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Biology > Genetics > Flashcards

Genetics Flashcards

1
Q

Genetics

A

The study of how traits are inherited from one generation to the next

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2
Q

Gene

A

The basic unit of heredity
Composed of DNA
Located on chromosomes

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3
Q

Alleles

A

Alternative forms of a gene

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4
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic makeup of an individual

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5
Q

Phenotype

A

The physical manifestation of the genetic makeup

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6
Q

4 principles of inheritance

A
  1. Genes exist as alleles
  2. An organism has 2 alleles for each inherited trait, one from each parent
  3. The two alleles segregate during meiosis
  4. If 2 alleles in an individual are different, only one will be fully expressed
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7
Q

Dominant

A

The expressed allele

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8
Q

Recessive

A

The silent allele

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9
Q

Mendel’s Law of Dominance

A

The dominant allele is expressed in the phenotype

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10
Q

Monohybrid cross

A

Cross when only one trait is being studied in a particular mating

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11
Q

Parental (P) generation

A

The individuals being crossed

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12
Q

Filial (F) generation

A

The progeny generations

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13
Q

Punnet square diagram

A

The parental genotypes arranged around a grid

Indicate all potential progeny genotypes and relative frequencies

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14
Q

Testcross

A

A diagnostic tool used to determine genotype of a potentially hetero- or homozygous dominant parent crossed with a homozygous recessive parent

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15
Q

Law of Segregation

A

Two alleles segregate during meiosis, resulting in gametes that carry only one allele for any given inherited trait

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16
Q

Law of Independent Assortment

A

Inheritance of one trait is completely independent of any other as long as the genes are on separate chromosomes

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17
Q

Dihybrid cross

A

When parents differ in 2 traits

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18
Q

Incomplete dominance

A

Phenotype of the heterozygote is an intermediate of the phenotypes of the homozygote

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19
Q

Codominance

A

Multiple alleles exist for a given gene and more than one of them is dominant, simultaneous expression of both dominant alleles

20
Q

Sex determination

A

Gender of a zygote is determined by the genetic contribution of the male gamete

21
Q

Sex-linked

A

Genes located on the X or Y chromosome

22
Q

Nondisjunction

A

The failure of homologous chromosomes to separate properly during meiosis I or failure of sister chromatids to separate properly during meiosis II

23
Q

Trisomy

A

Zygote with 3 copies of a chromosome

2N+1

24
Q

Monosomy

A

Zygote with 1 copy of a chromosome

2N-1

25
Mutations
Changes in genetic info coded in the DNA
26
Mutagenic agents
Induce mutations | Cosmic rays, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, radioactivity, chemical compounds
27
Point mutation
A nucleic acid is replaced by another nucleic acid | Does not alter the length of the genome
28
Silent mutation
The new codon codes for the same amino acid | No change in the resulting protein
29
Missense mutation
The new codon codes for a different amino acid | May or may not alter the protein structure and function
30
Nonsense mutation
The new codon codes for a stop codon | Often lethal or severally inhibit functionality of the protein
31
Frameshift mutations
Nucleic acids are deleted or inserted into the genome sequence Frequently lethal Alters the length of the genome
32
Nucleoid
Location of a single circular chromosome of bacterial genome
33
Plasmid
Smaller circular rings of bacterial DNA | Contain accessory genes
34
Episomes
Plasmids capable of integration into the bacterial genome
35
Transformation
The process by which a foreign chromosome fragment (plasmid) is incorporated into the bacterial chromosome via recombination, creating new inheritable genetic combinations
36
Conjugation
Sexual mating in bacteria Cytoplasmic conjugation bridge formed between 2 cells, genetic material transferred from donor male (+) type to recipient female (-) type
37
F factor
Bacteria possess plasmid termed F+ cells, replicates its F factor and donates the copy to the recipient F- cell, converting it to an F+ cell during conjugation
38
High frequency of recombination (Hfr)
Sex factor integrates into bacterial genome Entire bacterial chromosome replicates and moves from donor to recipient cell to recombine with genes already present Conjugation bridge breaks before entire chromosome transferred
39
Transduction
A virus that infects its host bacterium by attaching to the bacterium, boring a hole through the bacterial cell wall, and inject its viral DNA while its protein coat remains attached to the cell wall
40
Recombination
Breakage and rearrangement of adjacent regions of DNA when organisms carrying different genes or alleles for the same traits are crossed
41
Operon
Consists of structural genes
42
Operator
The sequence of nontranscribable DNA that is the repressor binding site
43
Promoter
The noncoding sequence of DNA that serves as the initial binding site for RNA polymerase
44
Regulator gene
Codes for the synthesis of a repressor molecule that binds to the operator and blocks RNA polymerase from transcribing the structural gene
45
Inducible systems
The repressor binds to the operator, forming a barrier that prevents RNA polymerase from transcribing the structural genes An inducer binds the pressor forming an inducer-repressor complex which cannot bind to the operator, permitting transcription Inducers are usually the substrate or derivative for the synthesized enzyme
46
Repressible systems
In a constant state of transcription unless a corepressor is present to inhibit transcription The repressor is inactive until it combines with the corepressor to form a repressor-corepressor complex which binds the operator and prevents transcription Corepressors are usually end products
47
Constitutive
Operons containing mutations or whose regulator genes code for defective repressors are always synthesizing their enzymes

Biology (17 decks)

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