Genetics terms Flashcards
clone
a group of genetically identical cells derived from a single ancestral cell
allele
alternate version of a gene
differentiated cell
has become specialised, doesn’t undergo mitosis
stem cells
retains ability to undergo mitosis
soma
cells that make up the individual, will die when the individual does (somatic cells)
germline
able to give rise to subsequent generation i.e. gametes
genetic mosaic
idea that an individual contains more than one genotype due to heritable mutations in genetic information but is derived from a single zygote
cytogenetics
study of chromosomes as carriers of genetics
karyotype
an individuals collection of chromosomes
autosomes
any chromosome thats not a sex chromosome
sister chromatid cohesion
proteins (cohesins) glue sister chromatids together until next mitosis where they separate
euchromatin
loosely packed chromatin, accessible for translation
heterochromatin
remains condensed even in interphase so isn’t transcribed
monosomy
one homologue where it would typically be two e.g. XO instead of XX/XY
trisomy
three homologues when there would ordinarily be two e.g. in downs syndrome (21 +1)
polyploidy
extra whole sets of chromosomes
triploidy, tetraploidy
3n and 4n respectively, examples of polyploidy
monoploid
n when 2n would be normal
deletion
part of a chromosome is missing
duplication
part of chromosome is duplicated
translocation
part of chromosome has moved to an abnormal site
inversion
in the same place just the reverse orientation
mutation
heritable change to a single gene
wild type
‘normal’ allele
