genetics intro

Question 1

What is heritability

Answer 1

Heritability is the proportion of the total variation between individuals in a given population due to genetic variation. This genetic variation refers to the influence of alleles at all gene loci that affect the trait. Heritability estimates range from 0 (no genetic contribution) to 1 (all differences on a trait reflect genetic variation).

Question 2

What is ACE

Answer 2

A = heritability (additive genetics)
C = shared environment (environmental influences that contribute to similarities between twins
E = non-shared environment (any environmental influences that contribute to differences between twins)

Question 3

Describe the twin method

Answer 3

Comparing intraclass correlations for
monozygotic twins (MZ, genetically identical)
and
dizygotic (DZ) twins (genetic relatedness on average .50)
Environments are equal for both types of twins. This means that differences in a trait between the different classes of twins reveals hearitability

Question 4

what is the difference between genes and DNA

Answer 4

Gene- short section of DNA. Different genes code for different protiens
DNA- large complex molecules which carry the genetic code that determines characteristics of living things. Only 2% of DNA is genes.

Question 5

What is segregating DNA

Answer 5

1% of DNA that is variable between individuals- made of polymorphisms- SNP’s and base-pair repeats