BIOLOGY: LIFE ON EARTH:
CH 10: GLOSSARY
Gene: “Consists of a sequence of nucleotides at locus”
Locus: “Specific place on chromosome”
Alleles: “Slightly different nucleotide sequences of genes”
Mutations: “Results of alleles. Occurs when a cell makes an error while copying DNA prior to
division”
Polyploid: “Cell with more than 2 copies of homologous chromosomes”
Meiotic division: “Sex cells. Diploid cells divide into 4 haploid daughter cells”
Meiosis: “Specialized type of cell division: diploid cells divide twice to produce 4 haploid nuclei”
Chiasmata: “Crosses where chromatids of parent chromosomes exchange information”
Crossing over: “Mutual exchange of paternal and maternal chromosomes”
Recombination: “Formation of chromosomes with combinations of alleles that differ from their
parents”
Zygote: “Sperm and egg fuse to form a diploid fertilized egg”
Nondisjunction: “Errors in meiosis. Can affect the number of chromosomes/autosomes in
gametes”
CH 10: GLOSSARY
Gene: “Consists of a sequence of nucleotides at locus”
Locus: “Specific place on chromosome”
Alleles: “Slightly different nucleotide sequences of genes”
Mutations: “Results of alleles. Occurs when a cell makes an error while copying DNA prior to
division”
Polyploid: “Cell with more than 2 copies of homologous chromosomes”
Meiotic division: “Sex cells. Diploid cells divide into 4 haploid daughter cells”
Meiosis: “Specialized type of cell division: diploid cells divide twice to produce 4 haploid nuclei”
Chiasmata: “Crosses where chromatids of parent chromosomes exchange information”
Crossing over: “Mutual exchange of paternal and maternal chromosomes”
Recombination: “Formation of chromosomes with combinations of alleles that differ from their
parents”
Zygote: “Sperm and egg fuse to form a diploid fertilized egg”
Nondisjunction: “Errors in meiosis. Can affect the number of chromosomes/autosomes in
gametes”
