Challenging Genetics: Study Guide

CHALLENGING GENETICS

Arvin Ghazarian

Copyright 2012 Arvin Ghazarian

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

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Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1- Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis

Chapter 2- Mendelian Genetics

Chapter 3- Non- Mendelian Genetics

Chapter 4- Genetics of Sex

Chapter 5- Linkage, Crossing Over, and Mapping in Eukaryotes

Chapter 6- Genetic Recombination and Mapping in Prokaryotes and Bacteriophages

Chapter 7- Extrachromosomal Inheritance

Chapter 8- The Arrangement and Structure of Chromosomes

Chapter 9- Chromosomal Mutations

Chapter 10- Population Genetics

Chapter 11- The Structure of Nucleic Acids

Chapter 12- DNA Replication

Chapter 13- RNA Transcription and Processing

Chapter 14- Translation and the Genetic Code

Chapter 15- Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes

Chapter 16- Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

Chapter 17- Gene Mutations, DNA Repair, and Mobile Elements

Chapter 18- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Chapter 19- Genetics of Cancer

References

About the Author

Preface

Challenging Genetics: Study Guide is an e-book which summarizes the concepts of genetics. It includes the main branches of the science of genetics: classic genetics and molecular genetics. In this book you will find chapters as diverse as Mendelian genetics, nucleic acid structure, cancer genetics, biotechnology, and so on. The author has tried to make a concise reference e-book using a variety of well-known textbooks of genetics; but the author emphasizes that this is not a whole textbook, but a brief summary of the main ideas and concepts of this science. This e-book is the companion book of Challenging Genetics: Test Bank, which includes several hundred multiple choice questions with complete and wholesome answers and explanations for each question. Challenging Genetics series can be used by a lot of people, including but not limited to high school students, college students, university students, teachers, professors, and anyone who wants to prepare for a genetics exam or test, or simply anyone who wants to learn about this magnificent and progressive field of science.

Chapter 1

Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis

The cell cycle has two main phases, interphase and division. Interphase includes first gap (G1), synthesis (S), and second gap (G2). The cell division is either mitosis or meiosis.

The cells that not undergo division (including muscle and nerve cells) enter a stage called G0 which is technically a part of the G1 stage. During interphase, the nuclear envelope is intact and the genetic material is in the form of chromatin, which is invisible by light microscope. During G1, the cell prepares for DNA replication and during the S stage, the DNA replication occurs. During G2, the cell prepares to undergo cell division.

Cell Division: Mitosis

In mitosis, the mother cell is in the 2n chromosome form. This division results in 2 daughter cells with 2n chromosomes each. For further ease, the mitosis division has been further divided into 4 stages:

1- Prophase: It is the longest stage of mitosis. In animal cells, 2 pairs of centrioles migrate toward the opposite poles of the cell, the nuclear envelope begins to disappear, the nucleolus disassembles and chromatin condenses and forms chromosomes. The spindle fibers