Essential+Questions


 * Essential Questions Set 1 **

1. What is DNA and where is it found? What is DNA and where is it found? DNA is an abbreviation for Deoxyribonucleic acid (dee auk see ry boh no KLEE ik). DNA is found in nuclei and mitochondria.There are two types of DNA in nucleus; Chromosomes and Chromatin. Chromatin is an uncoiled DNA wrapped around the histone protein cores. When the Chromatin separates, it becomes a tiny rod-shape Chromosomes. The DNA can be called as a library of genetic information which cells need to grow, and reproduce. DNA must have specialized identification or else the cell might die. Picture Found in: 2. Dividing Cells.docx (pg. 4) 2. What does it look like (its structure) and what is it made from?
 * DNA is a type of Nucleic acid, which are very long organic molecules. It is made of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The shape is a spirally shape with many "lines" in between the spirals. || **DNA is like a microfilm onto which thousands of coded pieces of information were recorded even before birth, along with the genes which serve to program cellular activity such as the production of proteins, lipids and enzymes, or pigments like melanin, found at the heart of the skin**.

|| T he DNA molecule is composed of two very thin chains wrapped around each other forming a double helix. The molecule, as a whole, is thousands of spires and if the DNA ribbon were to be unraveled it would reach a length of two metres for just a micrometer in thickness. 3. How and why does it copy itself? The DNA first holds all information that the cells need to carry out its functions. It is very important that the DNA is a complete set of the original DNA or else the DNA wont survive. The DNA begins to copy when the two sides unfold like a zipper. Then the DNA would separate into halves, because of the hydrogen bonds between bases are broken. Then the nitrogen in floating in the cell (not part of the DNA strand) starts to bond. The two new strands would be the same as the original, because the Adenine (A) always bonds with Thymine (T) and Guanine (G) always bonds with Cytosine (C). The DNA copies itself so that the cell produced in the meiosis and mitosis would have the necessary genetic codes.
 * [[image:d2geneticswikic/images.jpeg align="center"]] ||

4. What are genes and where are genes found? = Controls the production of proteins in an organism’s cells. Each gene is located at a specific place of a chromosome. = = ** Essential Questions Set 2 ** = = 1. What are the advantages + disadvantages of both sexual and asexual reproduction? = =What are the advantages+disadvantages of both sexual and asexual reproduction?= =**The advantages of a sexual reproduction are**= =1) Allows for genetic variation due to the joining of two different individuals= =2) They are able to adapt to the environment= =**The advantages of an asexual reproduction are**= =1) faster reproducing rate= =2) less energy required for reproduction= =3) No need to find a mate= =**The disadvantages of sexual reproduction are**= =1) Less population growth= =2) slower process= =3) requires long term energy= =**The disadvantages of an asexual reproduction are**= =1) They are all the same to their parents= =2) They can't adapt to the environment if their parents can't= = 2. Name 3 organisms that reproduce sexually and 3 that reproduce asexually. = =Sexual Reproduction: Humans, Dogs, Horse, Cats= =Asexual Reproduction: Whiptail Lizard, Bacteria, Worms= = 3. What is the relationship between the cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis? = =The Mitosis is part of the cell cycle, it is the second step. Cell cycle's first step is interphase, it is when the cell grows into it's mature size & makes a copy of its DNA. Then the second step is Mitosis, it is when it makes sure that the DNA in the cell is exactly the same as it's original DNA. The third step is cytokinesis, it is when the cell splits and now we have two of the same cell. Mitosis divides into 2 cells while Meiosis divides into 4 cells.= =media type="custom" key="11616540" width="90" height="90"=

= 4. What are the cell cycle and meiosis used for? Cell cycle is used for growth, as an organism gets bigger, it produces cells that replace the original ones. Cell cycle is also used for repair, it produces new cells that replaces the damaged and old cells. Meiosis is used for producing sex cells that has half of the normal number of chromosomes. =

= 5. What is similar about the cell cycle and meiosis? = Cell cycle and the meiosis are both similar in the way because of the fact that they require the growth and repair process. The two processes first grow and get enough material to split into two or more. After they split, they have to use resources to create the membrane that has been split to complete the reproduction process. 6. What is different about cell cycle and meiosis? The difference about cell cycle and meiosis is that cell cycle is always constant, and it never changes compared to it's 'father' and that it always goes in a cycle and never changes, hence it's name the cell cycle. However, meiosis takes traits from both the genetic parents' DNA fragments, and the fact that it is constantly changing, having different traits generation after generation. Meiosis has variations in every stage, because of the fact that it mixes the genes with both the sex cells.