Worksheet 10.

1
Chapter 10: Genetics 2 – fifteen summary facts
1 During meiosis, pairs of homologous chromosomes (called bivalents) show random orientation
when they line up along the equator of the cell during prophase I, thus contributing to variety in
the gametes produced.
2 The bivalents are separated during anaphase I, and then each chromosome is separated into two
sister chromatids during anaphase II.
3 Crossing over, a process by which homologous chromosomes exchange chunks of DNA between a
maternal chromatid and a paternal chromatid, also contributes to the increase in genetic variety
among the gametes produced.
4 Chiasmata form when two adjacent non-sister chromatids from two homologous chromosomes
break at the same point and exchange segments of genetic material.
5 Thanks to crossing over during prophase I and random orientation during metaphase I, it is highly
unlikely that a person could produce the same gamete twice – this makes it essentially impossible
for parents to produce future offspring identical to their current offspring.
6 Mendel’s law of independent assortment states that when gametes are formed, the separation of
one pair of alleles between the daughter cells is independent of the separation of another pair of
alleles.
7 Punnett grids used in Chapter 4 showed monohybrid crosses; here we use grids to demonstrate
dihybrid crosses. A dihybrid cross involves two characteristics (e.g. flower colour and seed shape).
8 The expected ratio of offspring in a 4 ´ 4 Punnett grid showing a dihybrid cross is 9 : 3 : 3 : 1.
9 An autosomal condition is one whose genes are found on chromosomes 1 to 22 (also called the
autosomes) whereas a sex-linked condition is one whose genes are found on the X or Y
chromosomes.
10 During crossing over, maternal alleles can be switched with alleles found on the paternal adjacent
non-sister chromatid.
11 A linkage group refers to genes found on the same chromosome and, as a result, usually passed on
together to the next generation – a special notation with horizontal lines is used to show this
linkage.
12 Due to crossing over, sometimes a linkage group can be cut and separated to generate new
combinations which did not exist in the parents’ chromosomes – such new combinations are called
recombinants.
13 Polygenic inheritance involves two or more genes influencing the expression of one trait, as seen
in human height.

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14 Continuous variation is observed when a large array of possible phenotypes can be produced (e.g.
height) and statistics about the variation show a bell-curve distribution. Discontinuous variation is
observed when there are only a few possible phenotypes (e.g. ABO blood types) and statistics
about the variation are not likely to show an even distribution around an average value.
15 Human skin colour is another example of polygenic inheritance and of continuous variation – it
varies from very dark (a high percentage of melanin in the skin) to very pale (a low percentage of
melanin in the skin).

© Pearson Education Ltd 2010. For more information about the Pearson Baccalaureate series please visit 2
www.pearsonbacc.com