Introduction to Genetics Quiz

Introduction to Genetics

• This is the study of heredity and variation of organisms.
• Similarities and differences between relatives are due to genes, which carry hereditary information.
• The process of making a protein begins with DNA which is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into a protein.
• Genes are found on chromosomes, which occur in pairs.
• New combinations of genes occur during reproduction via sperm and egg.

Alleles

• These are different forms of a gene.
• A gene can exist in multiple forms, or alleles.
• The form of each gene you acquire is determined by which alleles you inherit from your parents.
• Represented by letters, either uppercase (dominant) or lowercase (recessive).
• Each person inherits two alleles for each trait- one from mom and one from dad.

The Human Genome Project

• The human genome has 3.164 billion base pairs.
• Of these, only 25,000 are genes.
• Almost 99.9% of the base pairs are the same in all people.
• The remaining 0.1% account for the differences between individuals.

Gregor Johann Mendel

• Austrian monk, born in 1822.
• Studied Theology and was ordained a priest.
• Studied botany and learned the Scientific Method.
• He worked with pure lines of peas for eight years.
• His work was largely ignored until 1900, when 3 independent botanists rediscovered it.

Why Peas?

• Available in many varieties.
• Inexpensive.
• Short life cycle.
• Simple procedures.
• Easy to grow.
• Allowed for strict control over mating.

Mendel's Principles of Inheritance

• Mendel's Principles of Heredity:
  • Principle of Segregation: Each individual has two alleles for each trait, and these alleles separate during gamete formation, with only one allele being passed on to each offspring.
  • Principle of Independent Assortment: Alleles for different traits assort independently during gamete formation, meaning that the inheritance of one trait doesn't affect the inheritance of another.
  • Principle of Dominance: One allele can mask the expression of another, or they can blend and share expression.

Homozygous and Heterozygous Alleles

• Homozygous: Both alleles of a gene are the same. (ex: WW, ww)
• Heterozygous: Alleles of a gene are different. (ex: Ww)

Genetic Engineering

• Recombinant DNA molecules can be created by combining genes from different organisms.
• These molecules can be inserted into other organisms, which is called genetic engineering.

Gene Therapy

• The treatment of diseases using genes or genetic material.
• It involves introducing a normal, functional gene into an individual to replace or correct a faulty gene.

What if athletes begin to use “gene doping”?

• This would be an unethical and potentially harmful practice.
• It would have the potential to ruin athletic competition as we know it

Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of genetics, including the study of heredity, variation, and the Human Genome Project. This quiz covers key concepts such as genes, alleles, and how genetic information is passed from parents to offspring. Dive into the molecular biology behind protein synthesis and genetic inheritance.