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Definition of terms:
Genetics – the study of heredity and variation
Heredity – the transmission of traits from one generation to another, from parents to offspring
Variation – any difference existing between individuals of the same species
Chromosome – rod-shaped body in the nucleus of eukaryotes and prokaryotes that contains
the hereditary units or genes
Gene – the unit of heredity occupying a particular location on the chromosome and passed on
to offspring
Locus – the location of a gene on a chromosome
Diploid – the 2n number of chromosomes; twice the number of chromosomes found in
gametes
Haploid – the n number of chromosomes; half the diploid number
F1 generation – first filial generation; the first-generation offspring of a genetic cross that has at
least two generations
F2 generation – second filial generation; the second-generation offspring of a genetic cross
Homozygous – a pair of similar or like genes for any one character
Heterozygous – a pair of contrasting traits of two kinds of genes
Genotype – the particular genes of an individual that determine a specific trait
Phenotype – the outward appearance of an organism, caused by genetic and environmental
influences
Allele – one of two or more alternative states of a gene
Dominant allele – hereditary factor that expresses itself when then the genotype is
heterozygous
Recessive allele – hereditary factor that expresses itself only when the genotype is homozygous
Hybrid – the offspring of two parents that differ in one or more heritable characters
Monohybrid cross – cross in which the parents differ in one pair of alternative characters
Dihybrid cross – cross in which the parents differ in two pairs of alternative characters
Homologous chromosomes – a pair of chromosomes that have the same shape and contain
genes for the same traits
Mutation – a sudden change in the genetic make-up
Mendel’s Interpretation
- Parents do not transmit their physiological traits or form directly to their offspring, rather they
transmit distinct information about the traits, these factors later act in the offspring to produce
the trait
- Each parent contains two factors, which may or may not be the same (homozygous or
heterozygous)
- The two alleles, one contributed by the male and the one by the female gamete remain
distinct; alleles do not blend with one another or become altered in any other way
Mendel’s Conclusion
1. Law of Segregation
“Each organism contains two factors for each trait, and the factors segregate during the
formation of gametes so that each gamete contains only one factor for each trait. When
fertilization occurs, the new organism has two factors for each trait, one from each parent.”
Testcross
- Used to determine if an individual expressing the dominant trait is homozygous or
heterozygous
Punnett Square
- a “checkboard” grid designed to determine all possible genotypes produced by a given cross
- introduced by geneticist, Reginald Punnett in early 1900s
Beyond Mendel
Incomplete Dominance
- a pattern of inheritance in which the offspring shows characteristics intermediate between
two extreme parental characteristics
Multiple alleles
- a gene with three or more alleles
Polygenic Inheritance
- means that a trait is controlled by several genes