Ch 1 the genetics revolution

Question 1

what is genetics

Answer 1

experimental science of heredity (genes)

Question 2

three general areas of interest

Answer 2

1. transmission genetics
2. molecular and development
3. population and evolutionary relationships

Question 3

organisms

Answer 3

give rise to like organisms
- in multicellular organisms, cells derived from a single cell develop complex and diverse structures

Question 4

what properties must the hereditary material posses

Answer 4

1. ability to replicate faithfully (inheritance)
2. provide diversity of info
3. translate into cellular structure and function
4. ability to change over time

Question 5

gene

Answer 5

the fundamental unit of herditary

Question 6

genome

Answer 6

complement of all genes for a given organism
- specifically: the genetic material of a chromosome set

Question 7

faithful replication

Answer 7

each DNA strand is the template for the production of a new strand
- results in two DNA molecules identical to the original

Question 8

diversity of info

Answer 8

DNA is comprised of 4 nucleotides (A,G,T,C)
- so many different combos possible

Question 9

translation of info

Answer 9

DNA -> RNA -> protein -> structure and function

Question 10

ability to change over time

Answer 10

mutation combined with natural selection allows for change over time
- errors during replication
- mutation due to exposure to mutagens (chemicals, UV, x-rays)

Question 11

genotype

Answer 11

the specific allele composition of a cell

Question 12

phenotype

Answer 12

outward manifestation of a specific genotype

Question 13

forward genetics

Answer 13

phenotype leads to genotype
- traditional approach
- find one that looks different

Question 14

reverse genetics

Answer 14

genotype leads to phenotype
- more recent approach
- mutation in known gene -> what is the phenotype

Question 15

albinism

Answer 15

result of a malfunctioning enzyme
genotype -> translation of info -> cellular phenotype

Question 16

what determines phenotype

Answer 16

interaction of genes and environment

Question 17

characteristics of model organisms

Answer 17

• easy to use
• short generation time
• small size
• easily maintained
• large numbers of progeny
• small genome
• representative
• easy to maintain a static environment
  ex. neurospora (fungus), C. elegans (nematode), lambda (virus), E. coli (bacteria), arabidopsis thaliana (plant)

Question 18

mutation

Answer 18

a change in DNA sequence (as compared to wild type)

Question 19

allele

Answer 19

an alternate form a gene (resulting from mutation)