GeneticsLesson 2 of 2 in the course Biological Evolution and Early Human Evidence

Genetic Inheritance, Mendelian Principles, and Population Variation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Living things pass biological information from one generation to the next. To understand how this happens, we first need to explore cells, DNA, chromosomes, and the different ways cells divide.

Cells are the basic units of life and the smallest entities capable of self-reproduction. Prokaryotes, such as bacteria and archaea, are single-celled organisms without an enclosed nucleus. Eukaryotes, including plants and animals, have cells with a nucleus.

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Gene
A segment of DNA that contributes to heredity and biological traits.
Allele
One of the different forms of the same gene.
Genotype and phenotype
Genotype is an organism’s genetic makeup; phenotype is an observable trait shaped by gene expression and sometimes the environment.
Gene pool
The collection of genetic variants present among members of a population.
Natural selection
A process in which heritable differences affect survival or reproduction, changing variant frequencies over generations.

Quiz questions

  1. In a simple Mendelian cross between two hybrids for one trait with complete dominance, what phenotype ratio often appears in the second generation?Answer: About 3 dominant to 1 recessive.
  2. What does the law of segregation state about the two alleles for a trait?Answer: They separate during gamete formation, so each gamete receives one.
  3. When does the law of independent assortment describe how different genes are inherited?Answer: When the genes assort independently into gametes.
  4. What explains the AB blood-type phenotype in a person with one A allele and one B allele?Answer: A and B are codominant, so both are expressed.
  5. What is genetic drift?Answer: A chance-driven change in allele frequencies, especially consequential in small populations.

Based on Introduction to Anthropology by Jennifer Hasty, David G. Lewis, Marjorie M. Snipes (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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