ANT 231 DNA & Genetics

3 subdisciplines of cultural anthropology

• linguistics

• ethnology

• archaeology

Study of Archaeology

Essentially cultural anthropology of PAST cultures. Studies the culture through material remains left behind.

Characteristics of Anthropological Inquiry

• Holistic: studies humans from all perspectives

• historic: cannot set up experiments and studies events upon completion

• scientific: follows scientific method

structural genes

create tangible product

Regulatory genes

• turning structural genes on and off

• also called epistatic

Basic Concepts of Genes and DNA

• DNA molecule found in most living organisms

• found in double helix organization

• carries recipe for entire organism

• is a conservative system

DNA construction

• nucleotides comprised of a phosphate sugar and one of four bases

  • adenine

  • thymine

  • guanine

  • cytosine

DNA sequence and nucleotides

• Every sequence of 3 nucleotides forms a codon

• Each codon nodes for ONE amino acid

Exons (genes)

exons are segments of DNA that code (humans have about 25,000 genes)

Introns (genes)

• are segments that DO NOT code

• may be old “junk” genes

• may just not know their purpose yet

Chromosomes

linear arrays of genes of variable length

somatic cells

• are diploid

• have 22 pairs of autosomes

• numbered 1-22

gametes (eggs and sperm cells)

• are haploid

• have 23 chromosomes

Monosomy

• have only one copy of chromosomes

• turner’s syndrome= 45 chromosomes

• only one sex chromosome (X)

Trisomy

• is three of one chromosome

• trisomy 21 (down syndrome)

extra sex chromosomes

• keinfelter’s (XXY)

• “superman” (XYY)

Autosomal traits

carried on chromosomes 1-22

Sex linked traits

carried on sex chromosomes

sex limited traits

traits carried on autosomes that affect only 1 sex

where does mitosis occur

in the somatic cells

where does meiosis take place

occurs in the gametes

what is the result of mitosis

results in daughter cells with 46 chromosomes

are mitosis results diploid or haploid

they are diploid

what is the result of meiosis

results in daughter cells with 23 chromosomes

are meiosis results haploid or diploid

results are haploid

Locus

location of gene on chromosome

Allele

alternative form of gene at a locus

genotype

alleles carried by individual

phenotype

expression of genotype in conjunction with the environment

monogenic

trait controlled by 1 gene

polygenetic

traited controlled by >1 gene

pleitropic

one gene controls >1 trait

dominant trait

allele expressed in heterozygous state

recessive trait

recessive alleles only expressed when homozygous