What are molecular markers commonly used for
Chromosome mapping
What are examples of molecular markers and how can we detect them
SNPs, SNP haplotypes and variable number repeats, all of which can be detected readily by analysing DNA sequence.
How are genes mapped?
Recombination-based maps of loci conferring mutant phenotypes are used in conjunction with physical maps to understand gene function and identify disease genes.
What does mapping more complex traits involve?
Mapping complex traits is hugely more complex and involves mapping QTLs by linkage and genome wide association studies (GWAS)
What is an important part of forward genetic analysis
Deducing complex genetic interactions
What is the interaction of different genes a result of?
Their participation in the same pathway
or in connecting pathways of various kinds – biosynthetic, signal transduction, developmental
How are genetic interactions often detected
By making double mutants
What are key types of genetic interactions and what do they reveal
Key types of genetics interactions: epistasis, suppression, enhancers, synthetic lethality. These can reveal common developmental or biochemical pathways, or even protein-protein
interactions. Deviations to the standard 9:3:3:1 F2 dihybrid ratios often result
How are gene interactions and gene-environment interactions revealed?
Incomplete penetrance (the ability of a genotype to express itself as a phenotype) and
variable expressivity (the quantitative degree of expression of a genotype in a phenotype)
