Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a gene in the context of genetics?
A section of DNA that codes for a specific trait
How do alleles relate to genes, and what is an example of an allele?
Alleles are different forms of the same gene; an example of an allele is a specific eye color, such as green or brown, of the eye color gene
What is a key concept to understand about the relationship between genes and alleles?
The gene specifies which trait, and the allele specifies what form the gene takes
Why might basic biology classes often discuss one gene per trait, even though one gene can influence multiple traits?
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How many genes do humans have, according to the content, and what do these genes determine?
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Study Notes
Genes
- Genes are sections of DNA that code for a specific trait
- Humans have thousands of genes that determine various characteristics, such as:
- Eye color
- Hand size
- Metabolism
- Cell structure
- One gene can influence multiple traits, but for simplicity, basic biology classes often discuss one gene per trait
Alleles
- Alleles are different forms of the same gene
- Analogous to different flavors or varieties of a product (e.g., Coca Cola)
- Example: the eye color gene has alleles such as:
- Green
- Brown
- Gray
- Blue
- Hazel
- Key concept: the gene specifies which trait, and the allele specifies what form the gene takes
Genes
- Genes are specific sections of DNA that code for particular traits or characteristics
- Humans have thousands of genes that determine various aspects of an individual's appearance and functionality
- These genes influence characteristics such as eye color, hand size, metabolism, and cell structure
Alleles
- Alleles are different forms or variations of the same gene, similar to different flavors or varieties of a product
- One gene can have multiple alleles, each specifying a different form of the trait
- Example: the eye color gene has multiple alleles, including green, brown, gray, blue, and hazel, each specifying a different eye color
- The gene determines the trait, and the allele determines the specific form or expression of that trait
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Description
Learn about genes, sections of DNA that code for specific traits, and alleles, different forms of the same gene, in this basic biology quiz.
