Genetic variation

• Chromosome: made up of DNA and protein (histones)

• DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid- contain all genetic information
• Gene: portion of DNA that codes for specific proteins e.g gene for eye
colour
• Allele: two or multiple forms of a gene e.g brown or blue
• Diploid: containing the full number of chromosomes (2n) e.g body cells
• Haploid: containing half the number of chromosomes (n) e.g sperm
Types of cell division
• Mitosis and Meiosis
MITOSIS
MEIOSIS
Genetic crosses
• Homozygous: alleles that are the same
• Heterozygous: alleles that are different
• Dominant: the allele that shows up in the heterozygous state. Represented by a
capital letter.
• Recessive: the allele that is hidden/ masked in the heterozygous state. Represented
by a common letter.
• Genotype: the genetic component of an organism, consisting of genes
• Phenotype: the observable characteristics or traits of on organism
• Complete dominance: when one allele is stronger than the other
• Codominance: when both alleles show the same strength they both show up in the
phenotype
 Genetic crosses can be shown as a tree
diagram or Punnett square

AA aa
Normal female vs Albino male
A A vs a a

Aa Aa Aa Aa
Normal Normal Normal
carrier carrier carrier
Examine the offspring of two heterozygous plants that were crossed in the lab.
Use a tree diagram to represent your cross. Use H-tall and h-short

Ratio - 3:1
• Draw a tree diagram to represent a male who is heterozygous for
brown eyes and a female who is homozygous recessive. Use B- brown
and b-blue.
Pedigree charts
• Show family trees to represent different conditions
• Circles represent females and square represent males
• Married couples have a line connecting them to each other
• You are able to determine genotypes of different generations using
such charts
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuk0W10EveU
Genetics pedigree problems (slideshare.net)
Sex-linked or X-linked conditions
• Traits are inherited from parents to offspring on the 23 pairs of
chromosomes
• That means that the sex chromosomes all have genes
• Females-XX and males-XY
• That means that the Y chromosome is missing a small portion of the
chromosome where genes would have been found
• Males therefore have a higher chance of getting the disease.
Colourblindness
Variation
• Refers to the differences that exist between species due to genetic
variations.
• This can arise from sexual reproduction or mutation
• Genetic variation is important because it allows the species to adapt
to changing environmental conditions and ensures their survival.
Genetic and environmental factors that can
cause variation
Genetic Environmental
• Sexual reproduction/meiosis • Nutrients- what’s available
• Mutations-random mistakes in determines
the replication of DNA that the • Drugs-can cause deformities in
DNA slightly different to the some children.
original • Temperature
• Physical training- develop
muscles which
Types of variation
• Continuous
• Discontinuous
Continuous variation
Species
A group of closely related organisms that are able to interbreed and
produce fertile offspring
• There are two ways that species can be formed
-speciation caused physical geographic separation(occurs with loss of
habitat or formation of new habitats): a river can form that separates
organisms or a new island can be formed
-speciation caused by ecological and behavioural differences: courtship
behavior or differences in coloration.
Selection
Mutations
• Mutations can occur during DNA replication if errors are made and
not corrected in time. Mutations can also occur as the result of
exposure to environmental factors such as smoking, sunlight and
radiation.
• Mutations can be detrimental but can also be advantageous.
Research!
Antibiotics resistance
Artificial selection
Genetic engineering
• Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic
manipulation, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genes using
biotechnology.
• the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to
produce improved or novel organisms
Genetically modified organisms
Insulin production
Gene therapy
• Gene therapy is the introduction of a normal gene into an
individual’s genome in order to repair a mutation that causes a
genetic disease