BIOL 1406 Lecture 12: Biology notes ch. 13
Document Summary
In asexual reproduction, one parent produces genetically identical offspring. In sexual reproduction, two parents give rise to offspring that have unique combinations of genes inherited from the two parents. Variation is produced by the process of sexual reproduction. Genetics the scientific study of heredity and variation. Heredity is the transmission of traits from one generation to the next. Genes are the units of heredity, and are made of dna. Each gene has a specific location called a locus on a certain chromosome. Genes are passed from parent to offspring through reproductive cells called gametes (sperm and eggs) One set of chromosomes are inherited from each parent. The two chromosomes in each pair are called homologous chromosomes. Human somatic (body) cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Homologous pairs carry genes controlling the same inherited characters. Thus we all carry two genes for each trait. The 23rd chromosome pair are called the sex chromosomes.