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Mendelian Genetics
Alleles: Different forms of the gene for the same trait. They are
in pairs. One allele came from Mom and one came from Dad.
EX: Height alleles
T = Tall
t = short
Homozygous (same): alleles for a certain trait are the same
EX: TT or tt
Heterozygous (different) or hybrid: alleles for a certain trait
are different
EX: Tt
alleles
Connection:
You can have 2 different genotypes and still have the
same phenotype!
Person #1 TT= Tall
Person #2 Tt= Tall
Homologous Chromosomes:
Chromosomes that have alleles for the same trait.
They are in pairs.
Each chromosome in the pair contains a gene for the same trait
(sometimes called sister chromatids)
Moms Homologous Chromosome pair each has a genetic code for the same type of
protein.
She has the genotype Tt = one homologous chromosome has a T gene and
the other matched homologous chromosome has a t gene.
Both genes code for the height protein.
Dads homologous chromosome pair is Tt.
During Meiosis Dad will produce two different sperms.
T t
TT
tT
t
Tt
tt
Mom
Note: Only way to see blue eye color is if a person has two
blue eye genes (alleles), one on each homologous
chromosome #1 pair. (bb)
Sex Chromosomes:
Mom = XX
Dad = XY
o Y chromosome produces male characteristics.
o You can only get a Y from Dads sperm.
Therefore, Dads sperm determines the sex of the baby.
Some genes for other traits are found on the sex chromosomes.
Ex. Colorblindness trait is found on X chromosome. It is a recessive gene so a
non-colorblind gene dominates.
o Therefore, Girls XX need to receive an X colorblind-chromosome from
Mom and an X colorblind-chromosome from Dad to show
colorblindness.
o Boys however, only need to receive one X colorblind-chromosome from
Mom because there is no X-non-colorblind gene from Dad to dominate.
Type O
ii
Two alleles are only partially expressed give a phenotype that is blended
midway between the two genes.
Ex. 4 oclock plants have red flowers and white flower genes when a red
flower plant is crossed with a white flower plant, pink flowers are produced
o RW= pink, RR= red, WW= white
Natures Curveball:
Crossing over
Variation alert!!!!
***More variety = greater chance of survival
if environment changes!***
Environments effect on genes
Some environmental factors can switch genes on or off.
Examples:
Some bacteria only produce an enzyme when sugar is present.
In green plants certain genes are switched on and off by light hitting the
plant.
When temperature of skin is lower like on the ears the hair will be
black instead of white like the rest of the body. Cold temperature turns
on the black pigment gene.
Chemicals and some viruses (HPV) can cause genes to turn on or off too.
Disorders
Sex-Linked:
Hemophilia- unable to clot carried on X-chromosome (recessive)
Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy- muscle tissue begins to break down in
childhood- carried on X chromosome (recessive)
Chromosomal Disorder
Downs Syndrome- extra copy of chromosome #21- causes mental retardation
and physical abnormalities
Klinefelters Syndrome- cell has extra X chromosome, males are XXY, and
male has underdeveloped sex organs
needle which contains some cells shed from the fetus. These cells are checked for
abnormalities in their genetic code. Chorionic sampling from placenta may also be
done.