3A5 Mendelian Genetics Flashcards
Understand Mendel's laws of inheritance. Use monohybrid and dihybrid crosses and pedigree analysis to predict inheritance patterns.
What is an allele?
One of two or more versions of a gene.
An individual inherits two alleles for each gene, one from each parent.
What is a gene?
The segment of DNA that determines the phenotype or displayed trait.
Define homozygous.
Homozygous: Two copies of the same allele within one gene.
Define heterozygous.
Heterozygous: Two different alleles at a locus.
What is a genotype?
The set of two alleles.
Depicted as 2 letters: BB, Bb, bb
What is a phenotype?
The trait that can be seen.
How is genotype translated into phenotype?
By considering the relationship between alleles to determine the physical expression of traits.
What are dominant and recessive genes?
- Dominant gene: A trait expressed in the heterozygous state.
- Recessive gene: A trait not expressed in the heterozygous state.
What is a key characteristic of a dominant trait?
It is expressed in the heterozygous state and tends to be more prominent in populations.
How is a dominant trait symbolized in genetics?
By capital letters.
What is a key characteristic of a recessive trait?
It is not expressed in the heterozygous state and seems to disappear after time in a population.
Who is known as the Father of Genetics?
Gregor Mendel
How did Mendel start his studies on inherited characteristics?
By focusing on singular inherited traits from crosses of his pea plants.
What are the three laws credited to Gregor Mendel?
- Law of Segregation
- Law of Dominance
- Law of Independent Assortment
What did Mendel’s First Law of Inheritance state?
Genes on chromosomes are segregated or separated during sexual reproduction (meiosis).
Also known as the law of segregation.
What is the process that happens during meiosis according to Mendel’s Law of Segregation?
Segregation occurs between the first and second meiotic cell divisions, where alleles split and are randomly selected from each parent to form the offspring.
How did Mendel confirm his First Law of Inheritance?
By crossing pea plants that differed in observable and scoreable traits.
What is a Punnett square used for?
To predict the likelihood of each possible combination of alleles.
What does ‘mono’ mean in a monohybrid cross?
One
What does ‘hybrid’ mean in a monohybrid cross?
Mixed or blended in terms of genetics.
What is a monohybrid cross?
The creation of a new generation from two organisms that are hybrids for a single characteristic or trait.
What is the purpose of monohybrid crosses in genetics?
Help determine if a trait is dominant or recessive.
What are the steps in performing a monohybrid cross?
- Determine the genotypes of the parents.
- Write down the possible gametes for each parent.
- Arrange the parents’ gametes around the edges of a Punnett square.
- Fill out the offspring squares.
- Interpret the results.
How many rounds of monohybrid crosses are usually sufficient to determine if a trait is dominant or recessive?
Usually, two rounds.