Determining What You Already Know About Mendelian Genetics, continued

Meiosis

Though the concept was unknown to Mendel himself, meiosis is a cellular process that helps to explain some of Mendel's findings. We will not be discussing cell biology or molecular genetics text annotation indicator in this course, but you may wish to review meiosis in order to better understand the significance of Mendel's work.

Meiosis is a cellular process which produces sperm and egg cells in sexually reproducing organisms.

True

False

In meiosis, the resulting cells have twice the chromosome number as the original parent cell.

True

False

The "point" of meiosis is to produce cells that are genetically identical to each other.

True

False

Remember the order of the phases of meiosis? Let's check!

How about the important events of meiosis?

Put the items in the correct order.

Anaphase II

Metaphase II

Prophase I

Anaphase I

Prophase II

Telophase II and cytokinesis

Metaphase I

Telophase I and cytokinesis

DragNDrop Activity indicator

After these questions and activities, would you like to review meiosis? Try these background links:

Meiosis Tutorial (see the University of Arizona The Biology Project Web site, found on page 7 of the Mentor Guidelines Web site)

"Meiosis" from JohnKyrk.com

Video of Meiosis (found at YouTube.com)

Chromosomes

Even though chromosomes were discovered and studied in the nineteenth century, the significant role of the chromosome in heredity was not known until decades after Mendel's research.

It was not until decades after Mendel's research when the central role of the chromosome in heredity was known. However, you need to understand about chromosomes before you tackle Mendel's findings. Want to see what you know?

Chromosomes are made of DNA and proteins.

True

False

Which of the following statements is true about chromosomes?

a. The more chromosomes an organism has in its cells, the more complex it is.

b. Genes are segments of chromosomes. Genes spell out the information for making an organism's traits.

c. It is not possible to see chromosomes in a cell with a microscope.

d. In meiosis, the chromosomes from one parent are deleted. Only the chromosomes from one parent get passed to the offspring.

Even if you did well on the chromosome questions, you may enjoy these chromosome background links!

Tour of the Basics (found at Learn.Genetics Web site of the University of Utah)

Chromosome animation video (found at YouTube.com)

Ready to begin looking at Mendel's work? On to the next page!

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