Molecular Events: Meiosis and Mitosis

1. Define the terms gene and allele and explain how they differ. 
2. Compare the processes of mitosis and meiosis
3. What is crossing over and when does it occur?
4. Compare Prophase I and Prophase II.
5. How are genetic variability generated by Meiosis?
6. What might be the consequence if spindle fibers failed to attach to a pair of sister
chromatids in meiosis II?
7. Why is it necessary to regulate the cell cycle and what mechanisms are used for regulation?
8. How is cytokinesis in plants different from that in animals?
9. The sputum (fluid coughed up from the lungs) of many smokers contain cells with
mutations (errors) in the genes for p53. The smoking induced mutations appear to be an
early signal showing that cancer of the lungs will follow. What is the likely relationship
between early p53 mutation and the development of lung cancer?
A. p53 with a mutation directly stimulates the growth of cancer cells.
B. Mutations in p53 would prevent abnormal cells from dying by apoptosis.
C. Mutant p53 triggers the M phase of the cell cycle leading to abnormal cell division.
D. p53 causes a cell to enter G0, blocking cell division.