Section 7 - Chapter 17: Inherited Change - old Flashcards
Why do we resemble our parents but are not identical?
- Inherit alleles/ genes from both parents. Fusion of gametes. Gametes are haploid.
- When egg/sperm meet we have 2 copies of each gene
- Some are dominant and recessive.
What is a gene?
Short section of DNA on a chromosome, this is a sequence of nucleotide bases that code for a specific protein.
What is an allele?
Different forms/versions of a gene
What is the genotype?
The genetic constitution of an organism. Combination of alleles. e.g Bb. Can be influenced by environment/mutations
What is the phenotype?
Observable or biochemical characteristics of an organism due to genotype/allele and the environment
What does homozygous mean?
Where 2 alleles for a given gene are the same ( BB)
What does heterozygous mean?
Where 2 alleles for a given gene are different (Bb)
What does dominant allele mean
A dominant allele is always expressed in the phenotype
What does recessive allele mean?
An allele that influences the phenotype if 2 copies are present
What is codominance?
When 2 alleles have equal influence in the phenotype.
Phenotype can be a blend of both alleles (colour) or both features are represented separately (Blood Group)
What did Mendel discover when he crossed tall and dwarf pea plants
- The gene that controls height in pea plants has 2 alternative forms called alleles
- The allele for tallness is dominant and allele for shortness is recessive.
What are dihybrid crosses used
Shows how 2 characters determined by 2 different genes located on different chromosomes are inherited.
What are multiple alleles
Where there are more than 2 alleles of which only 2 may be present at the loci of an individual’s homologous chromosomes
e.g blood group
How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have
23 pairs
What is the 23rd pair also known as and what are they for male and female
- 23rd pair is the sex determining chromosomes
- XX is female and XY is male