Lectures 7 & 8. Patterns of Inheritance: Mendelian & Beyond Flashcards
What are the goals of the Human Genome Project?
1) Discover the complete set of human genes
2) Make the information accessible for further biological study
3) Determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome
What is a Pedigree?
A specialized chart or family tree that uses a particular set of standardized symbols
Roman numerals (I, II, III) symbolize generations
Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3) symbolize birth order within each generation
Individuals within a pedigree can be identified by the combination of two numbers (i.e. II-3)
Names can also be included in a pedigree but numbers provide anonymity for patient privacy
Objective of a Pedigree
To show and analyze the history of inherited traits through generations in a family
a. Pedigrees provide concise and accurate records of families
b. Pedigrees are helpful in following and diagnosing heritable traits (e.g. diseases and medical conditions), by describing patterns or modes of inheritance
c. Pedigrees are useful in mapping (i.e. locating and isolating) genes that are responsible for certain traits
d. Pedigree can frequently rule out, but not necessarily prove, a certain mode of inheritance
What information must be included on a pedigree?
1) Proband
2) First name or initials of relatives (alternatively, generation-individual numbers (I-1, I-2, II-1) can be used to maintain confidentiality (HIPAA)
3) Affected status (person with the trait/disease) for each individual in the pedigree
4) Age of all family members or age at death (if individual deceased, then cause of death, if known, is indicated below the person’s symbol)
5) Adoption status
6) Pregnancy/abortion
7) Consanguinity (mating within close relatives)
8) Marriage/divorce
9) Race/ethnicity
10) Date pedigree obtained
11) Key to shading of symbols
Definition of proband
A person being studied; noted with an arrow and the box (male) or circle (female) shaded accordingly
Use “consultant” if relaying history
Consanguinity
Same ancestor/mating between individuals with same ancestor/connected by double straight lines
Degrees of consanguinity
First degree - between parents
Second degree- between siblings
Third degree - first cousins or aunts/uncles
Monozygotic twins
Twins that develop from a single fertilized egg, i.e., identical twins
Dizygotic twins
Twins that develop from simultaneous shedding of two oocytes and their subsequeny fertilization by two different sperms, i.e., fraternal twins
Locus
Specific location of a gene or DNA sequence on a chromosome
Homozygous
Carrying identical alleles for one or more genes
Heterozygous
Carrying two different alleles for one or more genes
Heterogeneity
Many genes responsible for one phenotype
Ex: deafness/hearing loss, blood clotting disorders, blindness
Ploidy
Number
Diploid cell
_The condition in which each chromosome is represented twice as a member of a homologous pair, one set from each parent
_Human somatic cells are diploid cells
Germ cells
_Cells from which a new organism can develop = egg and sperm
_Germ cells are haploid cells with half the number of chromosomes as the somatic cells
Aneuploidy
_Abnormal number of chromosomes
_Occurs during cell division when chromosomes do not separate equally between two daughter cells
Monosomy/monosomic condition
Only one copy of a chromosome is present instead of two; 2n - 1
Trisomy/trisomic condition
One extra copy of a chromosome; 2n + 1
Nullisomy/nullisomic condition
No chromosome of that chromosome pair is present; 2n - 2)
Name the most common aneuploidy
Trisomy 21, 18, and 13
Knockout mouse
A genetically engineered mouse with specific gene(s) artificially deleted or inactivated from its genome
Cellular homeostasis
The tendency of an organism/cell to regulate its internal conditions, such as the chemical composition of its body fluids, so as to maintain health and functioning, regardless of external conditions
Phenocopy
An environmentally caused trait that mimics a genetically determined trait
Examples of phenocopy
1) Thalidomide exposure: a phenocopy of chemotherapy
2) Hair loss from chemotherapy: a phenocopy of the genetic disorder alopecia
Pleiotropy
The diverse effects of one gene or gene pair on several organ systems and functions resulting in multiple phenotypic effects in the body
Example of Pleiotropy
Marfan’s syndrome (slide 28)
Classification of Genetic Disorders
1) By chromosomal abnormalities
a) Number of chromosome (monosomy, trisomy, etc)
b) Structure of chromosome
2) By single gene defect
a) Autosomal dominant
b) Autosomal recessive
c) X-linked dominant
d) X-linked recessive
e) Y-linked
3) By mitochondrial genetic defect
4) By multifactorial/polygenic defects
5) By environmental influences - generally spontaneous mutation
Subcentric or submetacentric
Centromere not at center; the chromosome arms’ lengths are unequal
Metacentric
Two arms of chromosome are roughly equal in length
Acrocentric
_P arm is so short that is hard to observe, but still present
_In humans, chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, and Y are acrocentric
Telocentric
Centromere is located at the terminal end of the chromosome
Not present in humans
Holocentric
Entire length of the chromosome acts as the centromere
Found in worms (nematodes); not present in humans
True or false: chromosomal studies should be performed for any individual with multiple malformations and unknown overall diagnosis
True