45. The Relationships Between Sexual Reproduction and Inheritance

Why do we reproduce sexually, why do we look similar to our parents and siblings, but are different? In this episode, I take a close look at the origins of sexual reproduction, how meiosis generates genetic diversity, and Mendel's basic principles of inheritance.  One of the major themes in my classes is that biology is complicated, and that goes for genetics so I also discuss  extensions to Mendelian genetics. And lastly, I explain several common misconceptions about inheritance. 

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 6:25 Sexual Reproduction Defined
• 11:47 The origins and importance of sexual reproduction
• 22:35 How meiosis creates haploid gametes
• 28:37 Gamete formation in humans
• 36:50 How Meiosis generates diversity
• 47:37 Gregor Mendel and the first laws of inheritance
• 53:19 Mendel's Experiment
• 1:02:00 Thomas H. Morgan and the extensions to Mendelian inheritance
• 1:21:33 Common misconceptions about inheritance