Where Does Phenotypic Variation Come From?

Question 1

What are the four types of mutations?

Answer 1

Inversion
Deletion
Duplication
Base pair substitutions

Question 2

What is the story of the Pima Indians?

Answer 2

Have a genetic tendency to retain fat so have a slow metabolic rate and eat a high fat diet
So half have diabetes and 95% diabetics are overweight

Question 3

How do mutations affect haemoglobin and why is this sometimes advantageous?

Answer 3

They can have lots of polymorphisms which can sometimes lead to sickle cell anaemia which can be an advantage to not getting malaria.

Question 4

What is the 5-HTT gene?

Answer 4

It fine tunes the transmission of seratonin.

Having the short (s) allele increases the probability that you will have depression.

Question 5

What are the two characteristics of variation?

Answer 5

Continuous characteristics

Discontinuous characteristics

Question 6

What are continuous characteristics and give an example

Answer 6

Have lots of variation
Not discrete
E.g height

Question 7

What are discontinuous characteristics and give an example.

Answer 7

One or the other
Discrete
Environment has little effect on them
E.g blood groups

Question 8

What does the HMGAZ gene do?

Answer 8

It makes some people taller than others

Question 9

What is polymorphism?

Answer 9

When you have many forms in a population. It is why we’re so unique