Lecture 1

Question 1

Who layed the formal discipline for genetics?

Answer 1

Gregor Johann Mendel

Question 2

What did Mendel use for his studies of inheritance

Answer 2

The garden peas

Question 3

What is ‘Transmission Genetics’?

Answer 3

The study of how genes are transmitted from the parents to their offspring. The principles of this study were directly taken from mendels studies.

Question 4

What traits did Mendel pay attention to?

Answer 4

Stem height, seed shape and color, pod shape and color, as well as flower color.

Question 5

What made Mendel’s studies with the pea plants successful?

Answer 5

Chose the suitable organism, focused on a few contrasting traits, kept accurate quantitative records, and appropriate analysis, which lead to the formation of his postulates.

Question 6

What are Mendel’s first three postulates?

Answer 6

Unit factors in pairs, Dominance and recessives, and segregation

Question 7

Explain the Unit Factor Postulate

Answer 7

A specific unit factor exists for each trait. Each diploid individual (ex. baby) receives one factor from each parent.

Question 8

Explain the Dominance/ Recessiveness postulate

Answer 8

When one unit factor overpowers the other, it is known as dominant. When the unit factor is overpowered, then it is known as recessive.

Question 9

Explain the Segregation postulate

Answer 9

When gametes are being made, the paired unit factors will separate randomly so that each gamete can receive one or the other with equal likelihood.

Question 10

Define phenotype

Answer 10

When the trait is being physically expressed

Question 11

What do unit factors represent?

Answer 11

Genes

Question 12

Define allele

Answer 12

alternative forms of a gene

Question 13

Define genotype

Answer 13

The genetic makeup of an individual

Question 14

Define Homozygous

Answer 14

When the alleles are the same (that individual is a homozygote)

Question 15

Define Heterozygous

Answer 15

when the alleles are different (that individual is a heterozygote)

Question 16

What is the product law?

Answer 16

The probability of two or more independent events happening randomly = the product of their individual probabilities

Question 17

Exaplain the law of independent assortment

Answer 17

The segregation/ separation of any pair of unit factors occurs independently of all others.

Question 18

What is a mutation?

Answer 18

Change in the DNA sequence, the mutation can be inherited

Question 19

What is the source of all genetic variation?

Answer 19

Mutations

Question 20

What do mutations do to the proteins that will be made from them?

Answer 20

modify or discard the proteins usual functions, and may lead to changes in the phenotype of the individual

Question 21

What causes sickle cell anemia?

Answer 21

an altered form of hemoglobin

Question 22

What proteins make up hemoglobin?

Answer 22

a-globin and b-globin, each of them are coded by a different gene

Question 23

Where does the mutation causing sickle cell anemia occur?

Answer 23

In one of the nucleotides making up b-globin. (CAC–>GUG–>Valine–>mutated b-globin–>sickle cell anemia)

Question 24

What does sickle cell anemia cause?

Answer 24

Block blood flow in the capillaries and small blood vessels, severe pain, heart damage, kidney damage, muscle damage,

Question 25

Which organism was chosen for the study of the development and function of the nervous system? and why>

Answer 25

nematode Caenorhabditis elgans. Because its nervous system only has 100 cells.

Question 26

Arabidoposis chosen to study….

Answer 26

Plant biology, because it is small and has a short life span compared to other plants

Question 27

What was the zebra fish used to study?

Answer 27

vertebrate development. Because it is small, reproduces rapidly, and it is transparent