Unit 1 - Introduction Flashcards
study of biologically inherited traits
Genetics
concerned primarily with understanding biological properties that are transmitted from parent to offspring
Genetics
units of heredity
Genes
biochemical instructions that tell cells how to manufacture proteins
Genes
the complete set of genetic instructions characteristics of an organism, including protein-encoding genes and other DNA sequences
Genome
the entire 3.2 billion base sequence of the genetic material in human cell
Genome
hundreds to thousands of DNA bases that encode a protein or parts of the protein
Single-gene
patterns of single-base variants Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) correlated to traits or medical conditions
Genome-wide association studies
levels of mRNAs in specific cells under specific conditions that reflect physiology and reveal abnormalities in function
Gene expression profiling
study the chemical nature of genes and the ways that genes function to affect certain traits
led to the development of methods that can determine the complete DNA sequence of an organism
Genomics
_____________ work is regarded as the beginning of the science of genetics
shows the existence of genes as well as illuminating the rules governing their transmission from generation to generation
Gregor Johann Mendel
Gregor Mendel originally bred ___________ with ___________ to see how pigments were inherited
Albino mice; pigmented mice
Because the ______ of the animals could no longer be contained, and due to the __________________ of monks, Mendel had to let go of the mice
Smell; Celibate Lifestyle
Mendel started working on _______________________ in 1850s
Common Pea Plants
He came up with two main ideas:
Law of Segregation and Law of Independent assortment
What is the third law of Mendel?
Law of Dominance
All biology is now gene-centered
Genetics can help explain why some people are more prone to certain disease compared to others
Help researchers develop new technologies that can be used to treat disease
Importance of Genetics
Knowledge in genetics can even help identify the parents of children and identify the identities of criminals or victims of crimes
Genetics can help healthcare professionals identify genetic conditions found in newborns or even before infants are delivered
Importance of Genetics
numerous drugs and food additives are synthesized by fungi and bacteria that have been genetically manipulated
Biotechnology industry employs molecular genetic techniques to develop and mass-produce substances of commercial value
HEALTHCARE
Risk can be predicted for family members
Predictive (pre-symptomatic) testing may be possible
Single-gene disease
Different populations may have different characteristic disease frequencies
Correction of the underlying genetic abnormality may be possible
Single-gene disease
Direct alteration of genes to treat human diseases
Gene Therapy
Greatest gene therapy successes to date are the treatment of ___________________________________
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SCID)
SCID is caused by the abnormal gene ___________
IL2RG gene (Interleukin 2 Receptor Subunit Gamma)