Genetics

Introduction to Genetics

Gregor Mendel

Genetics: the scientific study of heredity Gregor Mendel showed that the inheritance of these traits followed particular laws, which were named after him.

Gregor Mendels experiments with peas laid the foundations of the science of genetics.

Fertilization: process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form a new cell. Trait: a specific characteristic of an individual. Hybrids: offspring of crosses between parents with different traits.

An individuals characteristics are determined by factors that are passed from generation to the next.

Genes: sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and determines a trait; factor passed from parent to offspring. Chemical factors that determine traits.

Alleles: different forms of a gene.

#1 Principle of dominance States that some alleles are dominant and others are recessive

Segregation: Separation of the alleles during gamete formation.

#2 Principle of Segregation - The two factors for a characteristic separate during the formation of eggs and sperm.

#3 The Principle of independent assortment states that genes from different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes.

Probability: likehood that a particular event will occur The principle of probability: can be used to predict the outcomes of genetic crosses.

Punnett Square

The gene combinations that might result from a genetic cross can be determined by drawing a diagram known as Punnett Square. Punnett Square can be used to predict and compare the genetic variations that will result from a cross.

Homozygous: organism that have two identical alleles for a particular trait. Heterozygous: organism that have two different alleles for the same trait.

Phenotype: physical characteristics. Genotype: genetic make up of an organism.

Incomplete dominance: cases in which on allele is not completely dominant over another. Co dominance: refers to a relationship between two alleles of a gene. It occurs when the contributions of both alleles are visible in the phenotype.

Multiple alleles: many genes have more than two alleles such as the ABO blood groups in humans. (Even though Any diploid individual can only have at most two alleles for any gene)

Polygenic traits: controlled by two or more than genes at different loci or chromosomes

The environmental conditions can affect gene expression an influence genetically determine traits.

Homologous: it means that each of the 4 chromosomes that come from the male parent has a corresponding chromosome from the female parent.

Diploid: cell that contains both set of homologous chromosomes.

Haploid: set that contain only a single set of chromosomes.

Meiosis: produce sex cells by reducing their chromosomes number by half. Meiosis is important because it creates genetic variability in the gametes. Meiosis ll results in four haploid daughter cells.

=Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis= Mitosis results in the production of two genetically identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis produces four genetically different haploid cells.