Meiosis and Fertilization

This page details the process of meiosis through diagrams and explains the significance of fertilization in genetic diversity. The content focuses on how reproductive cells are formed and combine during fertilization.

Highlight: Fertilization is a process that creates genetic diversity, making each individual resulting from sexual reproduction genetically unique.

Definition: Fertilization restores chromosome pairs, with each cell containing 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Example: Crossing tables demonstrate how different combinations of gametes lead to varied genetic outcomes.

Vocabulary: Gametes are reproductive cells produced through meiosis.

Quote: "The karyotype does not change during an individual's life and is identical regardless of the cells considered."

Understanding Genes and Genetic Information

This page introduces fundamental concepts of genetics and hereditary information transmission. The genetic material is organized into homologous chromosome pairs that carry genes determining hereditary characteristics.

Definition: A gene is a portion of DNA that determines a hereditary characteristic and contains part of the hereditary information carried by DNA.

Vocabulary: Alleles are different versions of the same gene present on each chromosome of a pair.

Example: Blood type inheritance demonstrates different allele combinations: AA (type A), AB (type AB), or BB (type B).

Highlight: Genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis result from genetic anomalies affecting specific genes.

Definition: Genotype refers to the complete set of alleles (genes) present in an individual.

The page concludes with an introduction to meiosis, defining it as the process of forming reproductive cells through two successive cell divisions.