Principles of Genetics

Who Formed the foundational work on genetics?

Gregor Mendel

What did Mendel’s experiment show?

that traits are passed down through genes in a pattern, not a blend

What did Mendel’s P1 Generation show?

Crossing of Pure breed parents (RR, and rr)

What happened when Mendel crossed yellow and green peas?

He got a heterozygous mix of yellow peas

What is Mendel’s Law of Segregation?

That the two alleles separate to distribute between the gametes

What is a punnett square?

a chart used to predict phenotypes in offspring

How are punnett squares used in biotechnology?

To predict the inheritance of traits in offspring

What is the Law of independent Assortment?

That traits separate from one another during the formation of gametes

Why is the Law of independent Assortment important in biotechnology

because it helps us prove that traits do not influence each other

What is a testcross?

where you test the unknown genotype of a parent with a recessive phenotype to determine the genotype of the parent

What is homozygous

the same alleles (i.e. RR, rr)

What is heterozygous?

two different alleles(i.e. Rr)

Why are testcrosses important?

they determine the genotype of an organism that displays a dominant phenotype

What is incomplete dominance?

How traits blend when no allele is dominant(creating intermediate phenotypes)

What does incomplete dominance show in biotechnology?

Shows how genetic variation can create a mix of traits (red+white=pink)

What is codominance?

A genetic trait where both genes are fully expressed at the same time in the offspring

What is an example of a trait determined by incomplete dominance?

Flower color (red+white=pink)

Why is codominance important in biotechnology?

It shows how inheritance of alleles produces blood type patterns, important for paternity, transfusions, and paternity testing.

What is polygenic inheritance?

Traits expressed in a range or gradient (i.e. skin color, weight, and height)

What is a classic example of polygenic inheritance?

Skin color, weight, and height

What type of results does polygenic inheritance produce?

A range or gradient of phenotypes

How is sex determined?

By the fathers sperm cells

Why is sex determination important in biotechnology

This concept is crucial for understanding inheritance and genetic disorders linked to sex

How are sex linked traits determined?

By genes located on the X chromosome

Why are males more likely to express X-linked disorders?

Because Males only have one X Chromosome

How do females express sex linked disorders?

Why is it important to understand sex-linked inheritance in biotechnology?

So that we can understand how sex-linked traits pass from parent to children

What are chromosomal alteration?

Large scale changes in the structure of a chromosome

What is deletion?

One segment of the chromosomes is missing

What is inversion?

When to chromosomes switch places

What is translocation?

When to chromosome switch places on different dna segments

What is duplication?

When a Chromosome is duplicated and appears twice

What is crossing over?

A process that increases genetic diversity during meiosis

Why is crossing over important in science and biotechnology?

This process is important because it increases genetic variability in population

When does crossing over occur?

During meiosis

What is nondisjunction?

failure of chromosomes to separate properly during meiosis

What is the result of nondisjunction?

lethality or severe developmental disorders

What diseases does nondisjunction explain?

Down syndrome

What is Down’s Syndrome?

Trisomy 21

What is Turner syndrome?

absence or partial deletion of one X chromosome in females

What is Klinefelter syndrome?

An extra X Chromosome in males