Genetic Variation Flashcards
Allele
Different forms of a gene due to slightly different order of bases e.g. brown eyes and blue eyes
Allele frequency
A measure of the relative frequency of an allele on a genetic locus in a population
Asexual reproduction
Reproduction involving only one parent. Doesn’t produce genetic variation
Biological Population
All the members of one species that live in a defined area
Bottleneck effect
Where the population size is dramatically reduced by a random catastrophic event e.g. earthquake, storm. the population rebuilds without the diversity in the gene pool it once had.
Centromere
The part of a chromosome that attaches to the spindle during cell division, also holds two sister chromatids together at the start of meiosis
Chiasma
The point where two homologous non-sister chromatids exchange genetic material during meiosis. Plural is chiasmata
Chromatid
A threadlike strand made of DNA formed from a chromosome during the stages of cell division
Chromosome
A threadlike structure made of DNA on which the genetic information of an individual is stored
Cloning
Artificial production of genetically identical individuals
Co-dominance
When both alleles in a heterozygous genotype are dominant and are equally and independently expressed – e.g. the human blood type AB
Complete dominance
Complete dominance occurs when one allele is dominant and the other is recessive. Dominant alleles are completely dominant over the recessive allele and will always be expressed when present. If present that will be the phenotype. Recessive alleles are only expressed (in the phenotype) when both alleles inherited are recessive and there is no dominant alleles
Crossing over
Occurs during meiosis, when the homologous chromosomes line up at the equator, they may tangle, snap and exchange genetic information
Di-hybrid cross
A cross that studies the inheritance pattern of two genes
Diploid
A cell or organism with two copies of each chromosome, twice the haploid number of chromosomes, e.g. human body cells have 46 chromosomes (2 x 23)
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid. The genetic material of most living organisms. It plays a central role in the determination of hereditary characteristics by controlling protein synthesis in cells. It has a double helix shape
Dominant allele
The allele that is expressed when two different alleles of a gene are present in the cells in an organism, represented by a capital letter
Emigration
When an individual leaves a gene pool. As a result, some genes/alleles may be lost. This is one aspect of gene flow
Evolution
Is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations. It relies on the process of natural selection, and gradual and cumulative changes in allele frequencies amongst the members of the population.
F1 generation
The first generation of offspring resulting from an arranged cross between selected parents in breeding experiments
F2 generation
The second generation of offspring in breeding experiments, obtained by crossing individuals of the F1 generation
Fertilisation
Fusing of egg and sperm
Founder effect
Random changes to a gene pool due to a few individuals establishing a new population. E.g. blown or drift to a separate island.