Topic 4- Double and triple – Genetics

What is the genome?

The entire genetic material of an organism.

What are chromosomes?

Genetic structures occurring in functional pairs in the nucleus of cells, except in gametes and bacteria.

What are genes and alleles?

Genes are sections of chromosomes made of short lengths of DNA that operate as functional units to control characteristics; alleles are different forms of the same gene.

What is the structure of DNA?

DNA consists of a phosphate and sugar (deoxyribose) backbone with interlinking bases that form a double helix.

What is mitosis?

A type of cell division that produces daughter cells genetically identical to the parent cell.

What does meiosis produce?

Meiosis produces four genetically different haploid daughter cells.

What is a monohybrid cross?

A genetic diagram that represents the inheritance of a single characteristic controlled by a single gene with two alleles.

What is the base triplet hypothesis?

The idea that each sequence of three bases on DNA codes for one amino acid.

What is genetic screening?

A process used to test a fetus or person for the presence of harmful alleles or other genetic abnormalities.

What is genetic engineering?

The deliberate modification of the genome of an organism to introduce desirable characteristics.

How is human insulin produced using genetic engineering?

By transferring a human insulin gene into a plasmid of a bacterial cell to form a genetically modified bacterium that can produce insulin.

What is a Test Cross?

A method to determine an unknown genotype by crossing it with a homozygous recessive individual.

How are sex chromosomes distinguished in humans?

Humans have 22 pairs of normal chromosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes (XY for males, XX for females).

What is an example of a sex-linked condition?

Color blindness and hemophilia.

What genetic condition is caused by a recessive allele on the X chromosome?

Hemophilia.

What is Down's syndrome?

A genetic condition caused by an extra chromosome, resulting in individuals having 47 chromosomes instead of 46.

What ethical issues are associated with genetic screening?

Concerns about who decides testing, risks of procedures, and implications for genetic information privacy.

What is the main advantage of using genetically engineered insulin?

There is no risk of transmitting animal diseases and it can be produced in large quantities.