What are alleles?
Alternative forms of a gene located at the same genetic locus on homologous chromosomes
Alleles are crucial for understanding genetic variation and inheritance.
What type of alleles express their traits in heterozygotes?
Dominant alleles
Recessive alleles are expressed only in homozygotes.
In a population, multiple alleles for a gene may exist, contributing to __________.
genetic diversity
This variation is important for the adaptability of populations.
Name the three types of allelic interactions.
These interactions describe how different alleles affect phenotype expression.
How do alleles influence an organism’s phenotype?
By determining the traits expressed
The phenotype is the observable characteristics of an organism.
What determines an individual’s genotype and phenotype?
The combination of alleles inherited from parents
Genotype refers to the genetic makeup, while phenotype refers to the observable traits.
True or false: Alleles are fundamental to understanding genetic variation and inheritance.
TRUE
They play a key role in the diversity of traits within populations.
What are concordant alleles referred to as?
homozygous
Concordant alleles include examples like AA and aa.
What are discordant alleles referred to as?
heterozygous
Discordant alleles include examples like Aa.
When are dominant alleles phenotypically expressed?
Whenever present
Dominant alleles mask the expression of recessive alleles.
When are recessive alleles phenotypically expressed?
When dominant alleles are absent
Recessive traits only show when no dominant alleles are present.
What is complete dominance?
One allele completely masks the expression of the other
Results in a clear phenotypic distinction between dominant and recessive traits.
Provide an example of complete dominance.
Flower color in Mendel’s pea plants (PP or Pp for purple, pp for white)
This illustrates how dominant traits can mask recessive ones.
What is incomplete dominance?
Neither allele is completely dominant, and the heterozygote shows an intermediate phenotype
Results in a blending of traits.
Provide an example of incomplete dominance.
Snapdragons’ flower color (W for pink from red and white alleles)
This shows how traits can blend in heterozygotes.
What is co-dominance?
Both alleles are independently expressed in the heterozygote
Results in a phenotype that reflects contributions from both alleles.
Provide an example of co-dominance.
ABO blood group system (IAIA or IAi for type A, IBIB or IBi for type B, IAIB for type AB)
This illustrates how both alleles can be expressed simultaneously.
What is epistasis?
The ability of one gene to influence the expression of another
It describes the interaction of genes that are not alleles.
Define wild-type.
“Normal” allele or phenotype for an organism
This typically corresponds to the form of the organism that is most commonly seen in the wild.
What does phenotype variability refer to?
Variation in phenotype expression based on a gene’s penetrance and expressivity
It indicates how genetic traits can manifest differently among individuals.
What is penetrance?
The proportion of people with a particular genetic variant who exhibit signs and symptoms of a genetic disorder
Example: Many patients with BRCA1/2 never develop breast cancer.
What is expressivity?
The varying phenotype that may result in individuals from the same genetic condition
Example: Individuals with mutations in FBN1 can have few symptoms or severe cardiovascular abnormalities.
True or false: Epistasis involves the interaction of alleles.
FALSE
Epistasis refers to the interaction of genes that are not alleles.
Give an example of epistatic relationships.
Suppression of the effect of one gene by another
This illustrates how one gene can mask the expression of another.