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Chromosomes are X-shaped objects found in the nucleus of most cells. They consist of long strands of a substance called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short. A section of DNA that has the genetic code for making a particular protein is called a gene.
Genes
Our DNA contain two genes (one from our mother and one from our father) for each characteristic (eye colour, hair colour etc.)
Alleles
Different genes for the same characteristic (e.g. eye colour) are called alleles.
Pron: Al eels
For example, you all have two genes (alleles) for eye colour
The brown eye gene (B) is dominant and the blue eye gene (b)is recessive
(heterozygous)
(homozygous)
(homozygous)
Only if you have bb will your eyes be blue (both genes are recessive)
An example
Lets imagine your mother has Bb genotype and your father also has Bb.
Bb
Bb
An example
Half your mothers eggs will have B genes and half b (eggs are gametes and only contain one of each pair of genes)
eggs
B
Haploid cells
An example
Half your fathers sperm will have the B gene and half the b gene too.
B
Haploid cells Sperm!
Bb
bb
Gene diagram
This means that there is a 75% chance the baby will have brown eyes (BB or Bb) and only a 25% chance the baby will have blue eyes (bb) Sperm Sperm with B with b Egg with B Egg with b
phenotype genotype
BB
BROWN
Bb
BROWN
Bb
BROWN
bb
BLUE
Pure breeding
If one parent has both dominant genes(BB), any baby will have to have brown eyes. We say the parent is pure breeding. Sperm Sperm with B with B Egg with B Egg with b
phenotype
BB
BROWN
BB
BROWN
Bb
BROWN
Bb
BROWN
Codominance
Codominant characteristics
Some characteristics are the result of 2 types of alleles that are equally dominant. Such characteristics are said to be codominant. The result is blending.
Curly
Individuals with curly hair are homozygous for curly hair alleles.
Straight
Individuals with straight hair are homozygous for straight hair alleles.
Wavy
Individuals who are heterozygous, with one of each allele have wavy hair (a blend).
To summarize:
Codominance: when both alleles are dominant. The heterozygous individual shows both alleles expressed equally (blending) Normally a capital letter represents one of the codominant alleles and different capital letter represents the other codominant allele so that the two do not get mixed up.
Human Chromosomes
23 pairs (46 in total)
Diploid number Haploid number
Other animals
Fruit fly 4 pairs
I like fruit.
Cat 19 pairs
I just like food!
Sex
22 pairs of human chromosomes are matching, but the 23rd pair sometimes do not match
Sex chromosomes
The 23rd pair are the sex chromosomes. These determine whether you are a male or a female
female
female
male
Mutation
Mutation
A mutation is a change in a gene or a chromosome
Mutation
Mutations are mostly minor, many are harmful, some are lethal, very few are helpful
Albinos
In albinos, a gene that controls the production of the skin pigment melanin has mutated and the melonin can no longer be produced.
Advantageous mutations
Occasionally a mutation may give an evolutionary advantage.