Chapter 2
Basic Cell Biology
IN THIS CHAPTER
Getting to know the cell
Understanding the basics of chromosomes, DNA, and genes
Exploring simple cell division
Appreciating the complexities of meiosis
Genetics and the study of how cells work are closely related. The process of passing genetic material from one generation to the next depends completely on how cells grow and divide. To reproduce, a simple organism such as bacteria or yeast simply copies its DNA (through a process called replication, which is covered later in Chapter 7) and splits in two. But organisms that reproduce sexually go through a complicated dance that includes mixing and matching strands of DNA (a process called recombination) and then halving the amount of DNA for special sex cells, allowing completely new genetic combinations for their offspring. These amazing processes are part of what makes you unique.
In this chapter, we provide a brief introduction to cell structure, DNA, and chromosomes. In addition, you need to be familiar with the processes of mitosis (cell division) and meiosis (the production of sex ...
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