed will be of either the parental type or the recombinant type. Recombinant type gametes are formed because of

	A.	the principle of dihybrids.
	B.	multiple alleles.
	C.	heterozygosity.
	D.	incomplete dominance.
	E.	independent assortment.

An allele is

	A.	an alternate form of a gene.
	B.	always recessive.
	C.	the main factor determining a trait.
	D.	always one of a pair.
	E.	the dominant form of a gene.

After the DNA is replicated, and it condenses in prophase, two identical rods of DNA are seen. These are

	A.	spindle fibers.
	B.	kinetochores.
	C.	chromatids.
	D.	chromatin.
	E.	centromeres.

Special cells found in the gonads that give rise to gametes upon division are called

	A.	egg cells.
	B.	somatic cells.
	C.	germ cells.
	D.	stem cells.
	E.	basal cells.

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