Genetics intro Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are the three major disciplines of genetics?
Molecular genetics, transmission genetics, and population genetics
What does molecular genetics study?
The molecular mechanisms of how genetic information is encoded, replicated, and expressed (e.g., transcription, translation, gene regulation)
What does transmission genetics focus on?
How traits are passed from one generation to the next, including chromosome relationships and gene mapping
What does population genetics explore?
The genetic composition of populations and how it changes over time and geography; useful in evolution and conservation
What is a gene?
A unit of information that helps determine a trait and is the fundamental unit of heredity
What are alleles?
Different forms of a gene
Why can studying genes in one organism help understand another?
Because all organisms share a common coding system due to a common ancestor
How many genes do humans have approximately?
Around 20,00
What factors influence phenotype?
Both genes and environmental factors
In what molecules is genetic information carried?
DNA and RNA (in viruses)
How is genetics important in medicine?
Understanding disease susceptibility, genetic testing, counselling, superbugs (antibiotic resistance), and virus evolution
How is genetics used in agriculture?
Through selective breeding and genetic modification
How is genetics applied in forensics?
Via DNA profile analyses
How does genetics help us understand evolution?
Through ancestry testing and understanding human history
How has genetics been misused in society?
To justify racism and sexism, exploit indigenous peoples, and misapply medicine based on unproven racial genetic differences
How is genetics important in conservation?
It helps understand barriers to movement, inbreeding depression, captive breeding, reintroductions, and hybridisation
What is the focus of molecular genetics?
The chemical nature of the gene and molecular mechanisms like transcription and translation.
What is transmission genetics concerned with?
How traits are passed from one generation to the next and how genes are arranged on chromosomes
What is the difference between genetic testing and genetic counselling?
Testing identifies potential genetic conditions; counselling educates patients about them
