Genetics Fundamentals

Genetics

Key Concepts

• Genetics: the study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
• Genome: the complete set of genetic information in an organism
• Chromosomes: thread-like structures carrying genetic information in the nucleus
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid): the molecule that contains genetic information
• Genes: segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions

Genetic Inheritance

• Mendel's Laws:
  • Law of Segregation: each pair of alleles separates during gamete formation
  • Law of Independent Assortment: alleles for different genes are sorted independently
  • Law of Dominance: one allele can be dominant over another
• Inheritance Patterns:
  • autosomal dominant: one copy of the allele is enough to express the trait
  • autosomal recessive: two copies of the allele are needed to express the trait
  • X-linked: genes on the X chromosome

Zoology

Branches of Zoology

• Vertebrate Zoology: study of animals with backbones (e.g., fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals)
• Invertebrate Zoology: study of animals without backbones (e.g., insects, arachnids, mollusks, echinoderms)
• Entomology: study of insects
• Herpetology: study of reptiles and amphibians
• Ornithology: study of birds
• Mammalogy: study of mammals

Zoological Classification

• Taxonomy: the classification of organisms into groups based on their characteristics
• Hierarchy of Classification:
  1. Domain: highest level of classification
  2. Kingdom: second highest level of classification
  3. Phylum: level of classification that groups organisms based on body structure
  4. Class: level of classification that groups organisms based on shared characteristics
  5. Order: level of classification that groups organisms based on evolutionary relationships
  6. Family: level of classification that groups organisms based on shared characteristics
  7. Genus: level of classification that groups organisms based on shared characteristics
  8. Species: most specific level of classification

Zoological Concepts

• Adaptation: the process of an organism changing to better fit its environment
• Evolution: the change in the characteristics of a species over time
• Habitat: the natural environment in which an organism lives
• Niche: the specific role an organism plays in its environment
• Ecological Niche: the specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem

Genetics

Key Concepts

• Genetics studies heredity, genes, and genetic variation, which is contained in the genome, the complete set of genetic information in an organism.
• Chromosomes are thread-like structures carrying genetic information in the nucleus, and they contain DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), the molecule that contains genetic information.
• Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions.

Genetic Inheritance

• Mendel's Laws govern genetic inheritance, including:
  • Law of Segregation: each pair of alleles separates during gamete formation.
  • Law of Independent Assortment: alleles for different genes are sorted independently.
  • Law of Dominance: one allele can be dominant over another.
• Inheritance Patterns include:
  • Autosomal dominant: one copy of the allele is enough to express the trait.
  • Autosomal recessive: two copies of the allele are needed to express the trait.
  • X-linked: genes on the X chromosome.

Zoology

Branches of Zoology

• Vertebrate Zoology studies animals with backbones (e.g., fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals).
• Invertebrate Zoology studies animals without backbones (e.g., insects, arachnids, mollusks, echinoderms).
• Entomology is the study of insects.
• Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.
• Ornithology is the study of birds.
• Mammalogy is the study of mammals.

Zoological Classification

• Taxonomy is the classification of organisms into groups based on their characteristics.
• The Hierarchy of Classification consists of:
  • Domain: the highest level of classification.
  • Kingdom: the second highest level of classification.
  • Phylum: groups organisms based on body structure.
  • Class: groups organisms based on shared characteristics.
  • Order: groups organisms based on evolutionary relationships.
  • Family: groups organisms based on shared characteristics.
  • Genus: groups organisms based on shared characteristics.
  • Species: the most specific level of classification.

Zoological Concepts

• Adaptation is the process of an organism changing to better fit its environment.
• Evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over time.
• Habitat is the natural environment in which an organism lives.
• Niche is the specific role an organism plays in its environment.
• Ecological Niche is the specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem.