Genetics chapter 1 introduction

How does genetics impact the individual

Genes influence personality and fundamental aspects of who we are. They also affect susceptibility to many diseases and disorders

How do genetics impact the society

Genetics is crucial in agriculture for animal and crop breeding. It is also vital in biotechnology and medicine

Example of how genetics impacts society

Norman Borlaug’s work on high-yielding dwarf rice

How does genetics impact the study of biology

Genetics is important in fields like immunology and development

What is a genome?

A complete set of genetic instructions for an organism. It can either be RNA (some viruses) or DNA (most organisms) and is copied during replication

What is the Universality of the Genetic Code

The coding system for genetic information is the same in all living organisms

All organisms are thought to have evolved from what?

A common ancestor (LUCA- Last Universal Common Ancestor) around 4 billion years ago

All life forms are genetically _____

Related

Research findings on gene function in one organism can often be applied to…..?

Other organisms

Genes from one organism can often ______

Exist and function in another

Transmission Genetics

Focuses on the basic principles of heredity and how traits are passed from one generation to the next.

What is the focus of transmission genetics

On the individual organism

Molecular Genetics

Examines the chemical nature of the gene, including how genetic information is encoded, replicated, and expressed.

What is the focus of molecular genetics

The gene’s structure, organization and function

Population genetics

Studies the genetic composition of populations and how this composition changes geographically and over time

What is the focus of population genetics

The group of genes found in a population

One such characteristic of a model genetic organism involves a short _____

Generation time

One such characteristic of a model genetic organism is the production of _____

Numerous progeny

One such characteristic of a model genetic organism is the ability to carry out_____

Controlled genetic crosses

One such characteristic of a model genetic organism is the ability to be reared in a ______

Laboratory environment

One such characteristic of a model organism is the availability of _____

Numerous genetic variants

One such characteristic of a model organism is an accumulated body of knowledge about______

Their genetic systems

Examples of model genetic organisms

Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly)

Escherichia coli (Bacterium)

Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale-cress plant)

Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematode)

Mus musculus (House mouse)

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast)

Why is a horse NOT a good model genetic organism

Expensive to house, feed and propagate.

Produces few offspring

Long generation time

Pangenesis

Theory that proposed that genetic information from different parts of the body travels to reproductive organs to be passed to offspring (gemmules). This is incorrect

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

Theory that proposed that traits acquired during an organism’s lifetime are incorporated into hereditary information and passed on. This is incorrect

Preformationism

Believed that a miniature, fully formed adult (homunculus) existed in the egg or sperm and simply enlarged during development. This is incorrect

Blending inheritance

Suggested that offspring traits are a mixture or blend of parental traits. This is incorrect

Germ-plasm Theory

Proposed by August Weismann that only germ-line cells in reproductive organs carry complete genetic information and pass it directly to gametes. This is correct

Cell theory

Proposed by Schleiden and Schwann that all life is composed of cells, and that cells arise from pre-existing cells, and the cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function. This is correct

Gregor Mendel (1822-1884)

Discovered the basic principles of heredity; considered the “Father of Genetics” his work was not widely recognized for 35 years

Flemming (1879)

Observed chromosome division (mitosis) in 1879

Darwin (1809-1882)

Proposed the theory of evolution of natural selection

Walter Sutton (1877-1916)

Proposed that genes are located on chromosomes

Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866-1945)

Discovered the first fruit fly mutant and used fruit flies to study transmission genetics

R.A Fisher, J.B.S. Haldane, Sewall Wright

Laid the foundation for population genetics by integrating mendelian genetics and evolutionary theory

Genes are the fundamental units of what?

Heredity

Genes exist in multiple forms called what?

Alleles

Genes determine observable characteristics, also known as what?

Phenotypes

Genetic Information Carriers

Genetic information is carried in DNA and RNA

Chromosomes

Genes are located here.

The specific position of a gene on a chromosome is called what?

Locus (plural: Loci)

Cell division

Chromosomes separate through mitosis and meiosis

Gene expression

DNA is transcribed into RNA, RNA translated into protein