TASK 1 Flashcards
Variation
Phenotype
- Expression of the genotype
- observable characteristics that change
Genotype
- Underlying genes/sequence of genes which determine specific characteristics
Haploid cell
- Cells with only 1 set of chromosomes
- germ cells: egg/sperm cells
Pyrimidine
Cytosine, Thymine
- only single organic ring
Purine
Adenine, Guanine
- have two organic rings (stronger bond)
Nucleotide
= base + backbone
- -> nitrogenous base, five carbon sugar and (at least) one phosphate group
- building blocks of nucleic acids
- nucleoside = base + sugar
Gaussian curve of human nature
- Bell curve
- “normal” and most common behaviour around the mean / peak and extreme behaviours to the left and right ends
Recombination
Production of offspring with combinations of traits that differ from those found in either parent
- Eukaryotes: genetic recombination during meiosis can lead to a novel set of genetic information that can be passed on from the parents to the offspring.
Genetic linkage
- tendency of DNA sequences that are close together on a chromosome to be inherited together
- during the meiosis phase of sexual reproduction
Epigenetics
- study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression (= how many copies of certain RNA molecule are made)
- rather than alteration of genetic code itself
- -> methylation (DNA level)
- -> acetylation (Histone level)
Methylation
= methyl groups are added to DNA molecule
- can change activity of a DNA segment without changing the sequence
- -> methylated: repress/stop gene transcription/expression
- -> not methylated: enhanced gene expression
Acetylation
= acetyl groups (-COCH3) are attached to lysins (AA) in histone tails (N-terminus)
- Histone code hypothesis: specific combinations of modifications & the order in which they occur helps determine the chromatin configuration –> in turn influences transcription
- -> acetylated: chromatin structure more loose = easier access for transcription proteins
- -> not acetylated: removal of acetyl groups; chromatin more compactly folded = no access for transcription proteins
Gene mutation
- Permanent alteration in the DNA sequence such –> differs from what is found in most people
Frameshift mutation
- addition or deletion of one or more base pairs in the DNA –> whenever number of nucleotides added/deleted not multiple of 3
- alters reading frame of genetic messages
Types of mutations
- point mutation/single-base substitutions
- slippage
- transposition/segmental duplication
- chromosomal mutations
- mutagens
- frameshift mutation
Point mutation/Single base substitutions
- only affecting 1 or very few nucleotides in a gene sequence
- -> transitions
- -> transversion
Slippage/Simple sequence repeat expansion/contraction
- leads to trinucleotide or dinucleotide expansion/ contraction during DNA replication
- normally occurs when a sequence of repetitive nucleotides is found at the site of replication
Transposition/Segmental duplication
- chromosomal segment is transferred to a new position on the same or another chromosome
Synonymous mutation
- no amino acid change
- Due to the redundancy of the genetic code
- silent mutation: no change in phenotype
Non-synonymous mutation
- amino acid change
- changes in phenotype
Central dogma in genetics
- Flow of genetic information within a biological system
- only in one direction and not the other
= DNA –> (via transcription) RNA –> (via Splicing) mRNA –> (via translation) Proteins
Genome
- haploid set of chromosomes in a gamete
- consists of all genetic information instruction of cell
- all the chromosomes together
Somatic cells
Any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells
Germ cells
- Cell containing half the number of chromosomes (only 23)
- able to unite with one form of the opposite sex to form a new individual (gamete)
Gametes
- Reproductive cells
- haploid = only carry one copy of each chromosome