Whose got Genes? Genes, Heredity, & DNA A Crisostomo

What are genes? Genes are a segment of DNA on a chromosome that controls a particular trait. Genes are located on the chromosomes in the nuclei. Each organims has a fixed number of chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs (46) chromosomes. Genetics is the study of how traits are passed on from one generation to another                                    A Crisostomo

So what is DNA? DNA is a complex molecule (polymer) found in all living things. The primary function of DNA is to store and transmit genetic information that tells cells which proteins to make and when to make them. A Crisostomo

DNA TRIVIA An idea about size: An average cell nucleus is about 6 micrometers in diameter. The total length of the DNA in the human genome is 1.8 meters. There must be several levels of coiling and super coiling in DNA A Crisostomo

Who was Gregor Mendel? Austrian monk who studied mathematics and science As a boy he could predict the possible types of flowers and fruits that would result from crossbreeding two plants in his father’s garden A Crisostomo

Who was Gregor Mendel? Curiosity about the connection between the color of a pea flower and the type of seed that same plant produced inspired him to begin experimenting with garden peas in 1856. Made careful use of scientific methods, which resulted in the first recorded study of how traits pass from one generation to the next. A Crisostomo

What is GENETICS? The study of how traits are inherited through the interactions of genes. A Crisostomo

What is a GENE? The material that controls which traits are expressed in an organism Genes come in pairs and offspring inherit one copy of each gene from each parent A Crisostomo

Define the following terms: Heredity Allele Trait A Crisostomo

The passing of traits from parent to offspring Define HEREDITY The passing of traits from parent to offspring A Crisostomo

Define ALLELE The different forms of a trait that a gene may have One form of a gene A Crisostomo

Define TRAIT Ways of looking, thinking, or being Traits that are genetic are passed down through the genes from parents to offspring A Crisostomo

Describe RECESSIVE A trait that is covered over, or dominated, by another form of that trait and seems to disappear Hidden when the other copy of the gene contains the dominant allele. A recessive allele shows up only when there is no dominant allele present Shown with a lower-case letter A Crisostomo

What is HOMOZYGOUS? Both alleles [forms of the gene] are the same When offspring inherit two dominant genes, (one dominant gene from each parent) they are said to be homozygous dominant When offspring inherit two recessive genes, (one recessive gene from each parent) they are said to be homozygous recessive A Crisostomo

What is HETEROZYGOUS? When alleles occur in different forms When offspring inherit one dominant gene and one recessive gene, they are said to be heterozygous Since the dominant gene will be expressed, they are said to be heterozygous dominant A Crisostomo

Describe DOMINANT A trait that covers over, or dominates, another form of that trait Trait that always shows up, even when only one of the two alleles is in the dominant form Shown by a capital letter A Crisostomo

Define GENOTYPE An organism's genetic makeup A Crisostomo

Outward physical appearance and behavior of an organism Define PHENOTYPE Outward physical appearance and behavior of an organism A Crisostomo

What is a PUNNETT SQUARE? A tool to predict the probability of certain traits in offspring that shows the different ways alleles can combine A way to show phenotype & genotype A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result when genes are crossed A Crisostomo

What is a PUNNETT SQUARE? Letters stand for dominant and recessive alleles An uppercase letter stands for a dominant allele Lowercase letters stand for recessive alleles A Crisostomo

Introduction to Punnett Squares: A Punnett Square is a chart drawn to determine the probable results of a genetic cross. To be able to draw a Punnett Square, you must know the genotype of both parents. R r RR Rr rr A Crisostomo

Punnett Squares Sample Problem 1.   In roses, red flowers are dominant over white flowers. What are the possible offspring when a homozygous red rose is crossed with a homozygous white rose. A Crisostomo

Generation 1 homozygous red rose = RR homozygous white rose = ww A Crisostomo

Generation 2 homozygous red rose = RR heterozygous red rose = Rw homozygous white rose = ww A Crisostomo

Generation 3 homozygous red rose = RR heterozygous red rose = Rw homozygous white rose = ww A Crisostomo

List the 3 Principles of Heredity Traits are controlled by alleles on chromosomes An allele’s effect is dominant or recessive When a pair of chromosomes separate during meiosis the different alleles for a trait move into separate sex cells A Crisostomo

References Slideshow adapted from http://www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Genetics.htm A Crisostomo