1. BIOL 2416 Chapter 1: Genetics: An Introduction

2. Course Information
Lecture
Lab
Attendance
Exams
Paper

3. Introduction to Genetics
Genetics = study of heredity.
(structural) gene = chunk of meaningful DNA that codes for production of a cellular protein.
4 sub-disciplines:
Transmission Genetics (a.k.a. Classical Genetics)
Molecular Genetics
Population Genetics (a.k.a. Evolutionary Genetics)
Quantitative Genetics

4. Transmission/Classical Genetics
Mendelian inheritance
Mitosis and meiosis
Pedigree analysis
Controlled breeding
Mutational analysis
Cytogenetics (chromosomal alterations)
Gene mapping

5. Molecular Genetics DNA structure and function DNA replication
Transcription and translation
Control of gene expression
Recombinant DNA / Genetic Engineering
Genomics
DNA mutation
Extrachromosomal inheritance

6. Population/Evolutionary Genetics
Deals with 1 or few genes
Measure changes in allele frequency within a population over time
evolution
Measure the effects of DNA mutation, migration, selection, and genetic drift on gene frequencies
(allele = gene variant)
(population = interbreeding, localized group of individuals of same species)
(gene pool = all alleles in a population)

7. Quantitative Genetics
Study of of grayscale traits:
Polygenic traits (involves multiple genes)
Environmental factors
Multifactorial traits (multiple genes and environmental factors)
(Involves lots of statistics)

8. Scientific Method Observation Hypothesis Experimentation
Reasonable explanation
Experimentation
To test hypothesis
only 1 testing variable
Involves if…then prediction
Use control results to troubleshoot
repeat
REJECT or SUPPORT hypothesis

9. Scientific Theory Big deal
Collection of related hypotheses that have stood the test of time (always supported, never rejected)
Details may still be worked out

10. 2 Kinds of Research BASIC: APPLIED:
Builds foundation of knowledge (Encyclopedia A-Z)
No immediate use in mind
APPLIED:
Often based on basic research
Geared towards specific use
Not always concerned with how and why, as long as it works

11. Model Organism Criteria
Easy / cheap to grow and handle
Small genome
Plentiful offspring from each mating
Short life cycle
Many marked genetic variations
Large genetic history (genetic data bases / genetic mapping data)

12. Prokaryotic Cells Bacteria unicellular Small and simple
Single, circular DNA in nucleoid region
No membrane-bound organelles
Fig Cutaway diagram of a generalized prokaryotic cell

13. Eukaryotic Cells
All other organisms (including plant and animal cells)
Larger and more complex
Uni and multicellular
With multiple linear chromosomes inside nucleus
And other membrane-bound organelles

14. Common Model Organisms
PROKARYOTIC:
Escherichia coli
EUKARYOTIC:
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (unicellular baking yeast)
Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly)
Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode worm)
Arabidopsis thaliana (mustard weed)
Mus musculus (mouse)

15. Resources for Genetic Research: Genetic Maps
Locus/loci
Map units/CentiMorgans

16. Resources for Genetic Research: Genetic Databases