9A - The Gene Pool Flashcards
gene pool
The complete set of alleles present within a particular population.
population
A group of individuals of the same species living tin the same location.
allele frequency
The proportion of certain alleles in a gene pool.
genetic diversity
The variation in genetic make up or alleles within a population.
mutation
A permanent change to a DNA sequence.
mutagen
An agent that can cause mutation in DNA.
deletorious
Used to describe alleles that have an overall negative effect on individual fitness when expressed.
heritability
The transmission from parent to offspring (i.e. encoded in genes)
germline cell
A cell involved in the generation of gametes in eukaryotes.
somatic cell
Any cell in an organism that is not a germline cell.
point mutation
A mutation that alters a single nucleotide in a DNA sequence.
block mutation
A mutation that affects a large chunk of DNA, or an entire gene.
silent mutation
A mutation in which a nucleotide is substituted for another, changing the codon, but still coding for the same amino acid. Therefore, there is no effect on protein sturcture.
missense mutation
A mutation in which a nucleotide is substituted for another, changing the codon and coding for a different amino acid. Therefore, there can potentially be an effect on protein structure.
nonsense mutation
A mutation in which a nucleotide is substituted for another, changing the codon to a stop codon, prematurely ceasing translation of the gene’s mRNA. Therefore, there is an effect on the protein structure as its length is altered.
