CHAPTER # 13

QUESTION 1

What is the significance of meiosis?

Meiosis is responsible for the formation of sex cells or gametes that are responsible for sexual
reproduction.

It activates the genetic information for the development of sex cells and deactivates the sporophytic
information.

It maintains the constant number of chromosomes by halving the same. This is important because the
chromosome number doubles after fertilization.

In this process independent assortment of maternal and paternal chromosomes takes place. Thus the
chromosomes and the traits controlled by them are reshuffled.

The genetic mutation occurs due to irregularities in cell division by meiosis. The mutations that are
beneficial are carried on by natural selection.

Crossing over produces a new combination of traits and variations.

QUESTION 2

What is crossing over and why is it important?

Crossing over is the swapping of genetic material that occurs in the germ line. During the formation of
egg and sperm cells, also known as meiosis, paired chromosomes from each parent align so that similar
DNA sequences from the paired chromosomes cross over one another. Crossing over is essential for the
normal segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. Crossing over also accounts for genetic variation,

because due to the swapping of genetic material during crossing over, the chromatids held together by
the centromere are no longer identical.

Chapter #14

QUESTION 1

Difference between genotype and phenotype?

A genotype refers to the genetic characteristics of an organism. A phenotype refers to the physical
characteristics. For example, having blue eyes (an autosomal recessive trait) is a phenotype; lacking the
 A genotype refers to the genetic characteristics of
gene for brown eyes is a genotype.
an organism. A phenotype refers to the physical characteristics. For example,
having blue eyes (an autosomal recessive trait) is a phenotype; lacking the
gene for brown eyes is a genotype.

QUESTION 2

What are the importance of Mendelian law?

Mendel’s laws have the following applications:

Using the Mendel’s laws, we can determine new combinations in the progeny of hybrids and can predict
their frequency.

This information is vastly used by plants and animal breeders to produce better breeds.

New type of plants with new combinations of useful characters can be produced by hybridization