Genetics and Human Variation

These flashcards review key vocabulary related to genetics, focusing on major terms and concepts discussed in the lecture notes.

Karyotype

The number and visual appearance of the chromosomes in the cell nuclei of an organism.

Centromere

The region of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids are joined and which is essential for the movement of chromosomes during cell division.

Telomere

The protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent them from deteriorating or fusing with neighboring chromosomes.

Fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH)

A technique used to detect and localize the presence or absence of specific DNA sequences on chromosomes.

HeLa cells

A continuously cultured cell line of human cancer cells, derived from cervical cancer cells, used in scientific research.

Viral RNP complex

A ribonucleoprotein complex consisting of viral single-stranded RNA and associated proteins.

Heterokaryote

A cell containing two or more genetically different nuclei that result from cell fusion.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS)

An analysis that shows the genetic variants in different individuals to see if any variant is associated with a trait.

Selective sweep

A process where a new beneficial mutation spreads rapidly through a population, reducing genetic variation.

Vitamin D deficiency

A condition that occurs when a person does not have enough vitamin D in their body, leading to health issues such as bone disorders.

Skin pigmentation

The color of a person's skin, which is determined mainly by the type and amount of melanin produced.

Sickle cell haplotypes

Genetic variations associated with sickle cell anemia that can be geographically distinguished.

Tajima's D

A statistic used to test for neutrality in a population by comparing the number of polymorphic sites to the number of total mutations.

M1 (matrix protein)

A protein involved in the structure and function of viruses leading to cell fusion.

Hybrid cells

Cells that contain genetic material from two different species or individuals, often created through cell fusion techniques.

Nucleotide variability

The degree of polymorphism within a population, which can indicate how much genetic variation exists.