Lecture 8 Genetics Terms

Genetic heterogeneity

The production of the same or similar mutant phenotype by different genetic mechanisms or mutations in different genes.

Genetic complementation analysis

An experimental test crossing two recessive mutant organisms to determine whether their mutations are in the same gene or different genes.

Complementation group

A group of mutations that fail to complement one another, indicating they are all alleles of the same gene.

Genetic linkage

The tendency of genes located close together on the same chromosome to be inherited together during meiosis.

Recombination

The process during meiosis where genetic material is shuffled to produce offspring with combinations of traits different from either parent.

Genetic mapping

The process of determining the relative positions of genes on a chromosome and the distances between them.

Syntenic genes

Genes that are physically located on the same chromosome, regardless of whether they are linked.

Recombinant chromosomes

Chromosomes that carry new combinations of alleles resulting from crossing over during meiosis.

Parental chromosomes

Chromosomes that carry the original combinations of alleles inherited directly from the parents without recombination.

Nonrecombinant chromosomes

Another term for parental chromosomes that have not undergone crossing over during meiosis.

Genetic linkage mapping

A technique used to construct a chromosome map based on the recombination frequencies between linked genes.

Recombination frequency

The percentage of recombinant offspring produced in a genetic cross, used to measure distance between genes.

Two-point test-cross analysis

A test cross between a double heterozygote and a homozygous recessive individual used to determine linkage and recombination frequency between two genes.