1. Mendel’s Genetics Date: 2-26-14

2. Who was Gregor Mendel?
An Austrian Monk – Studied botany and plant breeding
1865 Published his work on the behavior of genes
His work still is very important today

3. What was Mendel’s work? Discovered genes were found inside the cell
He used pea plants to figure out:
Organisms get two genes for each trait (each parent)
One gene may be Dominant (stronger)
One gene may be Recessive (“hidden”/weaker)

4. Where are genes located?
The nucleus of a cell contains genetic material
DNA
Chromosomes
Genes

5. What is a Chromosome?
Chromosomes are just DNA wrapped together in a different way
Look at the picture on the next slide to help you understand…

7. What are genes made of? Genes are short sections of chromosomes
Made of DNA

8. Do genes come in pairs? YES
Since chromosomes come in pairs (one from mom, one from dad) Genes come in pairs

9. Do All Organisms have the same number of chromosomes?
No!
Chromosome Numbers
Plants Mammals Reptiles
Cucumber 40 Beaver 36 Boa Constrictor
24 Pine Tree 60 Bison 22 American Toad
48 Potato 38 Domestic cat
80 Sugar Cane 48 Chimpanzee Fish
78 Dog 46 Small-mouth bass
Birds Elephant 48 Bluegill
80 Canary 30 Giraffe 84 Trout
68 Dove Horse
80 duck, mallard 46 Human Insects
80 duck, redhead 38 Tiger Butterfly
78 Raven 32 Walrus 6 Mosquito
44 Killer Whale 2 Roundworm

10. What is an Allele? Alleles are different versions of a gene
Every gene has two or more versions
Example:
T = blue tail
t = orange tail