BackGeneral Biology Final Exam Study Guide
Terms in this set (30)
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four haploid cells. It includes two stages: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
Meiosis produces four genetically unique haploid cells, while mitosis produces two identical diploid cells. Meiosis involves two divisions; mitosis only one.
Genetic variation arises from independent assortment, crossing over, and random fertilization during meiosis.
Crossing over is the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis, increasing genetic diversity.
Nondisjunction is a mistake during meiosis where chromosomes fail to separate properly, leading to abnormal chromosome numbers.
A karyotype is a visual profile of an individual's chromosomes, used to detect chromosomal abnormalities.
Chromosome alterations include deletions, duplications, inversions, and translocations.
Mendelian genetics studies inheritance patterns based on dominant and recessive alleles following Mendel's laws.
Includes multiple alleles, codominance, incomplete dominance, and sex-linked inheritance.
Genotype is the genetic makeup; phenotype is the observable trait.
Punnett squares predict offspring genotypes in monohybrid and dihybrid crosses.
DNA is composed of nucleotides with a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous bases (A, T, G, C).
Chargaff's rule: In DNA, A = T and G = C.
Helicase unwinds DNA, primase adds RNA primers, DNA polymerase synthesizes new strands, and ligase joins Okazaki fragments.
The leading strand is synthesized continuously; the lagging strand is synthesized in Okazaki fragments.
mRNA carries the genetic code, tRNA brings amino acids, and rRNA forms the ribosome.
Transcription stages: initiation (RNA polymerase binds promoter), elongation (RNA strand grows), termination (RNA polymerase reaches terminator).
Eukaryotic RNA undergoes splicing to remove introns and join exons. Prokaryotic RNA is not processed.
Translation stages: initiation (ribosome assembles), elongation (amino acids added), termination (stop codon reached).
Mutations include silent, missense, nonsense, and frameshift mutations.
Evolution occurs by natural selection, where organisms with advantageous traits survive and reproduce.
Includes morphological, geographical, fossil, embryological, and DNA evidence.
Homologous structures share common ancestry; analogous structures have similar function but different origins.
Population is in equilibrium if p + q = 1 and p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1, with no evolution occurring.
Genetic drift is random changes in allele frequencies, including bottleneck and founder effects.
Includes directional, stabilizing, disruptive, and sexual selection.
Allopatric speciation occurs with geographic separation; sympatric occurs without geographic separation.
Biotic factors are living components; abiotic factors are nonliving environmental components.
Types include mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism.
Energy flows through producers, consumers, and decomposers with about 10% energy transfer efficiency.