Conservation Genetics Flashcards
Why are conservation genetics important?
It is important to maintain genetic diversity, for species security and it aids evolution.
What is conservation genetics?
It is the application of genetic tools and concepts to conservation issues.
What are we trying to conserve?
Genetic diversity.
What is DNA?
It is where all the genetic information required to sustain living processes is stored.
What is a genome?
The complete DNA sequence of all the chromosomes of an organism.
What is a chromosome?
Long strands of ‘packages’ of DNA that contain genes and other non-coding DNA. They also produce a protein called histone.
What is junk DNA?
It is DNA which doesn’t codify for a protein. We do not know the function of 99% of DNA - this all considered to be ‘junk DNA’.
What is a gene?
A segment of DNA that specifies the structure of a protein. It is a unit of heredity. Traits (e.g. colour of eyes) are coded by a gene.
What is a loci?
The place on a chromosome where a specified gene is located (singlular = locus). LATIN for ‘location’.
What is an allele?
One of the variant forms of a gene at a particular locus on a pair of chromosomes. Different allelles produce variation in inherited characteristics such as eye colour or blood type.
Why are alleles important in conservation?
We are seeking to have allelic diversity / richness. Preservation of alleles is what is wanted in conservation genetics - heterozygous alleles.
What is allele frequency?
The proportion of the alleles that are of a specific type in a population.
What are the total numbers of alleles at a locus called and what is it used to measure?
Allelic richness. Used to measure genetic variation.
What is random mating?
It is one of the assumptions of population genetics - by far the most prevalent mating system in wild populations. The mating pairs are formed without regard to genotype.
The transmission of genetic material from one generation to the next is known as what?
Heritability
