Data-Based Questions: Chromosomes

Name: Rashed Kamal

Comparing the chromosomes of mice and humans

The figure below shows all the types of chromosomes in mice and in humans. Numbers and colours are used to
indicate sections of mouse chromosomes that are homologous to sections of human chromosomes.

1. Deduce the number of types of chromosomes in mice and in humans.

There are 21 different types in mice. There are 24 different types of chromosomes in humans.

2. Identify the two human chromosome types that are most similar to mouse chromosomes.

The x chromosome and the y chromosome

3. Identify mouse chromosomes which contain sections that are not homologous to human chromosomes.

Chromosome 1 and Chromosome 13 contain sections which are completely different as there is no
similarities between due to the discoloration.

4. Suggest reasons for the many similarities between the mouse and human genomes.

Both species require the use of sexual reproduction through mating to produce gametes then zygotes.

5. Deduce how chromosomes have mutated during the evolution of animals such as mice and humans.

A mutation is a change in the DNA and therefore this impacts the chromosome because when DNA is
mutated over several generations and is passed on, it can differ what exactly occurs due to methylation etc.
Therefore, dictating the different chromosomes. (IE DNA)

Also through natural selection there could be evolving traits and chromosomes will mutate and change which
will lead to the evolution of these set organisms.

The difference between number of chromosomes

The chromosomes could fuse or break apart.

Translocation of different chromosome parts

3.2 Chromosomes
Differences in chromosome number

1. There are many different chromosome numbers in the table, but some numbers are missing, for example, 5,
7, 11, 13. Explain why none of the species has 13 chromosomes.

There cannot be an odd number of chromosomes because each chromosome is a pair, and each
chromatid is given by one parent therefore, odd numbers are not possible.

2. Discuss, using the data in the table, the hypothesis that the more complex an organism is the more
chromosomes it has.

This is not true because when looking at species such as humans who are very developed and complex, and
contrasting it to dogs which aren’t more complex than humans, they have 22 more chromosomes and
therefore, this is an invalid method to determine how complex an organism is.

3. Explain why the size of the genome of a species cannot be deduced from the number of chromosomes.

It is not possible to deduce the genome of a species which are found within a chromosome since the
information is unknown and the technology currently doesn’t allow us to expand our knowledge to those
limits.
Not accurate measure for genome size because chromosomes come in different sizes
Not accurate measure for genome size because genes come in different sizes
Only accurate way is base pairs because same size

4. Suggest, using the data in the table, a change in chromosome structure that may have occurred during
human evolution.

It is hypothesized that humans evolved from being chimpanzees to homo sapiens. This is prevalent since we
share a lot of the same traits however, the only difference is that chimpanzees have an extra 2
chromosomes which could be attributed to the fact that when humans evolved they did not need the extra
pair of chromosomes to produce certain proteins and therefore, humans have evolved. \

Humans merge chromosomes or chimps chromosomes broke apart.

3.2 Chromosomes