The term "Genetics" was first proposed by the English biologist William Bateson (1861-1926) in 1909.
Genetics is relevant to all fields of biological disciplines includes Medicine,
Agriculture, Anthropology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Ecology, Physiology and Psychology.
Genetics is the study of genes, heredity and genetic variations in living
organisms.
What is genetics?
"Genetics is the study of heredity, the process in which a parent passes
certain genes onto their children."
What does that mean?
Children inherit their biological parents' genes that express specific traits, such as some physical characteristics, natural talents, and genetic disorders.
Gregor Johann Mendel
The study of genetics began with observations made by Gregor Johann
Mendel.
Austrian Monk who experimented with pea plants
Between 1856 and 1863 he cultivated and tested at least 28,000 pea plants.
Mendel worked almost 150 years ago when nobody knew about genes or even the structures (chromosomes) that carry genes.
Used pea plants because:
They were available
They reproduced quickly
They showed obvious differences in the traits
Biology 1 Mendel's Plant Breeding Experiment
Gregor Mendel was one of the first to apply an experimental approach to
the question of inheritance.
Particulate hypothesis of inheritance (parents pass on to their offspring
separate and distinct factors (today called genes) that are responsible for inherited traits.
Mendel studies 7 characteristics in pea plants
1. Flower Colour
2. Plant Height
3. Seed Color
4. Seed Shape
5. Pod Colour
6. Pod Shape
7. Flower Position
A gene carries information that determines your traits.
- Traits are characteristics you inherit from your parents.
Genes are located in chromosomes.
Chromosomes come in pairs and there are thousands, of genes in one
chromosome.
Gene
A gene is a distinct portion of cell's DNA
Genes are coded instructions for making
everything the body's needs, especially proteins
Humans beings have about 25, 000 genes.
Biology 2 DNA
DNA is the material that holds genes.
Deoxyribonucleic acid carries the genetic information in the body's cells
DNA is made up of four similar chemicals (called bases abbreviated A, T, C,
and G) that are repeated over and over in pairs.
Adenosine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine
Chromosomes
Are structures found in the center (nucleus) of cells that carry long pieces of DNA.
Genes are packaged in bundle called chromosomes.
HEREDITY - refers to the genetic heritage passed down by our biological
parents. It is the transmission of traits from one generation to the next. These traits can be physical, such as eye colour, blood type or a disease, or behavioural.
46 CHROMOSOMES or 23 PAIRS in each cell
23 CHROMOSOMES (combined = the 46 chromosomes) in Reproductive
(egg & sperm) or Germ cells
22 pairs are autosomal chromosomes and 1 pair is the sex chromosomes
Autosomes are numbered chromosomes that contain genes for anything
that does not relate to sex determination.
A sex chromosome is a type of chromosome involved in sex determination.
a cell's nucleus contains 46 individual chromosomes or 23 pairs of
chromosomes.
Parts of Chromosome
Centromere - holds 2 chromatids together
Biology 3 Gene - segment of DNA that codes for trait
Chromatids - identical copies
Chromosomes come in homologous pairs, thus genes come in pairs.
Homologous pairs - matching genes or with two same alleles - one from female parent and one from male parent. Homologous chromosomes contain DNA that codes for the same genes.
Alleles - different genes (possibilities) or different forms of characteristics
for the same trait
Gene that prevents the other gene from "showing" - dominant (traits that are expressed)
Gene that does NOT "show" even though it is present - recessive (traits that are covered up)
SYMBOLS
Dominant - UPPER CASE
Recessive - lower case
Both genes of a pair are the same-homozygous or purebred
TT - homozygous dominant
tt - homozygous recessive
One dominant and one recessive gene - heterozygous or hybrid
Tt - heterozygous
Genotype and Phenotype
Combination of genes an organism has (actual gene makeup) - genotype
Ex: 1T, It, tt
Physical appearance resulting from gene make-up - phenotype
Ex: hitchhiker's thumb or straight thumb
Punnet Square
Biology 4 The Punnett square is the standard way of working out what the possible offspring of two parents will be.
It is a helpful tool to show allelic combinations and predict offspring ratios.
Steps on how to set up a Punnett Square
1. We begin by constructing a grid of two perpendicular lines.
2. Next, put the genotype of one parent across the top and the other along the left side.
3. Next, fill in the boxes by copying the column and row head-letters down and across into the empty spaces.
