Exam 1 Flashcards
Genetics
branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of organisms
Human genetics
heredity and variation in humans
Medical genetics
subset of human genetic variation that is of significance in the practice of medicine and medical research
involves the application of genetics to medical practice
4 types of genetic diseases discussed in this class
1) Single gene disorders
2) Chromosomal disorders
3) Multifactorial disorders
4) Mitochondrial disorders
homologous chromosomes
posses genes for same characteristics at corresponding
gene locus
refers to specific location of gene on a chromosome
alleles
refers to different versions or forms of genes
represented by different DNA codes
humans have 2 copies of all their autosomal genes
homozygous
two identical alleles at gene loci
heterozygous
different alleles at the loci
genotype
individuals allelic constitution at locus
phenotype
observed characteristics of an individual, produced by interaction of genes with their environment
dominant
an allele that is expressed in the same way with a single copy as a double copy
recessive
allele that is pehonypically expressed as a homozygous (double copy) or hemizygous state
genome
totality of an organisms DNA
list of instructions encoded in DNA (needed to make a human)
made up of 3 billion bases of DNA split into 23 pairs
DNA sequencing
process of determining the exact order of bases (A,T, C, & G) in a piece of DNA
incomplete dominance
situation in which both alleles of a hertozygote influence the phenotype
typically somewhere intermediate between the two traits
ex. red and white make pink flowers
co dominance
situation in which a heterozygote shoes the phenotypic effects of both alleles fully and equally
ex. blood type
polygenic trait
an additive effect of two or more gene loci on a single phenotype character
ex. hair/eye color
4 laws of Heredity
Gregor Mendel
- law of uniformity
- law of segregation
- law of independent assortment
- Law of Dominance
punnet square
alternative method for determining genotypes in offspring
genetic code
combinations of mRNA codes that specify individual amino acids
codons
three nucleotide bases
coded by mRNA
wild type allele
DNA sequence of a gene that is associated with normal gene function
polymorphism
common differences in the DNA sequence
will have same function as wild type despite alteration of in gene sequence