Unit 7 - Genes and Inheritence
Unit 7 - Genes and Inheritence
Egg Cell:
They are the female gametes.
We can see egg cells through a scanning electron microscope.
A human egg is about the same size as a full stop (.).
They need to be larger than sperm cells as they contain food reserves.
Fertilization:
During ovulation, the ovum is released from the ovary and transported to an
area where fertilization, the joining of the sperm and ovum (nuclei fuse), can
occur.
Fertilization in humans occurs in the fallopian tube.
Fertilization results in the formation of the zygote (fertilized egg).
Definition: The joining of a sperm cell and egg cell may be referred to as
fertilization.
Each gamete has 23 chromosomes in the nucleus. When the cell’s nuclei fuse
and the sperm cell and egg cell join, the 2 sets of 23 chromosomes lead to 46
chromosomes per cell in the offspring.
Definition of Zygote: The new cell that is formed when the nucleus of the
sperm cell and egg cell fuse/join together is known as a zygote.
Chromosomes
If an organism has the Diploid number (2n), it has two matching homologous
chromosomes per set. One homologue comes from the mother (with the
mother’s DNA), and the other comes from the father (with the father’s DNA).
Most organisms are diploid. Humans have 23 sets of chromosomes, meaning
they have a total of 46 chromosomes. The diploid number for humans is 46
(46 chromosomes per cell).
Cell Types and Chromosome Numbers
Diploid Cells (2n = 46 in humans): Contain two sets of chromosomes, found in
all body (somatic) cells.
Haploid Cells (n = 23 in humans): Contain one set of chromosomes, found only
in gametes (sperm and egg cells).
Zygote Formation: During fertilization, haploid gametes fuse, restoring the
diploid chromosome number and forming a zygote (the first cell of a new
organism).
Homologous Chromosomes:
Homologous Chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes (maternal and
paternal) that are similar in shape and size.
Homologous pairs (tetrads) carry genes controlling the same inherited
traits.
Each locus (position of a gene) is in the same position on homologous
chromosomes.
Pairs of Homologous Chromosomes:
Humans have 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes:
o 22 pairs of autosomes
o 1 pair of sex chromosomes