The duplication and transmission of genetic material from one generation of cells to the next is the basis for molecular inheritance, and the link between the classical and molecular pictures of genes. Organisms inherit the characteristics of their parents because the cells of the offspring contain copies of the genes in their parents' cells. In asexually reproducing organisms, the offspring will be a genetic copy or clone of the parent organism. In sexually reproducing organisms, a specialized form of cell division called meiosis produces cells called gametes or germ cells that are haploid, or contain only one copy of each gene.:20.2 The gametes produced by females are called eggs or ova, and those produced by males are called sperm. Two gametes fuse to form a diploid fertilized egg, a single cell that has two sets of genes, with one copy of each gene from the mother and one from the father.:20 COUNT 5
QSN1 The duplication and transmission of genetic material from one generation of cells to the next is the basis for what? ANS1 molecular inheritance QSN2 Why do organisms inherit the characteristics of their parents? ANS2 cells of the offspring contain copies of the genes in their parents' cells QSN3 In what type of organism will the offspring be a genetic copy or clone of the parent organism? ANS3 In asexually reproducing organisms QSN4 In what type of organism will a specialized form of cell division called meiosis produce cells called gametes? ANS4 In sexually reproducing organisms QSN5 What are the gametes produced by females called? ANS5 eggs or ova