Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is genetics?
The study of biological information passed on from one generation to the next (heredity).
What are the ten reasons genetics is important?
– Lives
– Diseases and Disorders
– Agriculture
– Biotechnology and Medicine
– Economic impact
– Legal impact
– Philosophical impact
– Study of Biology
What is a gene?
A unit of hereditary information, a sequence in the DNA that codes for something.
What is a genome?
A complete set of genetic instructions for any organism
What is the difference between a gene and a genome?
A gene is a specific segment of DNA that tells cells how to function. A genome is the entirety of the genetic material inside an organism
What is the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology?
A theory stating that genetic information flows only in one direction, from DNA, to RNA, to protein, or RNA directly to protein
What is a Model genetic organism?
organisms with characteristics that make them useful for genetic analysis
What are six types of model genetic organisms?
Fruit fly, bacterium, nematode, thale-cross plant, house mouse, baker’s yeast.
What are some characteristics of model genetic organisms?
-Short generation time
-Production of numerous progeny
-The ability to be reared inexpensively in a lab environment
What are the three divisions of genetics?
- Transmission genetics (punnett squares, inheritance, gene mapping).
- Molecular genetics (Central Dogma).
- Population genetics (Entire populations genetics).
What is the difference between Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic?
Eukaryotic cells are cells containing membrane-bound organelles and are the basis for both unicellular and multicellular organisms. In contrast, prokaryotic cells do not have any membrane-bound organelles and are always part of unicellular organisms
Eukaryotic Cell
Any of the single-celled or multicellular organisms whose cell contains a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus (Animal and Plant cells).
Prokaryotic cells
Cells that do not have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (Bacterium and Archea).
What is the long informal history of genetics?
- Domestication of plants and animals
- Selective Breeding
- Ancient Greeks- theories of inheritance
What was Pangenisis and the Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics? (Ancient Greeks)
Pangenesis- Genetic information travels from different parts of the body to reproductive organs.
Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics -Acquired traits become incorporated into hereditary information.
What early concepts of heredity were correct?
- Germ-Plasm Theory- All cells contain a complete set of genetic information.
- Cell Theory- All life is composed of and cells arise only from cells.
- Mendelian Inheritance- Traits are inherited according to specific principles proposed by Mendel.
What early concepts of heredity were incorrect?
- Pangenesis
- Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics
- Preformationism- Miniature organism resides in sex cell; thus all traits are inherited from one parent
- Blending Inheritance- Genes blend and mix
What are 11 important Genetics Theories discussed in class?
- Schleiden and Schwann: Cell theory
- Darwin: Evolution through Natural Selection
- Mendel: Principles of heredity
- Flemming: Chromosomes
- Weismann: Germ-plasm theory
- Sutton: Genes are located on chromosomes
- Watson, Crick, Franklin, and Wilkins: DNA structure
- Gilbert and Sanger: DNA sequencing
- Mullis: PCR
- Human Genome Project
- Doudna and Charpentier: CRISPR/CAS9
What was Gregor Mendel’s Three Principles of Heredity?
Dominance, segregation, and independent assortment.
Schleiden and Schwann
Cell theory
Darwin
Evolution through natural selection
Mendel
Principles of heredity
Flemming
Chromosomes
Weismann
Germ-plasm Theory
