General Biology Chapter 9 Assignment

Chapter 9 Assignment:
Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis
1. Explain why evolution often selects traits that promote genetic diversity.
Organisms that reproduce asexually are successful as long as the environment stays the same.
But most habitats on Earth are continuously changing; they may become hotter, colder,
wetter, drier, sunnier, shadier, more acidic, more basic, etc. In that case, organisms that
reproduce sexually are likely to have the greatest reproductive success because their
offspring are genetically variable. At least some of their offspring are likely to survive as the
environment changes,
2. Describe a situation in which asexual reproduction might be more likely than
sexual reproduction.
3. Asexual reproduction is most likely in habitats that undergo little change, such as the bottom
of the ocean.
4. Most cells in a sexually reproducing organism have two sets of chromosomes.
Explain this observation and describe its significance to meiosis.
Sexually reproducing organisms have two parents, each of which contributes one set of
chromosomes. But when a diploid organism reproduces sexually, it cannot simply combine one
of its diploid cells with a diploid cell from a mate. If it did, the chromosome number would
double in the next generation. Instead, the organism must produce haploid gametes that combine
with the haploid gametes from another organism. Meiosis produces these gametes.
5. What is the difference between haploid and diploid cells? Are your skin cells
haploid or diploid? What about germ cells? Gametes?
Haploid cells have one set of chromosomes, whereas diploid cells have two sets. Skin cells
and germ cells are diploid, but gametes are haploid.
6. How does crossing over produce variation among gametes?
In crossing over, homologous chromosomes align and swap segments with each other. After
crossing over is complete, the chromosomes have new allele combinations. Since crossing over
occurs at random, the gametes produced in one round of meiosis are not identical to those
produced in a subsequent round of meiosis.
7. Is it possible for a boy-girl pair of twins to be genetically identical? Why or why

not?
No, a boy-girl pair of twins must be genetically different (because sex is determined by genes on
the sex chromosomes). The boy-girl combination results from two separate sperm fertilizing two
separate egg cells.
8. List some examples of chromosomal abnormalities and explain how each relates
to an error in meiosis.
Extra or missing sex chromosomes and extra autosomes result from failure of chromosomes to
separate correctly in meiosis. Chromosomal deletions, duplications, inversions, and
translocations result from failures in homologous chromosomes to align properly during
prophase I or from mistakes during crossing over.
9. Could nondisjunction occur during mitosis? Compare and contrast the likely
consequence of nondisjunction in mitosis vs. meiosis.
Yes, nondisjunction could occur during mitosis, producing a cell with too many or too few
chromosomes. Typically, however, the consequences of nondisjunction in mitosis are much less
significant than when nondisjunction happens in meiosis. The abnormal cell produced in mitosis
will likely die, but others may be available to take its place. In contrast, nondisjunction in
meiosis produces gametes with incorrect chromosome numbers. After fertilization, every cell of
the resulting offspring will have the incorrect chromosome number. The offspring may not
survive, or it may have serious abnormalities.
10.How does spermatogenesis differ from oogenesis, and how are the processes
similar?
Spermatogenesis results in four equally sized, very small spermatids that mature into sperm cells.
Oogenesis results in one very large egg and three polar bodies. The processes are similar in that
they involve an initial mitotic division and then two meiotic divisions to produce haploid
gametes.
11.Provide examples to support or refute this statement: The products of meiosis

are always haploid cells, whereas the products of mitotic division are always
diploid cells.
The first part of the statement is true: unless nondisjunction occurs, diploid cells in animals and
plants undergo meiosis to produce haploid cells. The second part, however, is true only for some
organisms (including humans and most other animals). Plants have a multicellular gametophyte
generation in which haploid cells undergo mitotic division to produce additional haploid cells;
many fungi also produce haploid cells by mitotic division.

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Chapter 9 Assignment:

Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

7. Is it possible for a boy-girl pair of twins to be genetically identical? Why or why

11.Provide examples to support or refute this statement: The products of meiosis

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