Veterinary Genetics Flashcards
All information that was taught to me while attending Vanier College's "Animal Health Technology" Program, located in St-Laurent Montreal.
What is genetics
The study of transmission or inheritance of characteristics from one generation to the next
What are the two types of heritable characteristics
Anatomical and functional
List a few reasons why the pea plant was a good study model for early day genetics
It was easy to cultivate, several distinct varieties, short lifecycle, hermaphroditic part, self fertilizing
What does true breeding mean
Offspring always resemble parents in the particular trait
What is a mono hybrid cross
A cross between individuals that differ only in a single characteristic
Explain Mendels law of segregation
Paired units separate during gamete formation
What is a gene
A unit of information about a specific trait passed from parents to offspring
What is a locus
Specific location where a gene sits on a chromosome
What is a genome
The complete set of genes that determine all the characteristics of an individual
What are alleles
Different versions of the same trait
What does homologous mean
Similar
What does heterozygous mean
Nonidentical alleles
What is a genotype
The particular alleles an individual carries for a given characteristic example RR
What is phenotype
observable traits of an individual
What are the four type of nucleotide bases
A (adenine), C (cytosine), G (guanine), T (thymine)
How do the bases pair
A with T, C with G
Describe how DNA information gets translated into protein
DNA, transcription, RNA, translation, protein
In RNA what is different about the bases
There is no T it is now U, uracil
What are the three types of gene mutations
Substitution, insertion, deletion
Where does mitosis occur
Somatic and germ cells
Where does meiosis occurred
Only in germ cells
When are chromosomes the most tightly condensed in mitosis
Metaphase
What are dihybrid crosses
Crosses between individuals whose phenotypes differ for two characteristics
What is the formula for finding the number of possible gametes
2N, where n is the number of heterozygous gene pairs
How do you determine the probability of two or more independent events occurring simultaneously
It is the product of their individual probabilities (multiply them)
What is special. About dichotomous diagrams
It cannot be used to study genes linked on the same chromosome
What are poly hybrid crosses
Crosses between individuals whose phenotypes differ for three or more traits
Describe the law of independent assortment
Each pair of homologous chromosomes are sorted into gametes independently of how other pairs of homologous chromosomes are sorted
Describe complete dominance
Occurs when the effect of one allele completely masks the effect of the other allele for a given trait. Cannot distinguish phenotype of heterozygous from homozygous dominant
Describe incomplete dominance
cross between two different homozygous individuals produces offspring whose phenotype is intermediate or a mix of that of the parents
Describe codominance
Occurs when non-identical alleles are both expressed visibly and independently to produce a new phenotype. Not a mix or intermediate form of both alleles. Example roan hair
What is pleiotropy
The ability of a given gene to influence expression of two or more traits
What does a Pleiotropic gene do
Influences the expression of traits that are clearly phenotypically different from each other
What happens if you have a W Gene
You’re completely white. The gene is Pleiotropic. Can influence eyecolor
What happens if you’re Mm
You’re a blue Merle
What happens if you’re mm
You’re a tricolor
What can the Merle gene cause?
Coat color dilution as well as deafness,blindness and sterility
What happens if you’re MM
All white, generally dead and blind and often sterile
What is penetrance
Proportion of individuals carrying a particular gene that also expresses the expected associated trait
What is complete penetrance
Hundred percent of individuals looking the exact same way (for a gene)
What is incomplete penetrance
A faction of individuals looking the same way (for a trait)
What is expressivity
When I given genotype is visibly expressed but the degree of expression of the expected phenotype can be variable in different individuals. Example: 2 patients suffering from the same disease but with different severity
What is epistasis
The act of stopping and masking
What is a gene that masks called
Epistatic gene
What is a gene that are masked called
Hypostatic gene
What happens when epistasis occurs
No longer have the expected phenotypic ratio for dihybrid crosses
What is dominate epistasis
Strong epistasis. only one copy is needed. Manifests itself in heterozygous and homozygous dominant
What is recessive epistasis
Both copies of the epistatic gene are required. Manifest itself exclusively in homozygous recessive
What happens if you are WW or Ww
You will be white
If you are wwB what are you
Black
If you are wwbb what are you
Brown
If you are WwBb what are you
White
What two genes are examples of recessive epistasis
Agouti gene, color gene
If you are aa what are you
Solid color
What happens if you are cc
Albino
What is collaboration
Interaction between two different genes that influence the same trait to produce a new phenotype that neither gene could produce alone. Example comb shape in chickens
What are modifier genes
Genes that influence the expression of other genes through their expressed product
In the absence of the main gene what do modifier genes do
They have no visible effect
What are examples of some things that modifier genes have changed
Quantity of black spots in Holstein cattle, tail length in Manx cats
Describe genetic recombination
Establishment of new allele combinations and offspring. Great variations in details of their traits
What are the three ways to establish new allele combinations
- Crossing over between homologous chromosomes2. Independent around the assortment of homologous chromosomes into gametes3. Random fusion of gametes during fertilization
When does crossing over occur
In prophase one of meiosis
When does independent assortment occur
Metaphase one of meiosis
What is the specific area where chromatids cross each other and exchange genetic material called
Chiasma
How do you know if gametes are recombinant or non-recombinant
Recombinant genes carry a new combination of alleles. Non-recombinant genes contain the same genotype as the parent chromosome
The greater the distance between the two genes the ______ the chance that crossover will occur
Greater
Is frequency and crossover between two location proportional to distance or nonproportional to distance
Proportional
What is a genetic map
A graphical representation of the order in which linked genes are distributed along a chromosome. Also indicates the distance that separates a given gene from other genes
How do you calculate percent recombination
Number of recombinants divided by total number of individuals times 100
What does each percent mean in terms of units of distance
1% = 1 unit of distance
What is the unit used with genetic maps
Centimorgans cM
What is the maximum recombination value
50%
What is cytogenetics
A bunch of genetics devoted to the study of number, structure, behavior of chromosomes both in normal, and pathological state in the cell
What is a karyotype.
It photographic or schematic representation of a set of chromosomes in metaphase from somatic cell of a given species
What does karyotyping show
Number of chromosomes, structure which is species specific. Allows you to sex chromosomes and chromosomal abnormalities
What are the two types of chromosomal abnormalities
Changes in chromosome number, changes in chromosome structure
Which of the two chromosomal abnormalities are the cause of most embryonic deaths
Changes in chromosome number. More than 50% of human miscarriages
What is euploidy variation
When an entire set of chromosomes is abnormal in number
What is it aneuploidy variation
Where one or a few individual chromosomes or are abnormal in number
How many chromosomes does a haploid individual have
23
How many pairs of chromosomes does a diploid individual
46
How many pairs of chromosomes does a triploid individual have
69
How many pairs of chromosomes does a tetraploid individual have
92
What is abnormal haploidy
Development of non-fertilized ovum into an embryo. Undergoes mitosis. Most often in chickens and they generally die
What is polyploidy
More than one pair of homologous chromosomes. Triploidy is most common
What is polyploidy due too
Due to Polyspermy. Fertilization by more than one sperm
What is digyny
Two female pro nuclei with one male pronucleus
How does tetraploidy occur
The cell goes through DNA duplication and mitosis but does not undergo nuclear division
What is Nullisomy
Minus one pair of chromosomes 2n-2
What is monosomy
Minus One chromosome in the pair. 2n-1 Turner syndrome
What is polysomy
Increased numbers of chromosomes
What are the two types of Polysomy
Trisomy and tetrasomy
What is trisomy
Only increased by one extra chromosome. Down syndrome
What is Tetrasomy
Increased by 2 chromosomes
What are aneuploidy variations due to
Non-dis junction. Failure to separate
What are interspecies matings
Meetings between two different species. Donkey plus horse equals mule
When is it easier to obtain a hybrid in interspecies mating
When the mail contributes a lower amount of chromosomes
what is specific about AutoSomal chromosomes
Each pair is similar in length shape and gene sequence
If you have a homologous pair of sex chromosomes what type of sex are you
Homogametic sex (xx, zz)
If you have a non homologous pair of sex chromosomes what type of Sex are you
Heterogametic sex (xy, zw)
How do scientists do sperm sorting
They put a fluorescent marker that binds to DNA. The fluorescent glow is stronger on the x then y.
What is a pseudo-autosomal region
Only homologous area where crossover may occur during prophase one
What is SRy
Sex determining region y. Males only
What does the presence of a Barr body indicate
An inactivated x
Before sexual differentiation what do both males and females possess
Gonads and Wolffian and Müllerian ducts
What is sexual differentiation
When the embryo of undifferentiated sex turns into male or female
What does the SRy gene do
Is the master gene for sexual differentiation. Codes for protein that induces plus regulates reaction necessary for male sexual differentiation
With SRy what are the steps of sexual differentiation
Expression of SRy gene. differentiation of gonads into testicles. Male reproductive organs
Without the SRy gene what are the steps
Gonads to ovaries to female reproductive organs
What do testicles produce
Hormones for development of male reproductive system. Testosterone plus anti Müllerian hormone
What does testosterone do
Differentiation of wolffian duct. Seminal vesicles, ductus deferens plus epididymis. Develops penis and scrotum
What does the anti-Müllerian ducts do
Destroys Müllerian ducts plus prevents formation of female organs
What do ovaries produce
Estrogen
What is the difference between sex linked And autosomal traits
Autosomal traits are present in two copiesSRY present in one copy
Describe Autosomal mutation
If one allele is affected there’s still another good copy
Describe sexual mutation
Sexual differentiation and health effects are caused
What are abnormal number of sex chromosomes due too
Non-disjunction of sex chromosomes
When nondisjunction of sex chromosomes happens in females: what’s the outcome
XX or 0
When nondisjunction of sex chromosomes happens in males: what’s the outcome
XY, XX, YY or O
With abnormal numbers of sex chromosomes what is affected
Phenotypes are usually not affected but sexual traits are usually affected