Genetics -

Subtopic - Percentage -

Genes 28 very common

Chromosomes 16 less common

Meiosis 6 less common

Inheritance 8 less common

GMO 40 very common

3.1 Genes (very common)

Focus more on these understandings, applications and skills:

● A gene occupies a specific position on a chromosome

● The various specific forms of a gene are alleles
● Alleles differ from each other by one or only a few bases
● New alleles are formed by mutation
● The genome is the whole of the genetic information of an organism
● The causes of sickle cell anaemia, including a base substitution mutation, a
change to the base sequence of mRNA transcribed from it and a change to
the sequence of a polypeptide in haemoglobin
● Comparison of the number of genes in humans with other species

Questions related to 3.1 Genes are:

● Know about the Universal genetic code, how ATCG is found in every species
● Identify Gene mutation, learn specific example: Sickle cell anaemia
● Comparison of genes and bases, chromosomes of different species

3.2 Chromosomes (common)

Focus more on these understandings, applications and skills:

● Homologous chromosomes carry the same sequence of genes but not

necessarily the same alleles of those genes
● Diploid nuclei have pairs of homologous chromosomes
● Haploid nuclei have one chromosome of each pair
● A karyogram shows the chromosomes of an organism in homologous pairs of
decreasing length
 ● Sex is determined by sex chromosomes and autosomes are chromosomes
that do not determine sex
● Cairns’ technique for measuring the length of DNA molecules by
autoradiography
● Use of karyograms to deduce sex and diagnose Down syndrome in humans

Questions related to 3.2 Chromosomes are:

● Diploid versus haploid, know the difference between homologous

chromosomes and sister chromatids
● Know the purpose of Cairn’s technique
● Understand how to read the karyogram and find the sex of the baby.

3.3 Meiosis (less common)

Focus more on these understandings, applications and skills:

● One diploid nucleus divides by meiosis to produce four haploid nuclei

● Separation of pairs of homologous chromosomes in the first division of
meiosis halves the chromosome number
● The early stages of meiosis involve pairing of homologous chromosomes and
crossing over followed by condensation
● Orientation of pairs of homologous chromosomes prior to separation is
random
● Crossing over and random orientation promotes genetic variation
● Fusion of gametes from different parents promotes genetic variation
● Nondisjunction can cause Down syndrome and other chromosomal
abnormalities
● Drawing diagrams to show the stages of meiosis resulting in the formation of
four haploid cells

Questions related to 3.3 Meiosis are:

● Know the stages of Meiosis I and II. Be able to compare the two stages and
compare it to mitosis
● Understand the behaviour of the chromosomes while they go through the
meiosis stages
● Be able to explain how cross over and random orientation promotes genetic
variation
● Usually IN place diagram of meiosis stages for students to Identify them

3.4 Inheritance (less common)

Focus more on these understandings, applications and skills:

 ● Dominant alleles mask the effect of recessive alleles but codominant alleles
have joint effects
● Many genetic diseases in humans are due to recessive alleles of autosomal
genes, although some genetic diseases are due to dominant or codominant
alleles
● Some genetic diseases are sex linked
● The pattern of inheritance is different with sex-linked genes due to their
location on sex chromosomes
● Inheritance of ABO blood groups
● Red-green colour blindness and hemophilia as examples of sex-linked
inheritance
● Inheritance of cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease
● Construction of Punnett grids for predicting the outcomes of monohybrid
genetic crosses
● Analysis of pedigree charts to deduce the patterns of inheritance of genetic
diseases

Questions related to 3.4 Inheritance are:

● Blood type crosses are common in paper 1, trying to identify the offspring
● Student should be able to analyse the pedigree chart, be able to know the
genotype of individuals in the chart
● Know the difference between dominant versus recessive alleles, as well as
Codominance Punnett Square problems.

3.5 Genetic modification and biotechnology (very common)

Focus more on these understandings, applications and skills:

● PCR can be used to amplify small amounts of DNA

● Gel electrophoresis is used to separate proteins or fragments of DNA
according to size
● DNA profiling involves comparison of DNA
● Genetic modification is carried out by gene transfer between species
● Use of DNA profiling in paternity and forensic investigations
● Gene transfer to bacteria using plasmids makes use of restriction
endonucleases and DNA ligase
● Assessment of the potential risks and benefits associated with genetic
modification of crops
● Production of cloned embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer
● Analysis of examples of DNA profiles
Questions related to 3.5 Genetic modification and biotechnology are:

● Understand the gel electrophoresis process, how the data is read in paternity
and forensic investigation
● Somatic nuclear transfer, how the process is conducted
● Explain the polymerase chain reactions
● Know the benefits and disadvantages of GMO