INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS

RIZKA APRIANI PUTRI, M.SC

FMIPA UNY
2019
Genetics is often divided into three major areas of study,
each performed at a specific level of resolution :
I. Classical (Mendelian) Genetics
 Also known as transmission genetics, this is the study of patterns of inheritance of
genetic traits from one generation to the next.
II. Molecular Genetics
 This is the study of the structure and function of genetic materials (DNA, RNA,
proteins) at the level of molecular interaction.
III. Evolutionary Genetics :
 This is the study of the mechanisms of evolutionary change at the level of genetic
change in populations over generations. It includes population genetics,
genomics, and other subdisciplines.
Classical Genetics Molecular Genetics Evolutionary Genetics
Mendel’s Principles DNA Structure Population Genetics
Meiosis + Mitosis Genes and Chromosomes Quantitative Genetics
Structure
Sex Determination DNA Replication
Sex Linkage Gene Expression
(Transcription and
Translation)
Chromosomes Mapping Regulation / Control of
Gene Expression
Cytogenetics Epigenetics
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Plant Hibridization Biotechnology Evolution

Agriculture
 GENETICS TERMS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER :

 Gene : a unit of inheritance.

Gene structure → A sequence of DNA bordered by "start" and "stop" signals that
inform cellular mechanisms of the instructions for manufacturing a complementary molecule of RNA.
▪ locus (plural - loci) : the physical location of a gene on a chromosome
 Allele : one of two or more different forms of a particular gene
- homozygous cell or organism having two of the same allele at a particular locus
- heterozygous cell or organism having two different alleles at a particular locus
A dominant allele masks the expression of a recessive allele.
Thus, in a diploid organism.
*One copy of a dominant allele is sufficient for expression of the dominant trait.
*Two copies of a recessive allele are necessary for expression of the recessive trait.
 GENETICS TERMS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER :

 Genome:-
the full complement of genes encoding the instructions for building and operating a living org
anism, as well as genetic components that do not code for protein or RNA.
 genotype -
the allele or alleles of a particular gene/trait found in an individual organism.The genetic
makeup of an organism.
 Phenotype - the physical appearance/makeup of an organism.Traits can be
- qualitative (discontinuous) "either/or" expression
- quantitative (continuous) expressed along a continuum
 GENETICS TERMS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER :

 ploidy :
The number of sets of chromosomes in a cell, or in the cells of an or
ganism.
- Haploid cell or organism with one complete set of chromosomes
- diploid cell or organism with two complete sets of chromosomes
- polyploid cell or organism with multiple complete sets of chromosomes
 OTHER TERMS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER :
 Gamete : a haploid reproductive cell produced via meiosis
 zygote -
totipotent, diploid cell produced by the union of two gametes that will develop into an
entire organism via an orderly sequence of division and cell differentiation.
 Prokaryote : single cell organism lacking membrane-
bounded nucleus or organelles (Bacteria,Archaea)
 In prokaryotes, the genome consists of one circular strand of DNA lacking any associated proteins or other molecules.

 Eukaryote :
single-cell or multicellular organism comprised of complex cells containing membrane-
bounded organelles (Plantae, Fungi,Animalia, various protist kingdoms)
 In eukaryotes, the genome is divided among multiple, linear chromosomes.The number of chromosomes
varies across species
# GENOMES AND CHROMOSOMES IN EUKARYOTES
 Eukaryotes → Diploid organisms
→ have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
 In a given diploid cell, each chromosome set carries the same gene loci
as the other set.
 In a given diploid cell, the two chromosome sets will not necessarily
share the same alleles at each locus.
 The two chromosomes in a given organism that have exactly the same
array of gene loci comprise a homologous pair (they are homologs).