Ch 10

Infrared imaging

A technique that detects variations in heat emitted from objects, focusing on thermal or chemical differences.

SPECT (Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography)

An imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to visualize physiological processes within the body.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy

An analytical technique that measures the absorption of infrared light to identify functional groups within a compound.

Mass spectrometry (MS)

A technique that provides information about molecular weight and fragmentation patterns to aid in compound identification.

DNA

The molecular basis of genetic inheritance that encodes the genetic instructions necessary for life.

Genome

The complete set of genetic information within an individual organism.

Mendel’s laws of inheritance

Principles established by Mendel regarding the transmission of traits from parents to offspring.

Segregation (in genetics)

The principle that alleles segregate during gamete formation, leading to genetic variability.

Independent assortment

The principle that alleles for different traits segregate independently during gamete formation.

Gamete

A reproductive cell that contains one allele for each trait due to meiosis.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene that can influence specific traits in an organism.

Dominant allele

An allele that masks the expression of a recessive allele in a heterozygous individual.

Recessive allele

An allele that is masked by the presence of a dominant allele.

Meiosis

The process of cell division that reduces chromosome number by half to produce gametes.

Chromosomes

Structures in the cell nucleus that carry genetic material.

Cytoplasm

The part of the cell where random splitting occurs during cell division, but not for nuclear contents.

Chromatin

The material in the nucleus that condenses to form visible chromosomes during cell division.

Linkage group

A concept that genes located on the same chromosome are likely inherited together.

Genetic recombination

The process through which linked genes can exchange genetic material during meiosis.

Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster)

A model organism used by Thomas Hunt Morgan for genetic research, establishing insights into linkage.

Mutations

Changes in genetic material that serve as a mechanism for generating variation within populations.

Crossover

An exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

F. A. Janssens

Scientist who proposed that homologous chromosomes can exchange material during meiosis.

Evolution

The process through which species change and adapt over time, often influenced by genetic variation.

Genetic mapping

A method used to determine the location of genes on chromosomes.

Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics of an organism, influenced by genetics.

Homologous chromosomes

Chromosomes that are similar in shape, size, and genetic content, paired during cell division.

Biochemical research

The study of the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms.

Absorption spectrum

A graph that shows the absorption of light at different wavelengths by a substance.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of a compound.

Diploid organisms

Organisms that have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Linkage disequilibrium

The non-random association of alleles at different loci due to close proximity on a chromosome.

Phenotypic traits

The traits or characteristics of an organism as a result of the interaction between its genotype and the environment.

Genetic diversity

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Chromosomal theory of inheritance

The theory that genes are located on chromosomes and that the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis accounts for inheritance patterns.

Genetic variability

The tendency of individual genetic characteristics in a population to differ.

Morphological traits

Physical characteristics of an organism used to classify species.

Mendelian inheritance

Patterns of inheritance based on Gregor Mendel's laws describing how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

Biotechnology

The use of living systems or organisms to develop or create different products.

Gene therapy

A technique that modifies a person's genes to treat or prevent disease.

Genetic engineering

The process of manually adding, deleting, or modifying genetic material in an organism.

Nucleotides

The basic building blocks of DNA, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Chromosomal mutation

A type of mutation involving a change in the structure or number of chromosomes.

Transgenic organisms

Organisms that have been genetically modified to contain genes from other species.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.

Biochemical pathways

Series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell that lead to a product.

Polygenic traits

Traits that are controlled by more than one gene.

Heritability

A measure of how much of a trait's variation is due to genetic factors.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an organism, representing the genes inherited from parents.

Genomic imprinting

An epigenetic phenomenon where certain genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, typically a protein.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A molecule essential for various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid.

Transmission genetics

The branch of genetics that deals with the transmission of hereditary traits from parents to offspring.

Population genetics

The study of genetic variation within populations and involves the examination of the dynamics of genetic variation.

Evolutionary biology

A subfield of biology that studies the evolutionary processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth.

Heredity

The passing of traits from parents to offspring through genes.

Biological evolution

The gradual change in the genetic composition of a population over time.

Natural selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Selective breeding

The process of breeding plants and animals for specific traits.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species through the process of evolution.

Adaptive radiation

An evolutionary process where a single ancestor species rapidly diversifies into a variety of forms to adapt to different environments.