Mendelian Genetics Quiz

Study Notes

Mendel's Laws: Three laws that describe how traits are inherited in a predictable manner.
Hereditary Units: Discrete units of inheritance that are passed down from generation to generation.
Genotype: The genetic makeup of an individual.
Phenotype: The physical expression of an individual's genotype.

Each pair of alleles (different forms of a gene) separates during gamete formation.
Each allele has an equal chance of being passed on to the offspring.

One allele can be dominant over another allele in a pair.
The dominant allele will be expressed in the phenotype, while the recessive allele will not.

Pea Plant Experiments: Mendel used pea plants to study the inheritance of traits such as height, seed shape, and flower color.
Punnett Squares: A graphical representation of the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring from a cross between two parents.

Autosomal: Relating to chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes.
Allele: A different form of a gene.
Homozygous: Having two identical alleles of a gene.
Heterozygous: Having two different alleles of a gene.
Genotype Frequency: The proportion of individuals in a population with a particular genotype.
Phenotype Frequency: The proportion of individuals in a population with a particular phenotype.

Genetic Counseling: The use of Mendelian genetics to predict the probability of certain traits or disorders being passed down to offspring.
Genetic Engineering: The use of Mendelian genetics to manipulate genes and create new traits in organisms.
Forensic Science: The use of Mendelian genetics to analyze DNA evidence in criminal investigations.

Hereditary Units: Discrete units of inheritance that are passed down from generation to generation.
Genotype: The genetic makeup of an individual, comprising two alleles (one from each parent).
Phenotype: The physical expression of an individual's genotype, resulting from the interaction of genes and environment.

** Allele Separation**: Each pair of alleles separates during gamete formation, ensuring each gamete receives only one allele.
Equal Chance of Inheritance: Each allele has an equal chance of being passed on to the offspring.

Independent Sorting: Alleles of different genes are sorted independently during gamete formation.
Random Combination: The combination of alleles from different genes is random, resulting in unique genotypes.

Dominant Allele: One allele can be dominant over another allele in a pair, determining the phenotype.
Recessive Allele: The recessive allele will not be expressed in the phenotype if a dominant allele is present.

Pea Plant Model: Mendel used pea plants to study the inheritance of traits, such as height, seed shape, and flower color.
Punnett Squares: A graphical representation of the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring from a cross between two parents, helping predict the probability of inheritance.

Autosomal Chromosomes: Non-sex chromosomes, carrying genes that are not sex-linked.
Allele: A different form of a gene, varying in DNA sequence or expression.
Homozygous: Having two identical alleles of a gene, resulting in a uniform phenotype.
Heterozygous: Having two different alleles of a gene, potentially leading to a mixed phenotype.
Genotype Frequency: The proportion of individuals in a population with a particular genotype.
Phenotype Frequency: The proportion of individuals in a population with a particular phenotype.

Genetic Counseling: Predicting the probability of certain traits or disorders being passed down to offspring, helping families make informed decisions.
Genetic Engineering: Manipulating genes to create new traits in organisms, with potential applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.
Forensic Science: Analyzing DNA evidence to aid in criminal investigations, using Mendelian genetics to identify suspects and determine genetic relationships.