Genetics an sci

Model Organisms

Well-studied species that geneticists use to learn about another species

What can a model organism have?

1. Large (but not too large) offspring numbers

2. Short generation time

3. Amenable to laboratory study

4. Relatively inexpensive

5. Recently well-characterized genome

Genomes

the complete set of genetic material (DNA) in an organism, including all of its genes

Individual Genome

Develop properly, Maintain Physiology, Respond to the environment

Populations Genome

Undergo long-term change

Mendelian genetics

The study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring through genes

Transmission genetics

How traits are passed from one generation to the next

Molecular genetics

How the molecules of genetics (DNA and RNA) are copied, modified, and encode information

Population genetics

How genomes change within and between populations

Animal breeding

process of selecting animals with desirable traits to reproduce

Selective breeding

Choosing animals with desired traits to reproduce

Heritability

How much of the variation in a trait within a population is explained by genetic differences

Genetic improvement

Increasing the frequency of desirable inherited traits over generations

Central Dogma

The model for how DNA influences biology: Genome -> RNA -> Protein -> Biology

DNA

the molecule that stores the genetic instructions an organism needs to grow, develop, function, and reproduce

RNA

a molecule that helps use genetic information from DNA to make proteins and regulate cell activities

Protein

many jobs in the body, building tissues and carrying out chemical reactions

RNA influencing DNA

RNA can affect how DNA functions or how genes are expressed

Evolution

the change in inherited traits of a population over generations

Macro-evolution

Dramatic biological changes across species - occurs over long period of time

Micro-evolution

Heritable change within a population - can occur over a short period

Bacteria

Most diverse clade, includes important biomedical tools and pathogens

Archaea

Extremophiles, Hard to study

Eukaryota

Animals, plants, etc, most limited diversity

Independent assortment

genes encoding different traits are inherited independently of one another

Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief

accounts for almost 14% of the Holstein genome (lethal mutation that increased spontaneous abortions)