Chapter 3: Heredity and Variation

Answer
Exercise 1
1. (i) Two daughter cells are formed in mitosis. ( )
(ii) In mitosis, cytoplasm divides once. ( )
(iii) Mitosis is important for producing new cells to replace the old or damaged cells ( )
(iv) Mitosis cause genetic variation. ( X )
(v) The number of chromosomes in the daughter cell is half the number of chromosomes
in the parent cell. ( X )
(vi) The parent cell and the daughter cell have the same genetic content. ( )
(vii) Crossing-over does not take place in mitosis. ( )
(viii)Mitosis occurs in somatic cells. ( )
2. (i)

Four daughter cells are formed in meiosis. ( )

(ii) In meiosis, the number of chromosomes in each daughter cell is the same as in the
parent cell. ( X )
(iii) Meiosis is important to organisms that reproduce sexually because it produces
gametes. ( )
(iv) Meiosis cause genetic variation. ( )

3.
MEIOSIS

MITOSIS
DIF
SIMILARITIES
FE
InvolvesRE
cell division
NC
Occurs in the nucleus
ES
Chromosome replication
takes place

Twice

Number of
divisions

Only once

Four

Number of daughter
cells produced

Two

Half

Number of
chromosomes in
daughter cell compared
to parent cell

Same

Different

Combination of
chromosomes in
daughter cell compared
to parent cell

Identical

Occurs

Crossing
over

Does not
occur

Variation
occurs

Genetic
variation

None

Exercise 2
1.
TERMS
Phenotype
Homozygote
Genotype

DEFINITIONS
Describes the characteristics traits of an organism, including the
physical and the physiological.
Organism which has two identical genes. Example: TT or tt.
Composition of gene in an organism

Chromosomes

Thread-like structure present in the nucleus of a cell

Recessive gene

A gene which is weak and its effect can be masked by a

dominant gene

Hybrid

Gene

An organism which has one dominant gene and one recessive

gene for a certain characteristic. Example: Bb ( B = dominant
gene for black fur , b = recessive gene for white fur )
Unit carrying a characteristic trait which exists in pairs in a
chromosome.

Heterozygote

Organism which has two different members of the same gene.

Example: Tt.

Dominant gene

Exchange of genes when two chromatids cross giving rise to

genetic variation.

Crossing over

A gene which masks the effect of a weaker gene

2.
Father
Mother
Bb

Parent

bb

Meiosis
Gamete

Fertilisation
Offspring genotype

Offspring phenotype

Bb

Bb

Black

Black

50 % black hair : 50% blonde hair.

bb

bb

Blonde

Blonde