An Introduction to Genetics

I. Sex Chromosomes
Genetics science that deals with underlying causes of resemblance & difference between
species
science of heredity & variation
Sex most widespread & generally recognizable discontinuous character
*The number of chromosomes, including relative sizes and shapes, is constant in an individual.
*Males have heteromorphic chromosomes; females have homomorphic (XX)
*There are two of each kind of chromosomes per cell
*Gametes have half the number of chromosomes present in the somatic cells of the individual that
produces them (due to meiosis)
II. Sex-Linkage
Drosophila melanogaster can be bred in the laboratory in large numbers with relatively little
trouble & expense; most modern theories of genetics based on this fly
- 10 days life cycle
- wild type
- only 4 pairs of chromosomes
*Mutation- change in the material basis of heredity; causes development of a mutant character
ex. Bar- reduction of each compound eye into narrow vertical bar
*Gentotype homozygous, heterozygous
*When a heterozygote is not distinguishable from one homozygote, then the allele present in that
homozygote is said to be dominant to the one present in the distinguishable homozygote
Sex-Linkage disorders:
1. Color blindness red-green blindness (behaves as sex-linked recessive)
2. Hemophilia blood fails to clot easily on exposure to air, so that even the minor wounds are
often fatal
III. Autosomal Inheritance
*Gregor Mendel
*Test cross mating a heterozygote to the recessive strain
*autosomes diploid ; sex chromosomes haploid

*Mendel classified his peas according to the properties of the cotyledons

First Law: Law of Segregation
IV. Independent Assortment (Second Law) rule that applies to genes carried by separate
chromosome pairs
*genotype genetic constitution; phenotype physical appearance
*9:3:3:1 ratio characteristic of the F2 generation when two independently inherited pairs of alleles are
concerned
*Synapsis/Conjugation pairing of homologous chromosome (in prophase, meiosis I)