Week 1: Ecological Genetics Flashcards
What is Ecological Genetics?
Using genetic data to answer ecological questions
What is nrDNA?
Nuclear DNA
What is a genome?
the full set of DNA, is the same in each cell
What is the transcriptome?
the full set of RNA in a cell, it’s tissue-specific!
What are genes?
a specific nucleotide sequence which is a functional unit of heredity
What do genes produce?
Amino acids -> polypeptides -> proteins
Why is ‘one gene one protein’ an obsolete idea?
- some genes produce multiple proteins via RNA SPLICING
- some proteins are multimeric, and are made of multiple polypeptides
Why is ‘one gene one polypeptide’ an obsolete idea?
- some genes produce NON-CODING RNA which serve essential functions
What is the central dogma of genetics?
Gene expression:
- DNA -> RNA (transcription)
- RNA to amino acid (translation)
What are some exceptions to the central dogma of genetics?
- retroviruses (reverse transcription)
- Prions
What processes occur in RNA splicing?
- INTRONS are removed
EXONS are ‘expressed’ - mRNA is translated
What is a locus?
The location of a specific sequence on a chromosome
What are functional loci called?
Genes
What are non-coding loci called?
Loci
What is an allele?
different sequences at the same locus
What is a heterozygote?
an individual with different copies of an allele at a locus
Why do we care about non-functional loci?
non-coding DNA has more variation
- lets us do individual-level analysis
- due to neutral selection
Why is genetic diversity important for wildlife management?
genetic diversity implies phenotypic diversity, which gives natural selection something to act on
What is an advantage of ecological genetics over observational study?
Phenotypes are often unclear and don’t represent diversity in a population; ie. genotypes can tell us more
What are Mendelian traits?
single gene dominant/recessive traits
