Chapter 17: Genetics
Gregor Mendel 
Died: 6 January 1884 (age of 61) Brunn, Moravia, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic)
Born: Johann Mendel 20 July 1822 Heinzendorf bei Odrau, Silesia, Austrian Empire (now Czech Republic)
Was a Christian and ordained 25 December 1846
Meteorologist, Mathematician, Biologist, Augustinian friar, and abbot of Saint Thomas' Abbey in Brno, Margraviate of Moravia
Was born in a German-speaking family
key components
chromosome
DNA
RNA
genome
heredity
mutation
nucloetide
variation
History and Topics
Evolution (molecular)
Population genetics
Mendelian inheritance
Quantitatie genetics
Molecular genetics
began working on pea plants, published in 1866, established the theory of Mendelian inheritance.
Mendel's Laws of Heredity
1) The Law of Segregation
2) The Law of Independent Assortment
3) The Law of Dominance
What 7 traits Mendel researched
1) Pea Shape (round or wrinkled)
2) Pea color (green or yellow)
3) Pod shape (constricted or inflated)
4) Pod color (green or yellow)
5) Flower color (purple or white)
6) Plant size (tall or dwarf)
7) Position of flowers (axial or terminal)
Using pea plants allowed him to understand the means by which traits are inherited between parent an offspring.
Pea plants were easy to grow, could be bred rapidly, and had several observable characteristics, like petal color and pea color.
definitions
replicon: one strand of the DNA double helix is cut, and the two strands separate from each other in a short region, forming a small "bubble"
primer RNA: during DNA replication, a short piece of RNA that is synthesized against open DNA and from which DNA polymerase can begin building a new molecule of DNA.
DNA polymerase: enzymes that synthesize the formation of new molecules of DNA, using a strand of an existing DNA double helix as a guide.
semiconservative replication: refers to the fact that during DNA replication, one new molecule such that in every new chromosome, half the DNA is conserved from the pre-existing chromosome.
alleles: versions of a gene that differ from each other in their nucleotide sequences
genotype: the set of alleles present in an organism's genome.
phenotype: the physical, observable characteristics of an organism.
causes of mutation
mutagen
certain chemicals, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and radiation from radioactive substances
DNA
T=A
G=C
C=G
A=T