quiz #2 Flashcards
Chromosome
Each chromosome in a pair codes for the same genetic trait but they provide different details
Genes
A segment or band on a chromosome that determines a particular characteristic. Each gene has different possible forms called alleles.
Alleles
Gene: eye colour
Possible alleles: brown or not brown
(Different versions of the gene)
-since we have different chromosomes, we have pairs of alleles that determine a particular characteristic
-one of the two alleles is dominant over the other
The dominant allele
Represented by a capital letter (B) and is always represented in the physical characteristics of the individual (if present)
The recessive allele
Represented by a lower case letter (b) and is only represented in the physical characteristics of the individual if the dominant allele is present
Dominant alleles
- brown eyes (B)
- dark hair (D)
Recessive alleles
- not brown (blue or green) eyes (b)
- blonde hair (d)
The three possible combinations for each pair of alleles…
- BB
- Bb
- bb
Homozygous (pure bread)
- an individual in which both alleles are the same
- homozygous dominant: BB
- homozygous recessive: bb
Heterozygous (hybrid)
- an individual in which both alleles are different
- heterozygous:Bb
Genotype
The genetic makeup of the individual (BB, Bb, or bb)
Phenotype
The physical appearance of the individual (brown eyes or blue eyes)
-the homozygous dominant (BB) and heterozygous genotypes (Bb) will have the same phenotype because the dominant allele is present
History of genetics: who is Gregor Mendel?
- father of modern genetics
- his work was published in 1866, but did not become popular until the 1900’s
- 1822-1884
- he was an Austrian monk who used garden pea plants to explain inheritance of characteristics
- he examined seven different pea traits
- each trait had only two possible variations (alleles)
- Mendel was the first individual to propose the principle of dominance, the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment
Mendel’s three major discoveries:
- characteristics/traits are governed by paired but individual factors (genes)
- these “factors” may be dominant or recessive
- the factors combine to produce characteristic ratios in the later generations
Principle of Dominance
When individuals with different alleles reproduce, the offspring will only express the dominant trait
Law of Segregation
Each gene (allele) separates from the other so that the offspring get only one gene from each parent for a given trait
Mendel’s gentil model plants: he worked with peas because:
- they are easy to grow
- crosses (mated) true breeding peas; pea plants that inherited the same traits generation after generation
- have many simple traits that distinguish strains of pea plants from each other
- this includes height (short or tall), seed colour (yellow or green) and seed shape (wrinkled or round)
Test crosses
- mendel’s experiments with pea plants required him to pollinate flowers
- this refers to as; crossing (fertilizing the flowers reproductive organ)