Part 1: Chromosomes
Dec 26, 2015
Part 1: Chromosomes
All living things are made up of one or more cells.
These cells all contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which is your genetic material.
DNA can be stored in two forms as either chromatin (relaxed or unraveled) or as chromosomes (coiled)
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Chromatin coils to form a chromosome.
Chromosomes are rod shaped and comprised of both DNA and proteins called histones.
Histones are proteins that help the DNA maintain the coiled shape of a chromosome.
DNA needs to be relaxed in order to be read. However, it is never completely uncoiled as it would take up too much space. And it is never super coiled into a chromosome unless a cell is dividing.
Most of the time, your cells are not dividing. Therefore you have unduplicated chromosomes.
A dividing cell will have a duplicated chromosome which is made up of identical chromatids
Constricted area is the centromere
This is a eukaryotic chromosome. Prokaryotic organisms only have one chromosome and it is round.
What kind of chromosome is this?
Chromosomes contain genes which are areas of DNA that code for particular proteins.
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There are two types Sex Chromosomes: determine the sex
(gender) of an organism Autosomes: does not determine
gender Every cell has two copies of each
autosome – 1 from mother and 1 from father called homologous chromosomes or homologues
Homologous chromosomes carry the same type of genetic information but it may not be identical• Every cell has 2 sex chromosomes
that can differ depending on what they receive from their parents
• XX – female• XY – male
Does the number of chromosomes have anything to do with the complexity of an organism?
Photomicrograph of the chromosomes in a dividing cell
Human karyotypes show 22 homologous pairs of autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes
What do you notice about the arrangement?
Is this a male or female?
Diploid (di=2) cells have two sets of chromosomes• All normal human cells (except
reproductive) are diploid and called somatic (body) cell
• Represented by 2n Haploid (one) cells only have one set of
chromosomes• All reproductive cells (sperm and egg);
called gametes(sex cells) • Represented by 1n
A haploid cell has the possibility of joining together with another haploid cell to form a diploid cell. (fertilization)
Part 2: Cell Cycle
Binary fission: division of a prokaryotic cell in two offspring cells
Three general stages• Copy DNA• Grow• Divide
Two types in eukaryotes Mitosis
• Results in two cells with genetic material identical to the original cell – used for: repair, growth, and asexual reproduction
• Meiosis
• Reduces the chromosome number by half and the genetic material is not the same
• Produces gametes which are sex cells• Part of sexual reproduction
The gametes are haploid cells which retain the ability to join together and form diploid cells.
Two major phases of the cell are interphase and cell division
Interphase is the time between divisions
Cell division is the division of the nucleus (mitosis) and the cytoplasm (cytokinesis)
Divided into three sub-phases
G1: where the cell matures S: DNA is replicated G2: Cell prepares for
division
*Cells do not divide forever* G0: cells have exited the
cell cycle and do not copy DNA or divide any more
Division of the nucleus; called the M phase
It is divided into four different phases• Prophase• Metaphase• Anaphase• Telophase
Shortening and tightening of DNA into chromosomes
The nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear
Centrosomes appear and migrate toward the poles of the cell. In animal cells, the centrosomes contain centrioles.
Spindle fibers begin to radiate form the centrosomes • Kinetochore fibers • Polar fibers
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Chromosomes are easier to identify - can easily see the X shape.
Kinetochore fibers move the chromosomes to the center.
Once there the chromosomes are held in place.
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The chromatids separate and move centromere first to opposite poles
Once the chromatids separate they are considered to be individual chromosomes
Once the chromosomes reach the poles of the cell the spindle fibers disassemble
The chromosome returns to its uncoiled state
Nuclear membrane and a nucleolus forms in each cell
During telophase the cytoplasm begins to divide
Animals• Cleavage Furrow:
pinching inward of the membrane midway of the poles
Plants• Cell Plate: Vesicles
formed by the Golgi apparatus fuse midway of the dividing cell
The end result of mitosis is two identical daughter cells.
The cells will go back to interphase to grow and develop into full cells.
Cell growth (G1 ) checkpoint: the cell determines if it is ready to start the process of division
DNA synthesis (G2) checkpoint: check DNA synthesis
Mitosis checkpoint: check if mitosis proceeded correctly
When control is lost it can lead to cancer
Chapter 8Part 3: Meiosis and
Reproduction
Meiosis• Reduces the
chromosome number by half and the genetic material is not the same
• Produces gametes which are sex cells
• Part of sexual reproduction The gametes are
haploid cells which retain the ability to join together and form diploid cells.
Very similar to mitosis but produces haploid cells instead through 2 divisions: Meiosis I and Meiosis II
None of the cells have the same genetic information
All of the aspects of prophase that occur in mitosis occur here as well
Synapsis: pairing of homologous chromosomes
Tetrad: the pair formed in synapsis
Crossing-over: portions of the chromosomes break off and exchange with homologue
Genetic Recombination: new genetic material is made
Metaphase I• The tetrads line up in the middle
of the cell Anaphase I
• Here the homologous chromosomes separate and go toward opposite poles
• Since they randomly lined up in metaphase, they now randomly separate. This process is called independent assortment.
• Independent Assortment: the random separation of homologues
Telophase I and Cytokinesis• Here the cell will split into
two new cells• The end result is two cells
that are haploid cells.• Each cell is now considered
haploid cells, even though they have two copies of that chromosome. This is due to the fact that it no longer has a homologue.
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Occurs on the two cells formed during meiosis I Same procedure as mitosis End result of meiosis II is four new cells containing half the number of
chromosomes of the original cell **Some cells will start meiosis after the nuclear membrane completely
reforms; others start at the end of meiosis I
Sometimes errors can occur in meiosis
Whether the homologous chromosomes fail to separate in anaphase I or the sister chromatids fail to separate in anaphase II, nondisjunction has occurred.
This will lead to one or more sex cells that have too many chromosomes and one or more sex cells that are missing a chromosome.
The result is a genetic disorder.
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Meiosis occurs only in the reproductive organs in animals
Spermatogenesis• Each haploid cell called a
spermatid is form; spermatids develop into sperm cells
Oogenesis• In cytokinesis I and II the
cytoplasm does not split evenly• One egg (ovum) developed and
three polar bodies• The polar bodies will eventually
degenerate
Requires 1 parent - produces identical offspring
Types• Mitosis• Budding• Parthenogensis• Fragmentation
Benefits• Quick• Produce many offspring at one time• No energy wasted on finding a mate
Cons• No genetic variation – could lead to
the extinction of a species.
Requires 2 parents – leads to genetically different offspring.
Benefits• Offspring are genetically different
than each other and their parents*** - This allows a species to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
Cons• Must find a mate• Expend energy in producing
gametes that may not be fertilized
*** With the exception of identical twins!***