Genetics Basics

Study Notes

Genome: the complete set of genetic information in an organism
Gene: a unit of heredity that carries information from one generation to the next
Genotype: the genetic makeup of an organism (e.g., AA, Aa, or aa)
Phenotype: the physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism (e.g., blue eyes, tall height)
Trait: a characteristic or feature of an organism (e.g., eye color, hair texture)

Autosomal dominant: a trait that is expressed when an individual has one copy of the dominant allele (e.g., brown eye color)
Autosomal recessive: a trait that is expressed when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele (e.g., blue eye color)
X-linked: a trait that is inherited through genes on the X chromosome (e.g., color blindness)
Mitochondrial: a trait that is inherited through genes in the mitochondria (e.g., some inherited diseases)

Mutations: changes in the DNA sequence of an organism (e.g., point mutations, chromosomal mutations)
Genetic drift: random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population
Gene flow: the movement of genes from one population to another
Natural selection: the process by which organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

DNA sequencing: determining the order of nucleotides in an organism's DNA
Genetic testing: analyzing an individual's DNA to identify genetic disorders or traits
Genetic engineering: manipulating an organism's DNA to introduce new traits or characteristics

Genetics is the scientific study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation in organisms.

Genome: the complete set of genetic information in an organism, containing approximately 3 billion base pairs of DNA.
Gene: a unit of heredity that carries information from one generation to the next, consisting of a sequence of DNA nucleotides.
Genotype: the genetic makeup of an organism, represented by letters or symbols, such as AA, Aa, or aa, indicating the combination of alleles.
Phenotype: the physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment.
Trait: a specific characteristic or feature of an organism, such as eye color, hair texture, or height.

Autosomal dominant inheritance: a trait is expressed when an individual has one copy of the dominant allele, with the dominant allele masking the effect of the recessive allele.
Autosomal recessive inheritance: a trait is expressed when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, with the dominant allele not masking the effect of the recessive allele.
X-linked inheritance: a trait is inherited through genes on the X chromosome, affecting males more severely due to their single X chromosome.
Mitochondrial inheritance: a trait is inherited through genes in the mitochondria, passed down from mother to child.

Mutations: changes in the DNA sequence of an organism, resulting in genetic variation, and occurring in two main forms: point mutations (affecting a single nucleotide) and chromosomal mutations (affecting larger DNA structures).
Genetic drift: random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population, often resulting in the loss of genetic variation.
Gene flow: the movement of genes from one population to another, increasing genetic variation and reducing genetic differences between populations.
Natural selection: the process by which organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their beneficial alleles to their offspring.

DNA sequencing: determining the order of nucleotides in an organism's DNA, allowing for the identification of genetic mutations and variations.
Genetic testing: analyzing an individual's DNA to identify genetic disorders or traits, enabling targeted treatment and prevention strategies.
Genetic engineering: manipulating an organism's DNA to introduce new traits or characteristics, with applications in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.