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Biology Chapter 3

The document covers key concepts of inheritance in biology, including the roles of genes, alleles, and chromosomes, as well as Mendel's Laws of Inheritance. It discusses genetic variation, the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction, and examples of genetic disorders. Additionally, it highlights applications of inheritance and variation such as selective breeding, genetic engineering, and cloning.

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26 views5 pages

Biology Chapter 3

The document covers key concepts of inheritance in biology, including the roles of genes, alleles, and chromosomes, as well as Mendel's Laws of Inheritance. It discusses genetic variation, the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction, and examples of genetic disorders. Additionally, it highlights applications of inheritance and variation such as selective breeding, genetic engineering, and cloning.

Uploaded by

saanvianne145
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Study material

Biology
Third chapter unit test 2

Inheritance
Inheritance refers to the process by which genetic information is
passed from one generation to the next. Inheritance occurs
through genes, which are inherited from parents and determine
the traits of an organism.

Key Concepts:
* Gene: A segment of DNA that codes for a particular trait, such as
eye color or blood type.
* Allele: Different forms of a gene. For example, a gene for eye color
might have an allele for blue eyes (b) and an allele for brown eyes (B).
* Chromosome: Structures made of DNA that contain genes. Humans
have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total).
* DNA: The molecule that carries genetic instructions. Each gene is
made of DNA.

Mendel’s Experiments and Laws of Inheritance


The Austrian scientist Gregor Mendel conducted experiments with
pea plants in the 19th century, which laid the foundation for
understanding inheritance. Mendel’s findings led to the Laws of
Inheritance.
1. Law of Segregation:
* During the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs), each
parent’s alleles for a gene segregate, so each gamete only carries
one allele for each gene.
* Example: If a plant has the genotype Aa (where A is the allele for
a dominant trait and a is the allele for a recessive trait), the
gametes will receive either A or a, not both.
2. Law of Independent Assortment:
* Genes for different traits are inherited independently of each
other.
* Example: The gene for seed shape (round or wrinkled) will assort
independently of the gene for seed color (yellow or green).
Dominant and Recessive Alleles
* Dominant Allele: An allele that expresses its trait even if only one
copy is present. (Represented by a capital letter, e.g., B for brown
eyes).
* Recessive Allele: An allele that only expresses its trait when both
copies are present (homozygous recessive). (Represented by a
lowercase letter, e.g., b for blue eyes).
Genotype and Phenotype
* Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism (the combination of
alleles). For example, BB or Bb for eye color.
* Phenotype: The physical expression of the genotype (what the
organism looks like). For example, brown eyes or blue eyes.

Punnett Squares: Predicting Genetic Outcomes


A Punnett Square is a tool used to predict the possible genetic
outcomes (genotypes) of offspring based on the parents'
genotypes.
Example: If both parents have the genotype Bb (heterozygous for
brown eyes):
* Each parent can pass either the B allele or the b allele.
Parent 1 B b
B BB Bb
b Bb bb
The possible offspring genotypes are:
* BB (homozygous dominant): 1 in 4 (25% chance)
* Bb (heterozygous dominant): 2 in 4 (50% chance)
* bb (homozygous recessive): 1 in 4 (25% chance)
Sexual Reproduction:
* In sexual reproduction, offspring inherit one allele from each
parent, which results in genetic variation.

2. Variation
Variation refers to the differences between individuals of the same
species. These differences arise from both genetic and
environmental factors.
Key Concepts:
* Genetic Variation: Variation due to differences in the genetic
makeup of individuals. This variation occurs due to mutations,
recombination during sexual reproduction, and gene flow between
populations.
* Environmental Variation: Variation caused by environmental
factors, such as diet, climate, or lifestyle, rather than genetic
differences.
Types of Variation:
1. Continuous Variation:
* Traits that show a range of values between two extremes.
* Example: Height, skin color, or weight.
* These traits are usually controlled by many genes and are
influenced by the environment.
2. Discontinuous Variation:
* Traits that fall into distinct categories with no intermediates.
* Example: Blood type, flower color, or the presence of a
particular disease gene.
* These traits are often controlled by a single gene.
Sources of Genetic Variation:
1. Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence, which can introduce new
alleles into a population. Mutations can occur spontaneously and can
be beneficial, harmful, or neutral.
* Example: A mutation in a gene for color vision could result in
color blindness.
2. Sexual Reproduction: Genetic variation arises because each
parent contributes half of the genetic material to the offspring.
During meiosis, homologous chromosomes can swap sections of
DNA, which introduces new genetic combinations.
3. Gene Flow: The movement of alleles between different populations.
When individuals from different populations interbreed, they can
introduce new alleles into a population, increasing genetic diversity.
Adaptation:
* Adaptation refers to the process where individuals with beneficial
traits are more likely to survive and reproduce in a given
environment.
* Example: Animals in cold environments may have thicker fur, which
is an adaptation to cold weather.

3. Sexual vs Asexual Reproduction


* Sexual Reproduction:
* Involves the fusion of male and female gametes (e.g., sperm and
egg) to form offspring.
* Genetic variation is introduced because offspring inherit genetic
material from both parents, which results in unique combinations of
alleles.
* Example: Humans, animals, and most plants reproduce sexually.
* Asexual Reproduction:
* Involves only one parent and produces genetically identical
offspring (clones).
* There is no genetic variation unless a mutation occurs.
* Example: Bacteria reproduce through binary fission, and some
plants reproduce by budding or cloning.

4. Genetic Disorders
Genetic disorders are caused by mutations or abnormal
inheritance of genes. They can be passed from one generation to
the next if the mutations are in the germ cells (sperm or eggs).
Examples of Genetic Disorders:
1. Cystic Fibrosis:
* Caused by a recessive allele. An individual needs two copies of
the defective allele (one from each parent) to have the disorder.
* Affects the lungs and digestive system, causing difficulty
breathing and digesting food.
2. Huntington’s Disease:
* Caused by a dominant allele. Only one copy of the defective allele
is needed to develop the disease.
* Leads to progressive damage to the nervous system, causing
movement problems, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive decline.
3. Down Syndrome:
* Caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 (trisomy 21).
* It is not inherited in the usual way; it occurs due to a random
error during cell division, leading to developmental delays and
intellectual disabilities.

5. Applications of Inheritance and Variation


* Selective Breeding:
* Humans select organisms with desired traits to reproduce,
passing those traits on to the next generation. This is used in
agriculture (e.g., breeding crops that yield higher produce or are
resistant to pests) and in animal breeding (e.g., dogs, horses).
* Genetic Engineering:
* Scientists manipulate the genes of an organism to achieve
desired traits, such as producing insulin using genetically
engineered bacteria or creating genetically modified crops that are
resistant to pests.
* Cloning:
* Cloning involves creating genetically identical organisms. It is
used in research, agriculture, and medicine (e.g., Dolly the sheep).

Summary of Key Terms:


* Gene: A section of DNA that codes for a specific trait.
* Allele: Different forms of a gene.
* Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism.
* Phenotype: The observable traits of an organism.
* Dominant Allele: An allele that expresses its trait even with one
copy.
* Recessive Allele: An allele that expresses its trait only when both
copies are present.
* Mutation: A change in DNA that can lead to new traits.
* Variation: Differences in traits within a population.
* Adaptation: A trait that improves an organism's chance of survival
in a particular environment.
* Punnett Square: A tool to predict genetic outcomes.

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