Problem 2 Flashcards
Single gene
When a certain gene is known to cause a disease, we refer to it as a single gene disorder or a Mendelian disorder
–> they follow his laws of heredity
Polygenic gene
Refers to a trait whose phenotype is influenced by more than one gene
–> offspring phenotype is predicted from parental phenotype using quantitative genetic models
ex.: height, skin color
Homozygous
(Reinerbig)
A diploid organism that has two copies of the same allele
ex.: AA or aa
Heterozygot (Mischerbig)
A diploid organism that has one copy of two different alleles
–> only the dominant allele will be visible in the phenotype
ex.: Aa
Mendels theory of heredity
Inheritance involves the passing of discrete units of inheritance, or genes, from parents to offspring
Mendels Principles of heredity
- Law of segregation
- Law of dominance
- Law of independent assortment
Law of dominance
The dominant allele determines the appearance/phenotype of the organism
Law of segregation
Each individual carries 2 alleles, one of each parent
Law of independent assortment
Phenotypic traits controlled by different genes can be separated from each other through generations
What does the law of independent assortment suggest ?
- Novel phenotypic combinations can arise through sexual reproduction
- Natural selection can change the frequencies of one phenotypic characteristic, without changing the frequency of another
Why does independent segregation occur ?
Because at meiosis, the selection between which of the 2 copies goes forward to the gamete is done INDEPENDENTLY for each chromosome
Mendelian diseases
Follow his principles of heredity + apply to all single gene characteristics
ex.: Huntingtons disease, phenotypic effects develop after the individual has reproduced
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
Model that predicts what will happen in a sexually reproducing population where there is no natural selection
- Alleles will become neither more common nor more rare over time
- The relative proportions of homo- and heterozygotes will be constant
FORMULA: P^2 + 2pg + g^2
Genetic drift
Refers to a variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, leading to a disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce, all due to CHANCE
–> there will be a certain amount of change even in the absence of natural selection
Fixation
Results from fluctuation, (Genetic drift) and ends with everybody in the population having the same allele