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Genetics: The study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Heredity: Passing of traits from parents to offspring.
Gene: A segment of DNA that determines traits.
Chromosome: A structure made of DNA that carries genetic information.
Mitosis: A type of cell division that produces two identical body cells.
Meiosis: A type of cell division that produces four genetically different sex cells.
Haploid: A cell that contains one set of chromosomes.
Diploid: A cell that contains two sets of chromosomes.
Genetic Variation: Differences in DNA among individuals.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Section 1: What Is Genetics?
1. What is heredity?
2. Where are genes found?
3. Why don’t offspring look exactly like their parents?
Section 2: Mitosis
1. What is the purpose of mitosis?
2. How many daughter cells are produced?
3. Why are the daughter cells identical?
Section 3: Meiosis
1. What type of cells are made during meiosis?
2. How many cells are produced?
3. Why are the daughter cells different from each other?


Section 4: Haploid vs. Diploid
1. What does diploid mean?
2. Which cells in your body are haploid?
3. Why must gametes be haploid?
Section 5: Genetic Variation
1. What is genetic variation?
2. Name one source of genetic variation.
3. Why is genetic variation important?
Practice Quiz
Multiple Choice:
1. Mitosis results in:
A. Four different cells
B. Two identical cells
C. Four identical cells
D. One haploid cell
2. Meiosis produces:
A. Body cells
B. Somatic cells
C. Gametes
D. Bone cells
3. Haploid cells contain:
A. Double the chromosomes
B. Half the chromosomes
C. No chromosomes
D. Identical chromosomes
4. Genetic variation is created during:
A. Mitosis
B. Meiosis
C. Cytokinesis
D. DNA replication

Short Answer:
1. Explain one difference between mitosis and meiosis.
2. Why does fertilization restore the diploid number?
3. Describe how crossing over increases variation.

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Reading Comprehension — Answers

Section 1: What Is Genetics?
1. Heredity is the passing of traits from parents to offspring through genes.
2. Genes are found on chromosomes, which are made of DNA and located in the cell’s nucleus.
3. Offspring don’t look exactly like their parents because of genetic variation — different combinations of parental genes (from meiosis and fertilization), possible mutations, and environmental effects.

Section 2: Mitosis
1. The purpose of mitosis is growth, tissue repair, and producing identical body (somatic) cells.
2. Two daughter cells are produced.
3. The daughter cells are identical because the cell’s DNA is copied and evenly divided so each cell receives the same set of chromosomes (no recombination like in meiosis).

Section 3: Meiosis
1. Meiosis makes sex cells (gametes: sperm and eggs).
2. Four cells are produced.
3. The daughter cells are different because of crossing over (exchange of chromosome segments) and independent assortment of chromosomes, which create new combinations of alleles.

Section 4: Haploid vs. Diploid
1. Diploid means a cell contains two sets of chromosomes (one set from each parent).
2. The haploid cells in your body are the gametes (sperm and eggs).
3. Gametes must be haploid so that when two gametes fuse at fertilization the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number.

Section 5: Genetic Variation
1. Genetic variation is the differences in DNA among individuals of a species.
2. One source of genetic variation is crossing over during meiosis (other sources include independent assortment and mutations).
3. Genetic variation is important because it provides the raw material for evolution and helps populations adapt to changing environments, increasing chances of survival.

Practice Quiz

Multiple Choice
1. B. Two identical cells
2. C. Gametes
3. B. Half the chromosomes
4. B. Meiosis

Short Answer
1. One difference: Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid somatic cells with one cell division; meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes and involves two divisions plus crossing over.
2. Fertilization restores the diploid number because two haploid gametes (each with one set of chromosomes) fuse and combine their chromosome sets to form a diploid zygote (two sets).
3. Crossing over increases variation by exchanging corresponding segments between homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis, creating new combinations of alleles on each chromosome so gametes carry unique genetic mixes.