MODERN CONCEPT OF GENE

TANIYA THOMAS
CONCEPT OF GENE – CLASSICAL VS MODERN

 The term gene was coined by Johannsen (1909) for the hereditary factors of Mendel.
 The concept of gene is more important because its physical and chemical nature is the
foundation of all genetic principles.
 The classical concept of gene is that it is a unit of function occupying a definite position on
the chromosome (not sub-divisible by recombination) and is responsible for a particular
phenotypic character.
 S. Benzer (1957) coined different terms for different nature of gene and genetic material in
relation to the chromosome on the basis of genetic phenomena to which they involve.
 i)Genes as unit of transmission or cistron :

The part of DNA specifying a single polypeptide chain is termed as cistron. A cistron can have 100
nucleotide pairs in length to 30,000 nucleotide pairs. It transmits characters from one generation to other
as unit of transmission.
 ii) Relipcon

Unit of replication
 iii) Genes as unit of recombination or recon :

The smallest segment of DNA capable of being separated and exchange with other chromosome is called
recon. A recon consists of not more than two pairs of nucleotides.
 iv) Gene as unit of mutation or muton :

Muton is the smallest unit of genetic material which when changed or mutated produce a phenotypic trait.
Thus muton is delimited to a single nucleotide.
GENE ACTION: (ONE GENE ONE ENZYME CONCEPT)

 The influence of gene resulting in the expression of a genetic character is called gene
action.
 The genes are generally associated with the production of enzymes, which they synthesize
from chemical substance available in the body cells through a process of autocatalysis.
 As a rule one gene affects one enzyme.
 The various actions of genes are expressed in their development of pigments. Colors,
hormones, size and form, production of proteins, antigen and antibody production decisive
effect on human disease like albinism, tyrosinosis etc. This idea was given by beadle and
tatum (1941)
GENES IN PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND GENETIC CODE
 Different types of aminoacids in linear sequence forms a polypeptid resulting production of
specific protein.
 Protein syntheis is under the direct control of genes located on the chromosome of that
cell.
 From chromosome at nucleus specific m-RNA are transcribed with series of triplet bases
called codon.
 There are 64 codons assigned for 20 different amino acids codon series on m-RNA is
specified by the genes and corresponding aminoacids brought together in chains in
contrast to the condons.
 “AUG” is the codon on M-RNA assigns the aminoacid methoionine in the polypeptide series.
 Jacob and monod propsed “Operon model” To explain the mechanism of gene action in
protein synthesis is regulated by three specific genes located on chromosomes
 Gene directs the synthesis of protein, through transcription and translation, that functions
as enzyme which leads to ‘one gene – one enzyme’ hypothesis.
 Gene directs the synthesis of protein, through transcription and translation, that functions
as enzyme which leads to ‘one gene – one enzyme’ hypothesis.
SEX LINKED, SEX LIMITED AND SEX INFLUENCED
CHARACTERS

 Traits, which are carried on sex chromosomes are known as sex linked traits. 
 Other characters whose expression in a particular genotype depends on whether the
individual is male or, female, are known as sex influenced traits. 
 sex limited traits are distinguished by the fact that one form of this trait may be
expressed in one sex only and not in the other
SEX LINKED

 The phenotypic expression of a number of autosomal and sex linked genes will be either
dominant if the individual is a male or recessive if the individual is a female. These genes
are known as sex influenced traits.
 A classic example is the pattern baldness in man.
 A male shows this trait more than a female, because a male is bald if he has only one
gene, whereas a woman must receive two genes to be bald. This is because a single gene
can operate in the presence of a male hormone.
 Y Chromosome Inheritance:

Y linked genes are genes located in the Y chromosomes. The inheritance of the Y linked
genes, also known as holandric genes, is known as Y chromosome inheritance. An example is
hypertrichosis, which is the growth of long hair in the ear.
SEX LIMITED

 Sex limited genes may be located in any of the chromosomes, while the sex linked genes
are located only in the X or Z chromosome.
 Sex limited genes are responsible for secondary sexual characteristics as well as primary
characters.
 The beard in males is a good example in man. Both the males and the female carry all the
genes necessary to produce a beard, but only man shows this trait. However, in rare cases,
hormone imbalance in a woman results in a bearded lady.
 Similarly, breast development is normally limited to women, but hormone imbalance may
cause breast development in men.
 Sex-influenced traits are autosomal traits that are expressed based on the influence of
the sex, in particular the sex hormones:
 e.g. testosterone in males and estrogen and progesterone in females. Although these
traits can be seen in both the sexes, the degree or frequency of the phenotypic expression
varies according to the sex. The genes are dominant in males but recessive in females. The
following figure shows some of the basic symbols used to express sex-influenced traits
 soft facial hair in females vs coarse facial hairs in males