Inheritance Flashcards
Alleles
Different versions of the same gene
Homologous Chromosome
pair of chromosomes in sexually producing organisms, one comes from each parent
Autosome
The numbered chromosomes as opposed to the sex chromosomes
Heterozygous
Different versions of the same gene, one dominant, one recessive. Dominant will be expressed
Homozygous Recessive
Identical copies of the same gene, both recessive. Recessive will be exposed
Homozygous Dominant
Identical copies of the same gene, both dominant. Dominant will be expressed
Co-Dominance
The inheritance pattern where both alleles in a heterogenous organism contribute to the phenotype. Both alleles are independently and equally expressed
Incomplete Dominance
The situation where the action of one allele does not completely mask the action of the other and neither allele has dominant control over the trait. This results in the partial influence of both alleles
Monohybrid
Single pair of genes that is responsible for one trait
Dihybrid
Two pairs of genes that are responsible for two traits
Hemizygous
A gene that occurs only as a single copy of a diploid organism
Recombinant DNA
The process of transferring a gene from a cell of a member of one species to the cell of a different species
Gene Cloning
The process of using plasmids and bacteria to make numerous copies of a gene
Plasmids
A large piece of DNA found in bacteria, which reproduces independently of the bacterial chromosome, used as vectors that are a vehicle to transfer DNA sequences from one organism to another. Used to make recombinant DNA
Restriction Enzymes
Cut DNA into smaller pieces called restriction fragments, at specific base sequences known as restriction sites; occur naturally in bacteria and are names after the bacterial strain they are derived from
Sticky Ends
The end of a DNA fragment that is created after cleavage by a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA at different positions on each strand
Making Recombinant DNA Step 1
Plasmids are extracted from bacteria by rupturing the cell membranes and cell walls
Making Recombinant DNA Step 2
The same restriction enzyme is used to cut the plasmid DNA and the DNA of the gene to be inserted to ensure they have complimentary sticky ends
Making Recombinant DNA Step 3
The plasmid vectors and the genes of interest are mixed together and their sticky ends pair
Making Recombinant DNA Step 4
DNA ligase is used to join two segments to form recombinant plasmids by forming a phosphodiester bond between the two fragments of DNA by joining the 3’-hydroxyl end of one nucleotide with the 5’ end of another nucleotide
Making Recombinant DNA Step 5
The recombinant plasmids are added to a bacterial culture, where they are taken up by some bacteria in a process called transformation. When the bacteria reproduce by dividing, the plasmid is also replicated. This generates numerous copies of the recombinant DNA
Polygenic Inheritance
Some phenotypes including skin, eye colour and height are determined by more than one gene and show continuous variation in populations. The greater the numbers of genes that control a characteristic, the greater the variation and possible gene combinations
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
A tool used in biotechnology to amplify or make millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence
Gel Electrophoresis
A technique that separates DNA fragments according to their size and charge. Molecule size markers are a set of pieces of DNA of known length that are used to estimate the size of other DNA fragments in a gel
