Lecture 7 / Lesing 7

Question 1

Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL)

Answer 1

A chromosomal region that contains one or more genes or genetic elements that contribute to phenotypic variation in a quantitative trait.

Question 2

Linkage mapping / Linkage study

Answer 2

Linkage mapping is the identification of QTL in families (individuals sharing alleles). Linkage study is a family-based method to search for a chromosomal location of a gene by demonstration co-segregation within related individuals.

Question 3

Association mapping / association study / association analysis

Answer 3

A method of mapping QTL with molecular markers in a sample of alleles from outbred (unrelated) individuals.

Question 4

Stem cells

Answer 4

An undifferentiated cell capable of giving rise to a number of other cell types based on the age of the stem cell. (Totipotent = youngest; Pluripotent = mid; Multipotent = oldest).

Question 5

Cloning

Answer 5

Asexual form of reproduction. Clonal embryo may be inserted into a female’s uterus to form a fully living organism (reproductive cloning), or be used to cultivate specific cell types or organs (therapeutic cloning).

Question 6

Genetic Engineering

Answer 6

The deliberate modification of the genetic material of an organism to manipulate a specific phenotype. This may be done on early embryos (germline genetic engineering), where the modification will be passed to future generations; or specific somatic cells may be targeted to “replace” faulty alleles thereby creating a normal phenotype (somatic genetic engineering).