Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Genetics L1 > Lecture 1 - introduction to genetics > Flashcards

Lecture 1 - introduction to genetics Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is genetics the study of?

A

units of information (genes) and the way they are passed on (inheritance).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is heredity?

A

Offspring are similar to their parents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is variation?

A

Offspring are different from their parents and each other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is phenotype?

A

discernible properties of an individual

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is genotype?

A

genetic information that influences those properties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 3 types of genetics?

A
  • Molecular/developmental genetics
  • Population/evolutionary genetics
  • Transmission genetics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are molecular/developmental genetics?

A

transmitted from DNA to affect cell function & phenotypes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are population/evolutionary genetics?

A

transmitted over many generations within large populations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are transmission genetics?

A

transmitted from parent to offspring in families

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What principle demonstrated that DNA is the genetic material?

A

the transforming principle (Griffith) - genetic material can be moved between bacterial cells and change their properties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the bacteriophage life cycle (Hershey & Chase)?

A

bacteriophage virus passed genetic material on

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the full name of DNA (which describes the structure of DNA)?

A

deoxyribonucleic acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Are animals, plants, fungi and protists multicellular or unicellular?

A

BOTH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are chromosomes made of?

A

chromatin = DNA + histones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why is DNA wrapped around highly conserved proteins called histones?

A

to form a compact structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 4 parts of a linear chromosome?

A
  • telomeres
  • p arm
  • q arm
  • centromere
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are telomeres?

A

repetitive sequences at each end of linear chromosomes that protect them from degradation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does the p arm stand for?

A

‘petite arm’ - shorter chromosome arm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does the q arm stand for?

A

‘letter after p’ - longer chromosome arm

20
Q

What is a centromere?

A

specialised region that acts as a site for the binding of kinetochore proteins - important in mitosis and meiosis

21
Q

What is the name given to genes found across the length of 2 chromosome arms at different positions?

A

loci (singular = locus)

22
Q

What are epigenetics?

A

reversible modification to chromatin structure can alter gene activity without changing the DNA

23
Q

What is euchromatin?

A

loosely packed chromatin that can be readily transcribed

24
Q

What is heterochromatin?

A

condensed structure that doesn’t allow expression genes in that region

25
Q

What controls the level of expression of genes?

A

it is controlled by addition of methyl and acetyl groups to the histone proteins

26
Q

What does DNA methylation lead to?

A

used to suppress the expression of genes

27
Q

What does histone acetylation lead to?

A

leads to relaxation of the chromatin and hence greater transcription

28
Q

What does it mean that epigenetics can be heritable?

A

it can have longer-term effects

29
Q

Does epigenetics change the DNA sequence?

A

NO - there are no changes to the DNA sequence

30
Q

What is a diploid?

A

2 homologous chromosomes with the same genes but different alleles

31
Q

What type of cell is a gamete?

A

Haploid - a single copy of each chromosome

32
Q

Are all eukaryotes diploid?

A

no

33
Q

What is a gene?

A

unit of hereditary information that occupies a fixed position (locus) on a chromosome

34
Q

What are alleles?

A

different versions of a gene

35
Q

How many nucleotides can alleles vary by?

A

alleles could differ by a single nucleotide, or by hundreds

36
Q

What is cytogenetics?

A

the study of chromosomes

37
Q

How can cytogenetics work?

A

by using a technique called G-banding: a chemical called Giemsa is used stain chromosomes - giving a unique banding pattern.

38
Q

What is a karyotype?

A

the chromosome complement of an individual

39
Q

What is the typical human karyotype?

A
  • autosomes - 1-22 (paternal & maternal)
  • sex chromosomes - X & Y
40
Q

What is the sex chromosomes of females?

A

XX

41
Q

What is the sex chromosomes of males?

A

XY

42
Q

Where is most eukaryotic genetic material found?

A

nuclear chromosomes

43
Q

Where else is the DNA in a eukaryote, other than nuclear chromosomes?

A

mitochondria & chloroplasts

44
Q

Where do organelles originate from?

A

very ancient endosymbiotic events - bacterial-like genome

45
Q

Where are mitochondrial and chloroplasts DNA inherited from?

A

Cytoplasm - maternal inheritance (egg has large volume of cytoplasm, whereas this is negligible for sperm).

Genetics L1 (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions