Lecture 10: Genetic Analysis Flashcards
Why screen for mutants?
Mutants can be used to find genes with related or interacting functions.
What is the point of a complementation test?
To determine how many genes have been identified by mutagenesis.
What is the point of crossing mutants with wild-type in a complementation test?
To reveal that all the mutation are recessive to wild-type (because the F1 progeny has a wild-type phenotype).
Complementation tests require recessive mutations – dominant mutations cannot be used in complementation tests.
What are modifiers?
They change the phenotype.
Enhancers and suppressors.
What is a modifier screen?
Screen for new mutations in the mutant background.
What is a suppressor?
A mutation that suppresses the original mutant phenotype.
What is an enhancer?
A mutation that enhances the original mutant phenotype.
