The Chromosomal Basis of Heredity ALL CELLS SHARE 4 KEY COMPONENTS:

Reported by: Rica Francisco

Plasma Cytoplas DNA Ribosome
Membran m s
Learning Objectives
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At the end of this lesson, the students should able to:

• Define the cell and its part. Nucleus

• Identify the chromosome structure.
• Understand the mitosis from the meiosis and the life cycles.
A. The cell
• All forms of life, except viruses, consist of cells.
• The organization of each cell is the same in all organisms.
• Surrounded by a double membrane in active contract with
the ER and the cell membrane.
• The nuclear content consist of a dark network called
chromatin, which during cell division becomes distinct bodies
or chromosomes.
• One or more spherical bodies, nucleoli, may be found
attached to specific chromosome regoius.

Three Main Parts:

1. CELL MEMBRANE
• a.k.a plasma membrane
• outer covering that separates the cells interior from its
surrounding environment
2. CYTOPLASM
• consists of the jelly-like cytosol
• where the organelles are suspended in
3. NUCLEUS
• cells control center
• primary director of cellular activity
B. The chromosome structure
EUKARYOTIC CELL • Chromosome usually maintain constant size and shape at
• Plant cell specific stages of the cell cycle.
• Animal cell
• Contains a nuclear membrane that separates the genetic • The condensed chromosome may be as short as ¼
material from the cytoplasm. micron (in fungi and birds) or as long as 30 microns in trillium
species.
• Present in majority of living and multi-cellular organisms.
• Gross structure: the mitotic chromosome is a rod-like
body with the following parts:
1. Centromere or primary constriction

2. Secondary constriction
3. Nucleolus- organizing region
4. Chromomeres and knobs

Centromere
PROKARYOTIC CELL • Single differentiated region during the length of a
• No nuclear membrane that separates the nuclear material chromosome.
from the cytoplasm. • Acts as the point of association between the chromosome
• Examples: • Bacteria and the spindle.
• The point at which force is exerted in the separation of
• Blue-green algae dividing chromosomes.
• Permanent, well-defined region where the kinetochore
proteins attach to.

Secondary constriction

• The constricted or narrow region found at any point of the

chromosome other than that of centromere.
• The pinching off a small chromosomal section forms a
satellite.

Nucleolus-organizing region
• Chromosomal landmarks that consists of tandemly
repeated sequences of ribosomal genes (rRNA).
• Region where the nucleolus is attached to.
Chromomeres and knobs MITOSIS, OR SOMATIC CELL DIVISION

• When a mitotic chromosome is stretched out, it would be

observed to consist of a string of characteristic particles of
unequal sizes at unequal distances apart.
• CHROMOMERES: smaller beads
• KNOBS: larger beads

• Cytological markers

C. CELL DIVISION

Why do cells divide?

CYTOKINESIS

• Division of
the cytoplasm
of a parent cell
CELL CYCLE into two
daughter cells.
• An ordered series of events that takes place in a cell as it
grows and divides.

Four distinct phases:

1. G1

2. S Interphase CONSEQUENCES OF MITOSIS

1. The chromosomes are reproduced and transmitted
3. G2 equally to the daughter cells.
2. The gene retains its individuality regardless of the
4. M nature of its allele. The chromosomes also retain theirs as
indicated by the ff:
a. Chromosome hold the same relative position at late
anaphase to telophase as they enter the nextrophase in the
succeeding mitosis.

b. The parts of the chromosome associated with the

nucleolus remain associated during that interval.
c. Homologues that have mutated retain their separate
difference, mitosis after mitosis.

MEIOSIS

• The chromosome number of the cell is reduced to half it's

usual number.
MITOSIS • Gametogenesis
• Fertilization restores the chromosome number of species.
• The genetic and chromosome composition of a cell is
faithfully reproduced in each of the daughter cells.

Unicellular Organisms Multicellular Organisms

• reproduction • growth

• replacement/repair
MEOISIS I (REDUCTIONAL DIVISION) 3. Meiosis provides the physical segregation of paired
genes.

4. The number of non-sister chromatid exchanges, the

number of different kinds of gametes with genetic
combinations and recombinations is virtually infinite.

• essential for evolution

D. LIFE CYCLES

STAGE OF PROPHASE 1

Variation:

1. Terminal or Gametic Meiosis

MEOISIS II (EQUATIONAL DIVISION) 2. Intermediary or Sporic

Meiosis

3. Initial or Zygotic Meiosis

CONSEQUENCES OF MEIOSIS

1. The chromosome number is conserved from

generation to generation in sexually reproducing
organisms.
• The haploid gametes restore the diploid number upon
fertilization.
2. Each paternal and maternal chromosome has equal
chance of being located at one or the other daughter
nucleus.

• The no. of possible combinations of paternal and

maternal chromosome is equal to 2", where n is the no. of
chromosome in the genome.
• The probability of a gamete containing only the
chromosome from one parent is equal to (1/2)