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Flashcards in Genetics Deck (85)
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1
Q

Allele

A

Two genes that occupy the same position on homologous chromosomes and cover the same trait.

2
Q

Deleterious, mutation or allele

A

A mutation that causes injury or harm

3
Q

Types of chromosomal mutation

A
  • Large deletions due to unequal crossing over
  • duplication
  • inversion
  • translocation
4
Q

Frameshift mutation

A

A chromosome that comes from the deletion or insertion of a base into a DNA sequence. Results in the shifting of all the following bases after this mutation

5
Q

Genetic Drift

A

A process which chance events cause unpredictable fluctuations in allele frequencies from one generation to the next

6
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and can produce fertile offspring

7
Q

Gene pool

A

All copies of every type of allele at all loci in every individual in a population

8
Q

Locus

A

A specific place along the length of a chromosome where a given gene is located

9
Q

Assumptions of Hardy-Weinberg law (7)

A
  • Mutation isn’t occurring
  • Natural selection isn’t occurring
  • The population isn’t infinitely large
  • All members of the population breed
  • All mating is totally random
  • Everyone produces the same number of offspring
  • There is no emigration or immigration
10
Q

Hardy-Weinberg equation

A

p + q = 1

p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1

11
Q

Independent assortment

A

The lining up of chromosomes along the center of the cell in meiosis. This is one of the causes of genetic variation

12
Q

Microsatellite

A

This is a short, repeated sequence of DNA that appears at a certain locus on a chromosome

13
Q

Missense mutation

A

Change of one base in the DNA sequence resulting in a different amino acid that the codon codes for

14
Q

Nonsense mutation

A

Results in a premature stopping of a DNA sequence as a result of a mutation

15
Q

Nonsynonymous mutation

A

Nucleotide mutation that alters the amino acid sequence of a protein

16
Q

Orthogenesis

A

Also called straight-line evolution, theory that organisms have the tendency to to evolve in a definite direction.

17
Q

Particulate inheritance

A

The theory that traits are inherited as discrete units known as genes

18
Q

PCR

A

(Polymerase Chain Reaction) A technique for amplifying DNA ‘in vitro’ using specific primers, DNA polymerase and nucleotides

19
Q

Phenotype

A

The observable physical and physiological traits or an organism

20
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic makeup, or set of alleles of an organism

21
Q

Pleiotropy

A

When one gene influences two or more unrelated phenotypic traits. e.g. sickle cell anemia or a gene that affects growth rate will affect height and weight

22
Q

Polygenic trait

A

When one characteristic is controlled by two or more genes.

e.g. eye colour

23
Q

Polyploidy

A

When cells and organisms contain more than two paired set of chromosomes. (Triploid and Tetraploid etc)

24
Q

Quantitative trait

A

Measurable phenotype that depends on many genes and the environment. Examples include height, weight and blood pressure

25
Q

Isozyme

A

An enzyme that differs in its amino acid sequence but catalyses the sam reaction

26
Q

Restriction fragment lenght polymorphism (RFLP)

A

is a difference in homologous DNA sequences that can be detected by the presence of fragments of different lengths after digestion of the DNA samples

27
Q

Recombination

A

pieces of DNA are broken and recombined to produce new combinations of alleles

28
Q

Segregation of alleles

A

Alleles become separated and each one enters a single gamete

29
Q

Selection, balancing

A

Two alleles are maintained in a population because of natural selection. e.g heterozygote advantage- an individual with Aa has higher fitness than both AA and aa individuals

30
Q

Natural selection

A

A process in which certain individuals with certain traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than those without those traits

31
Q

Selection, disruptive

A

The extreme traits are favored as opposed to the intermediate ones (M shaped curve)

32
Q

Selection, directional

A

An extreme phenotype is favoured over the others causing the allele frequency over time to shift in the direction of that phenotype

33
Q

Selection, stabilizing

A

The population stabilizies on a more mean trait value, more bell shaped curve

34
Q

Silent mutation

A

Base substitution that results in no change of the amino acid that is coded for due to DNA being degenerate

35
Q

Simple tandem repeat

A

A short tandem repeat is a microsatellite, consisting of a unit of two to thirteen nucleotides repeated hundreds of times in a row on the DNA strand.

36
Q

Single nucleotide polymorphism

A

A variation of a single nucleotide that occurs at a specific locus on the genome in a population

37
Q

Synonymous mutation

A

Change in the codon for an amino acid but not resulting in a change of the amino acid

38
Q

Threshold traits

A

Show discrete phenotypes but are controlled by many different loci

39
Q

Twin studies

A

Twin studies allow researchers to examine the overall role of genes in the development of a trait or disorder. Can use both identical and non identical twins

40
Q

What does diversity mean?

A

Variety of living species (organisms) in an ecosystem

41
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that are capable of producing fertile offspring

42
Q

Sexual Dimorphism

A

where the male and female look different from one another

43
Q

Transformation

A

a change in genotype and phenotype due to assimilation of foreign DNA

44
Q

Euchromatin

A

DNA that is partially or fully uncoiled (loosely packed), is active in gene expression an stains lightly

45
Q

Chromatin

A

complex of DNA and protein, and is found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells

46
Q

Histones

A

Proteins that are responsible for the first level of DNA packing in chromatin

47
Q

What fibers is chromatin organised into?

A
  • 10-nm fiber
  • 30-nm fiber
  • 300-nm fiber
  • metaphase chromosome
48
Q

Heterochromatin

A

dense packing, regions of chromatin are highly condensed, difficult for cell to express genetic info

49
Q

Genome

A

The complete genetic information contained in an individual - gene+ chromosome

50
Q

How many different stages of transcription are there?

A

3 - Initiation, elongation and termination

51
Q

What happens in the first stage of transcription (Initiation)

A
  • Proteins signal the initiation of RNA synthesis and transcription factors control the binding of RNA polymerase, where it attaches to promoter region on DNA
  • TATA box- considered to be the core promoter sequence in eukaryotes, the binding site of general transcription factors or histones
    o Core DNA sequence 5’-TATAAA-3’ or some form similar which is usually followed by three or more adenine bases
    o The sequence of AT bases means that this TATA box makes it easier for the DNA to unwind as AT bases only form two hydrogen bonds compared to GC which makes three
52
Q

What happens in the second stage of transcription (Elongation)

A

Building of mRNA from the 3’ end of the nucleotide polymer with the use of free nucleotides that are available in the nucleus of the cell

  • As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA, it untwists the double helix, 10 to 20 bases at a time (40 nucleotides per second in eukaryotes)
  • A gene can be transcribed by many RNA polymerases at the same time
53
Q

What happens in the final stage of transcription (Termination)

A
  • Release of RNA polymerase and mRNA following transcription of the terminator region of the DNA. This is triggered by a release factor.
  • The resulting stretch of DNA that is transcribed is called a transcription unit
    The termination of transcription is different in bacteria and eukaryotes
    Eukaryotes – The polymerase continues transcription after the pre-mRNA is cleaved from the growing RNA chain; the polymerase eventually falls off the DNA
    Bacteria - The polymerase stops transcription at the end of the terminator
54
Q

The central dogma

A

The concept that cells are governed by a cellular chain of command : DNA-> RNA -> Protein

55
Q

Translation

A

The initiation stage of translation brings together mRNA, a tRNA with the first amino acid, and the two ribosomal subunits
• First, a small ribosomal subunit binds with mRNA and a special initiator tRNA • Then the small subunit moves along the mRNA until it reaches the start codon (AUG)
• Proteins called initiation factors bring in the large subunit that completes the translation initiation complex
- Termination occurs when a stop codon in the mRNA reaches the A site of the ribosome
- The A site will then accept a protein called a release factor
- The release factor causes an addition of a water molecule instead of an amino acid
- This reaction releases the polypeptide, and the translation assembly comes apart

56
Q

Homozygous

A

Having identical genes for a particular characteristic (AA/aa)

57
Q

Heterozygous

A

Having two different genes for a particular characteristic (Aa)

58
Q

Phenotype

A

The physical appearance of an organism (genotype and env)

59
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic makeup of an organism

60
Q

Mendel’s three laws

A

1) Law of dominance
2) Law of segregation
3) Law of independent assortment (two different genes at two different loci

61
Q

Organic extraction of DNA

A

Lyse cells with SDS/PK/(DTT)
• Sodium dodecyle sulfate (SDS) – ionic
detergent breaks down cell membranes
(inhibits enzyme activity)
• Proteinase K – degrades proteins at 55C but
not susceptible to SDS. Dissolves histones
• Dithiothreitol (DTT) – additive for difficult lysis
conditions, breaks disulfide bonds in strong
proteins like keratin

62
Q

The three steps of PCR

A

Denaturation, Annealing, Extension

63
Q

First step of PCR

A

Denaturation

DNA heated to 94C which breaks hydrogen bonds

64
Q

Second step of PCR

A

Primer annealing (55C)

  • Oligonucleotides serve as primers for the DNA polymerase
  • Target a specific sequence of base pairs
  • Require a primer for each end of the two strands that will defin the ends of the molecule synthesised
65
Q

Third step of PCR

A

Extension (72C)

  • DNA polymerase extends the primers, adding nucleotides onto the primer in a sequential manner
  • Commonly use Taq polymerase as heat tolerant
66
Q

Gel electrophoresis

A
  • Separates fragments according to size

- Molecules pushed by an electrical field through a gel that contains small pores

67
Q

Restriction enzymes

A

Recognize specific nucleotide sequences and then cut both strands of the DNA molecules. Often recognize palindromic sequences.
Used in DNA cloning, DNA fingerprinting and to quantify genetic variation

68
Q

Polymorphic

A

the presence of more than one allele at a locus

69
Q

Heterozygosity

A

Measure of genetic variation that accounts for either the observed or expected proportion of individuals in a population that are heterozygotes

70
Q

Allozymes

A

different allelic forms of a protein

71
Q

Isozymes

A

different proteins that do the same job, but are produced from different loci

72
Q

Restriction site fragment length poylymorphism

A

RFLP for short

  • Amplify a region by PCR
  • Then cut (digest) with a restriction endonuclease
73
Q

Microsatellites

A

Tandem repeats of short sequence of base pairs:
cgtcgtcgtcgtcgt
number of repeats at polymorphic locus ranges from 5-100
Used in forensics/population genetics/conservation

74
Q

Hardy-Weinberg Law

A
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
After one generation of random mating
the genotype and allele frequencies will
remain at these frequencies in perpetuity
in the absence of other forces
75
Q

Some of the effects of genetic drift

A
  • changes allele frequencies
  • erodes genetic variation in populations
  • is a process that particularly affects small populations
76
Q

Discrete Variability

A

Polymorphisms which can be scored by simple visual methods. Presence /absence of certain characteristics

77
Q

Meristic characters

A

values of these characters are restricted to integers therefore they are countable. e.g. number of vertebrae, fingerprint ridges, clutch size

78
Q

Threshold characters

A

Characters with discrete alternatives. Expression of alternatives is determined by a threshold in an underlying continuously distributed trait being exceeded.

  • adult-onset diabetes
  • heart disease
79
Q

Quantitative traits are influenced by

A

Environmental factors and many genes

80
Q

Threshold traits

A

Coronary heart disease is not a continuous trait
but it is associated with many factors
- weight, diet, cholesterol, smoking, family history

add up to liability
Above a threshold value will be liable to the
trait

81
Q

Standard deviation

A

The spread of results about the mean

82
Q

Heritability

A

The proportion of a populations phenotypic variation attributable to the genetic factors

83
Q

Broad-sense heritability

A

the contribution of genetic factors to the total phenotypic variance

84
Q

Narrow-sense heritability

A

the contribution of additive genetic factors alone to the total phenotypic variance

85
Q

Infanticide

A

The killing of young offspring by an older organism of the same species