introduction to genetics

Question 1

6 roles of genes

Answer 1

1. Genes influences our lives
   
   2. Genes contributes to personality
   3. Genes are fundamental to who and what we are
   4. Genes affect our susceptibility to many diseases and disorders
   5. Genes are important in agriculture
      Genes are important in development

Question 2

genome

Answer 2

• A genome is a complete set of genetic instructions for any organism
  
  • Either RNA or DNA
    Coding system for genomic information very similar among organisms

Question 3

6 organisms of the model genetic organisms

Answer 3

6 organisms:

1. Fruit fly: drosophila melanogaster
2. Bacterium: escherichia coli (present in the gut of humans + other mammals)
3. Roundworm: caenorhabditis elegans
4. Thale cress plant: arabidopsis thaliana
5. The house mouse: mus musculus
6. Saccharomyces cerevisiae: baker's yeast

Question 4

4 reasons why we choose the organisms of the model genetic organism

Answer 4

Reasons why these 6 species are good model:
1. A short generation time
2. Large but manageable numbers of progeny
3. Adaptability to a laboratory environment
Ability to be housed and propaged inexpensively

Question 5

zebrafish and human pigmentation

Answer 5

The value of model genetic organism is illustrated with the zebrafish to identify genes that affect skin pigmentation in humans. ** the difference in colour skin (pigmentation) is causing by genes that are largely unknown.
So zebrafish is a good model in genetic studies because it is a small vertebrate that produces many offspring and is easy to rear in the laboratory.
** the golden mutant mutation is caused by a gene that controls the amount of melanin in melanosomes
Light skin in humans is due to fewer and less dense melanosomes in pigment containing cells

Question 6

genetics for thousands of years

Answer 6

• 10 000-12 000 years ago: domestication of plants and animals
  
  • • The first domesticated organisms included wheat, peas lentils, barley, dogs, sheep and goats
  • Ancient jewish writing: understanding of genetics of hemophilia
  • Ancient Greeks: theories of inheritance

Question 7

name of geneticists + their discovery

Answer 7

Mendel: principles of heredity
Schleiden and schwann: cell theory
Flemming: chromosomes
Darwin: evolution
Weismann: germ-plasm theory
Sutton: genes are located on chromosomes
Other modern geneticists

Question 8

pangenesis

Answer 8

Genetic information travels from different parts of the body to reproductive organs
INCORRECT
greeks 520 B.C.

Question 9

inheritance of acquired characteristics

Answer 9

Acquired traits become incorporated into hereditary information
INCORRECT

Question 10

preformatism

Answer 10

Miniature organism resides in sex cells, and all traits are inherited from one parent
INCORRECT
ovis, spermist, 1600

Question 11

blending inheritance

Answer 11

Genes blend and mix

INCORRECT

Question 12

germ-plasm theory

Answer 12

All cells contain a complete set of genetic information
CORRECT
august weismann 1900

Question 13

cell theory

Answer 13

All life is composed of cells, and cells arise only from cells
CORRECT

Question 14

mendelian inheritance

Answer 14

Traits are inherited in accord with defined principles

CORRECT

Question 15

modern genetics (4)

Answer 15

Gregor mendel 1900 (1866)
James watson and francis crick (1953)
Human genome (2003)
Illumina genome analyzer (2007)

Question 16

fundamental concepts of genetics

Answer 16

1. Eukaryotic vs prokaryotic
   
   2. Genes are the fudamental unit of heredity
   3. Genes come in multiple forms called alleles
   4. Genes confer phenotypes
   5. Genetic information is carried in DNA and RNA
   6. Genes are located on chromosomes
      Chromosomes separate through mitosis and meiosis