Genes & Gene Action Flashcards
gene definition
a unit of information, coded in DNA on a chromosome
all genes make ___ mostly for the reason of ____. Some genes make it just as an _____
RNA, making proteins
end product
each gene has a specific location on a _____
chromosome
gene location is called
locus (plural: loci)
alternative versions of the same gene are called
alleles
gene map definition
the loci of all the genes on a chromosome
ie. all normal copies of chromosome 15 in humans have the same ____
map of loci
they are homologs (have the same genes)
homologs may have the same genes in the same places, but maybe different ____
alleles
each homolog can have its own ____ of the same gene
version
allele definition
different version of the same gene
sister chromatids in regard to alleles
have the same alleles b/c they are identical
different alleles of the same gene may only have ____ differences in their effects
small
how many alleles can there be for the same locus?
in a whole species … infinite
in an individual diploid… one or two different alleles at the same time
how many differences do these infinite alleles in a species cause?
smaller than you would think b/c many alleles have similar effects
5-alpha-reductase type 2 gene
codes for a protein enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase type 2 that converts testosterone –> dihydrotestosterone
many different mutated/nonfunctional alleles of this gene have turned up