Chapter 23 (Patterns of Inheritance) Flashcards
Definition of a gene
Length of DNA
Definition of locus
Position of a gene on a chromosome
Definition of allele
A gene variant
Definition of genotype
The combination of alleles present in a cell/organism
Definition of phenotype
The physical observable characteristics that are expressed in an organism.
Definition of haploid
Half the number of chromosomes
Definition of diploid
The total number of chromosomes present
Definition of heterozygous
A genotype consisting of two different alleles
Definition of homozygous
A genotype consisting of two identical alleles.
Definition of carrier
The genotype of an individual with two different alleles who doesn’t have the disease but can pass it on.
Definition of dominant allele
An allele that is expressed in the phenotype
Definition of recessive allele
An allele only expressed when the dominant allele is absent.
Definition of multiple alleles
When there are 3 or more alleles present for one specific gene
Definition of co-dominant allele
Both alleles are equally dominant and have an impact on the phenotype.
Definition of pure breeding
the genotype is homozygous for that characteristic
Definition of homogametic
Both sex chromosomes are identical
Definition of heterogametic
Both sex chromosomes are different.
Types of gene mutations
Insertion
Deletion
Substitution
‘Translocation
Non-disjunction
Inversion’
What is substitution
One base is swapped for another base (point mutation)
What is deletion
A nucleotide or nucleotides are removed. Causes frameshift in codons in mRNA. - leads to alteration of aa.
What is insertion
An extra nucleotide or nucleotides are placed into the DNA sequence. Causes frameshift - leads to alteration of aa, so ppc.
Definition of gene mutations
A chance to the base (nucleotide sequence)
Why are insertion and deletions more likely than substitution mutations to result in a major change?
- The “sense” has been altered in both cases
- Every triplet after the first one has changed, producing a frameshift
- This is likely to have greater effects.
What does PKU stand for?
Phenylketonuria
Ethical concerns regarding genetic testing
- May lead to abortion
- Parents face decision as to whether child should be born
- Risk of damage to embryo or mother
- Risk of getting false positive / negative result.
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis
Infertility in men because vas deferens may fail to form.
- Abnormally thick mucus in lungs and pancreas.
- prone to bacterial infections
How is Huntington’s Disease caused.
Caused by insertion mutation on chromosome 4.
Autosomal Dominant Allele
In healthy person, CAG triplets repeated 10-26 times.
In CAG triplet repeated 40+
(Gene stutter)
Why is Huntington’s disease dangerous
Caused by accumulation of protein fragments in neurones in brain - leads to neurone death, so reduces ability to send nerve impulses.
How is cystic fibrosis caused
Genetic disorder caused by a recessive allele found on chromosome 7. that codes for a transporter protein called CFTR.
Normal situation without cystic fibrosis.
Transporter proteins transport cl- ions out of cell, causing high conc of cl- ions built up outside cell.
This reduces water potential lower than that of cells’ cytoplasm.
This draws water out of the cells by osmosis.
Water dilutes mucus, so its thin enough to be moved by ciliated epithelium. (uses respiration to produce ATP to enable wafting movement of cilia)
What do CFTR proteins do?
They sit in the cell surface membrane of cells in the alveoli.
They allow chloride ions to pass out of cells.
Faulty version doesn’t produce a fully functioning protein, so chloride ion transport if disrupted.
What do CFTR proteins do for a Cystic fibrosis sufferer?
Transporter proteins don’t pump Cl- ions out of cell, so no water is drawn out of cells.
mucus remains thick and viscous.
Ciliated epithelium is unable to clear mucus, nor can coughing.
Mucus accumulates (as goblet cells still produce it)
bacteria gets trapped and remains in uncleared mucus.
Bacterial infections are likely.
Possible treatments of cystic fibrosis
- Daily physiotherapy
- Administer pancreatic enzymes
- Use of antibiotics
- Lung transplant.
- Inhaled anti-asthma therapy
- (Males need fertility treatment)