YOUR DICTIONARY OF GENETICS

WEEK 1 TERMS
A strand of DNA (ssDNA)= one polynucleotide

Double stranded DNA (dsDNA, DNA helix) two polynucleotides oriented antiparallel with
complementary nucleotide, base paired across the helix

Complementarity- the most important property of dsDNA; it refers to the fact that optimal stability
occurs when a G nucleotide base pairs with a C nucleotide, and A with T (in DNA) and A with U
during transcription ot make a complementary ssRNA from a DNA template.

Genes The regions of the DNA helix that are used as a template to make RNA (or that control the
usage of other DNA segments as templates) are called genes

Structural genes are genes that are transcribed to make mRNA.

Genome An organisms entire collection of genes

Chromosome The collection of dsDNA and proteins that are carefully package to keep the DNA safe
and available as needed for replication, transcription and division.

self cross vs outcross vs testcross

Self cross
In species in which both sexes are present on one plant (such most higher plants, including peas), a
self-cross can be a type of cross in which one individual serves as both parents.

In species in which the sexes are on different individuals (such as in most animals), then the term self-
cross is used to indicate a mating of siblings (brothers and sisters).

Outcross is any cross that is not a self cross. One type of outcross is of two different true breeding
stocks are mated.

Another specific type of outcross is a testcross. A testcross is a type of cross where an individual
(usually of uncertain genotype) is mated with a tester individual. A tester individual can only donate
a recessive allele for the trait in question.

trait/phenotype/character All of these terms refer to the same thing- a visible feature of the organism,
something you can see by looking at the organism or do a test for.

discrete vs continuous traits

Discrete traits (also called discontinuous traits) are inherited traits that appear as a limited number of
clear-cut, easily distinguished, variations (e.g. purple or white flowers, smooth or wrinkled seeds).

Continuous traits are traits that show many intermediate forms whose values show a continuous range.
e.g. height, weight, IQ, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels etc. Continuous traits are actually more
common than discrete traits, but harder to study genetically.

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A true breeding population is a population that breeds true to form (phenotype) when mating with
itself (or another individual with the same genetic make up as itself).

Homozygotes are individuals that have two, functionally identical versions of the gene being studied.
Homozygotes breed true when selfed, because the versions each parent can donate are functionally
identical. The two true breeding lines he started with were each homozygous.

Heterozygotes are individuals that have functionally different versions of the gene being studied.
Heterozygotes do not breed true when selfed because they can donate two different versions of the gene.

Alleles are two (or more) versions of the same gene. Two alleles of a gene can be identical in DNA
sequence (homoalleles), but most often the term allele is used to describe alleles that have a difference
in DNA sequence that can give rise to a difference in phenotype. The more precise term to use for this
situation when the two versions of the gene are different is to consider the two alleles heteroalleles
(but that term is not often used).

Dominant alleles determine the phenotype whether or not they are the only version present.
recessive alleles & traits

Recessive alleles determine the phenotype only when they are the only version present.

Genotype refers to the particular version of a gene or genes present in one individual or type of
individual.

Punnett Square this is a column and row based method for keeping track of all possible genotypes of a
mating. All possible types of gametes one parent can produce are the info in rows and all possible
types of gametes the other parent can produce are the columns. (Note it is a Square if each parent can
produce the same number of different gametes.

The product rule

The product rule states that the probability of two independent events both occurring is the product of
the probability of the two events. i.e. multiply the two probabilities.

The Sum rule states that the probability of either (1 or the other) of two mutually exclusive events
occurring is the sum of their individual probabilities. (i.e. add the two probabilities together).

This rule is used when a particular event may occur in MORE than one different way (and the different
ways are mutually exclusive). In genetics this often is used when either of two or more different
(mutually exclusive) fertilizations might both yield the described outcome.

The p never greater than 1 Rule .

The probability value (p) for any given event occurring cannot be more than 1. A value of 1 means the
event has a 100% chance of occurring. If you ever get a probability estimate greater than 1, you have
made a mistake; try again.

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The p = 1- p (not p) Rule
One other important probability rule that will often allow a shortcut is as follows.
The probability of an event happening is equal to 1 minus the probability of the event not happening
(p). Sometimes it will be easier to calculate the probability of an event not happening, than it will be
to calculate the probability of the event happening.

Pedigree analysis This is the carefully symbolizing of a family tree and scrutiny of it to either
determine the mode of inheritance or assess the likelihood of a particular genetic outcome occurring.

Propositus the individual who is the focus of the pedigree analysis.

Carriers = heterozygotes for recessive disease alleles

Consanguineous matings are between two closely related individuals.

Monohybrid mating is a mating in which the geneticist is tracking one gene. In a controlled mating it
starts with two truebreeding lines that have different alleles for the gene being tracked.

Dihybrid mating is a mating in which the geneticist is tracking two genes. In a controlled mating it
starts with two truebreeding lines that have different alleles for both of the genes being tracked.

Autosomal gene a gene in which both sexes of a species have two versions of the gene.