Independent assortment and segregation.
Mendelian genetics provides the basis for understanding the transmission of traits from parental organisms to their offspring. Though modified by our current understanding of the chromosomal theory of inheritance and molecular biology, Mendel's laws form the theoretical basis of our understanding of the genetics of inheritance. The law of segregation holds that during gamete formation, the alleles for each gene segregate from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene. The law of independent assortment holds that genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes. The law of dominance holds that some alleles are dominant while others are recessive; an organism with at least one dominant allele will display the effect of the dominant allele.
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Conceptual Vocabulary for Transmission Genetics
Allele
An allele is a viable DNA coding that occupies a given locus on a chromosome.
An allele is a viable DNA coding that occupies a given locus on a chromosome.
Genotype
The genotype describes the genetic constitution of an individual, that is the specific allelic makeup of an individual, usually with reference to a specific character under consideration.
The genotype describes the genetic constitution of an individual, that is the specific allelic makeup of an individual, usually with reference to a specific character under consideration.
Phenotype
The phenotype describes the ourward physical appearance or manifestation of a trait in an organism, as opposed to its genotype.
The phenotype describes the ourward physical appearance or manifestation of a trait in an organism, as opposed to its genotype.
Gregor Mendel
Gregor Mendel (1822 - 1884) was an Austrian Augustinian priest and scientist often called the father of modern genetics for his study of the inheritance of traits in pea plants.
Gregor Mendel (1822 - 1884) was an Austrian Augustinian priest and scientist often called the father of modern genetics for his study of the inheritance of traits in pea plants.
Locus
A locus is a fixed position on a chromosome.
A locus is a fixed position on a chromosome.
Dominance relationship
A dominance relationship refers to how the alleles for a locus interact to produce a phenotype.
A dominance relationship refers to how the alleles for a locus interact to produce a phenotype.
Punnett square
The Punnett square is a diagram used by biologists to determine the probability of an offspring having a particular genotype.
The Punnett square is a diagram used by biologists to determine the probability of an offspring having a particular genotype.
Dihybrid cross
A dihybrid cross is a cross between two individuals identically heterozygous at two loci.
A dihybrid cross is a cross between two individuals identically heterozygous at two loci.
Monohybrid cross
A monohybrid cross is a cross between individuals who are identically heterozygous at one locus.
A monohybrid cross is a cross between individuals who are identically heterozygous at one locus.
Pedigree chart
A pedigree chart is a chart which shows the known phenotypes for an organism and its ancestors.
A pedigree chart is a chart which shows the known phenotypes for an organism and its ancestors.
Test cross
A test cross crosses a homozygous recessive with an individual with an unknown genotype.
A test cross crosses a homozygous recessive with an individual with an unknown genotype.
Trait
A trait is a distinct phenotypic character of an organism that may be inherited, environmentally determined or somewhere in between.
A trait is a distinct phenotypic character of an organism that may be inherited, environmentally determined or somewhere in between.
Wild type
The wild type is the typical form of an organism, strain, gene, or characteristic as it occurs in nature.
The wild type is the typical form of an organism, strain, gene, or characteristic as it occurs in nature.
F1 hybrid
F1 hybrid is a term used in genetics and selective breeding to describe the first filial generation offspring resulting from a cross mating of distinctly different parental types.
F1 hybrid is a term used in genetics and selective breeding to describe the first filial generation offspring resulting from a cross mating of distinctly different parental types.
Genetic linkage
Genetic linkage occurs when particular genetic loci or alleles for genes are inherited jointly because the loci are on the same chromosome and thus tend to segregate together during meiosis.
Genetic linkage occurs when particular genetic loci or alleles for genes are inherited jointly because the loci are on the same chromosome and thus tend to segregate together during meiosis.
Autosome
An autosome is a non-sex chromosome.
An autosome is a non-sex chromosome.
Sex linkage
Sex linkage is the phenotypic expression of an allele that is related to the gender of the individual and is found on the sex chromosomes.
Sex linkage is the phenotypic expression of an allele that is related to the gender of the individual and is found on the sex chromosomes.
XY sex-determination system
The XY sex-determination system is the sex-determination system found in humans, most other mammals, and some insects.
The XY sex-determination system is the sex-determination system found in humans, most other mammals, and some insects.
Heritability
Heritability is the proportion of phenotypic variation in a population that is attributable to genetic variation among individuals.
Heritability is the proportion of phenotypic variation in a population that is attributable to genetic variation among individuals.
Zygosity
Zygosity describes the similarity or dissimilarity of DNA between homologous chromosomes at a specific allelic position or gene.
Zygosity describes the similarity or dissimilarity of DNA between homologous chromosomes at a specific allelic position or gene.
Phene
A phene is an individual characteristic or trait which can be possessed by an organism, such as eye colour or height, or any other observable characteristic.
A phene is an individual characteristic or trait which can be possessed by an organism, such as eye colour or height, or any other observable characteristic.
Complete linkage
Complete linkage is defined as the state in which two loci are so close together that alleles of these loci are virtually never separated by crossing over.
Complete linkage is defined as the state in which two loci are so close together that alleles of these loci are virtually never separated by crossing over.
True breeding organism
A true breeding organism is an organism having certain biological traits which are passed on to all subsequent generations when bred with another organism of the same type for the same traits.
A true breeding organism is an organism having certain biological traits which are passed on to all subsequent generations when bred with another organism of the same type for the same traits.
Barr body
A Barr body is the inactive X chromosome in a female cell.
A Barr body is the inactive X chromosome in a female cell.
Penetrance
Penetrance is a term used in genetics describing the proportion of individuals carrying a particular variation of a gene that also express the particular trait.
Penetrance is a term used in genetics describing the proportion of individuals carrying a particular variation of a gene that also express the particular trait.
Norms of reaction
A norm of reaction describes the pattern of phenotypic expression of a single genotype across a range of environments.
A norm of reaction describes the pattern of phenotypic expression of a single genotype across a range of environments.
Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene influences multiple phenotypic traits.
Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene influences multiple phenotypic traits.
Phenome
A phenome is the set of all phenotypes expressed by a cell, tissue, organ, organism, or species.
A phenome is the set of all phenotypes expressed by a cell, tissue, organ, organism, or species.
Complementation
Complementation refers to a relationship between two different strains of an organism which both have homozygous recessive mutations that produce the same phenotype.
Complementation refers to a relationship between two different strains of an organism which both have homozygous recessive mutations that produce the same phenotype.
Identity by type
Alleles have identity by type if they have the same phenotypic effect.
Alleles have identity by type if they have the same phenotypic effect.
X-inactivation
X-inactivation (also called lyonization) is a process by which one of the two copies of the X chromosome present in female mammals is inactivated.
X-inactivation (also called lyonization) is a process by which one of the two copies of the X chromosome present in female mammals is inactivated.
Polygenic inheritance
Polygenic inheritance, also known as quantitative or multifactorial inheritance refers to inheritance of a phenotypic characteristic that is attributable to two or more genes and their interaction with the environment.
Polygenic inheritance, also known as quantitative or multifactorial inheritance refers to inheritance of a phenotypic characteristic that is attributable to two or more genes and their interaction with the environment.
Haplogroup
A haplogroup is a large group of haplotypes, which are series of alleles at specific locations on a chromosome.
A haplogroup is a large group of haplotypes, which are series of alleles at specific locations on a chromosome.
Haplotype
A haplotype is a combination of alleles at multiple linked loci that are transmitted together.
A haplotype is a combination of alleles at multiple linked loci that are transmitted together.
Heterosis
The term heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor or outbreeding enhancement, describes the increased strength of different characteristics in hybrids.
The term heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor or outbreeding enhancement, describes the increased strength of different characteristics in hybrids.
Haploinsufficiency
Haploinsufficiency occurs when a diploid organism only has a single functional copy of a gene and the single functional copy of the gene does not produce enough of a gene product to bring about a wild-type condition.
Haploinsufficiency occurs when a diploid organism only has a single functional copy of a gene and the single functional copy of the gene does not produce enough of a gene product to bring about a wild-type condition.
Null allele
A null allele is a mutant copy of a gene that completely lacks that gene's normal function.
A null allele is a mutant copy of a gene that completely lacks that gene's normal function.
Quantitative trait locus
Quantitative trait loci are stretches of DNA that are closely linked to the genes that underlie a trait in question.
Quantitative trait loci are stretches of DNA that are closely linked to the genes that underlie a trait in question.
Canalization
Canalization is a measure of the ability of a genotype to produce the same phenotype regardless of variability of its environment.
Canalization is a measure of the ability of a genotype to produce the same phenotype regardless of variability of its environment.
Hypostatic gene
A hypostatic gene is one whose phenotype is masked by the expression of an allele at a separate locus, in an epistasis event.
A hypostatic gene is one whose phenotype is masked by the expression of an allele at a separate locus, in an epistasis event.
Malecot's method of coancestry
Malecot's coancestry coefficient refers to an indirect measure of genetic similarity of two individuals.
Malecot's coancestry coefficient refers to an indirect measure of genetic similarity of two individuals.
Ousiotype
Ousiotype is a term defined in segregation analysis to describe whether a phenotype is due to common factors, rare or both.
Ousiotype is a term defined in segregation analysis to describe whether a phenotype is due to common factors, rare or both.
X0 sex-determination system
The X0 sex-determination system is a system that grasshoppers, crickets, roaches, and some other insects use to determine the sex of their offspring.
The X0 sex-determination system is a system that grasshoppers, crickets, roaches, and some other insects use to determine the sex of their offspring.
ZW sex-determination system
The ZW sex-determination system is a system that birds, some fish, and some insects (including butterflies and moths) use to determine the sex of their offspring.
The ZW sex-determination system is a system that birds, some fish, and some insects (including butterflies and moths) use to determine the sex of their offspring.
Haplodiploid sex-determination system
The haplodiploid sex-determination system determines the sex of the offspring of many Hymenopterans (bees, ants, and wasps), and coleopterans (bark beetles).
The haplodiploid sex-determination system determines the sex of the offspring of many Hymenopterans (bees, ants, and wasps), and coleopterans (bark beetles).
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