Inheritance
...These patterns are established based on the Dominance or Recessiveness of a particular trait. The traits or alleles appear on either Sex Chromosomes or Autosomal Chromosomes. The expression of genes for certain diseases may result in the child being a carrier for the condition, or being affected by the disease.
Definitions
Allele: Alternative versions of a gene that produce disinguishable phenotypic effects.
Autosome: A chromosome that is not directly involved in determining sex, as opposed to a sex chromosome.
Chromosome: A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus. Each chromosome consists of one very long DNS molecule and associated ptroteins.
Codominance: The situation in which the phenotypes of both alleles are exhibited in the heterozygote.
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid: A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell’s proteins.
Dominant Allele: An allele that is fully expressed in the phenotype of a heterozygote.
Gene: A discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses).
Genotype: The genetic makeup, or set of alleles, of an organisnm.
Heterozygous: Having two different alleles for a given gene.
Homozygous: Having two identical alleles for a given gene.
Phenotype: The physical and physiological traits of an organism, which are determined by its genetic makeup.
Recessive Allele: An allele whose phenotypic effect is not observed in a heterozygote.
Sex-Linked Gene: A gene located on a sex chromosome.
Procedure
The pedigree for each of three conditions was observed. Based on the pattern of inheritance, it was determined that the trait was Dominant, Co-dominant or Recessive. By observing the sex of the affected child, it was...
View Full Essay
