hereditary genetics
- observing phenotypes in offspring to understand gene inheritance
- tracing pedigrees of gene transmission within a family
population genetics
calculating allele frequencies to determine changes in gene pools
molecular genetics
- generating plasmids from recombinant DNA
- studying DNA-protien interactions to understand gene regulation
Chargaff’s discoveries about base pair of DNA
- DNA molecules contain similar numbers of A and T bases and G and C
- proportions of A:T and G:C are similar within members of the same species
- complementary base pairs
Watson and Crick findings from x-ray image of DNA
DNA is shaped like a helix, includes 10 base pairs per repeat, and has a consistent diameter
central dogma of biology
DNA is transcribed into RNA. RNA is translated into an amino acid sequence
Initiation (first step of transcription)
- RNA poly binds to group of transcription factors
- DNA helix unwinds
- RNA synthesis begins
Elongation (second step of transcription)
- DNA poly transverses the DNA template, adding complementary base pairs
- newly transcribed RNA transcript is proofread
termination (third step of transcription)
- RNA poly detaches from DNA
- RNA poly stops adding base pairs at a stop codon
- RNA transcript is released
transcription
takes place in the nucleus and produces mRNA
translation
takes place in ribosomes, produces a protein, and involves tRNA
characteristics required for heredity
- stable enough to store info for long periods
- able to replicate accurately
- capable of change to allow evolution
semiconservative replication
creates 2 new duplexes, one parental strand and one daughter strand
mRNA
- transcribed from DNA
- codons complement DNA
- simple strand
- broken down after translation
tRNA
- used to translate mRNA
- anticodons complement mRNA
- clover-shaped look structure
- reactivate after translation
transmission genetics
study of transmission of trains in successive generations
evolutionary genetics
study of the origins of and genetic relationships between organisms, and evolution of genes and genomes
molecular genetics
studies inheritance and variation of nucleic acids and proteins
natural selection
differential reproductive success of members of a species, and forms that are best adapted will increase in a poplation
migration
movement of members of a species from one population to another that rapidly alters allele frequencies
mutation
the slow addition of allelic variants that increase the diversity of a population
random genetic drift
random change of allele frequencies due to chance in rapidly mating populations
