| Locus | location of a gene/ position of the allene on the chromosome |
| Allele | alternate DNA sequence at same locus and gene (gives traits like eye colour) |
| Genotype | combination of genetic information |
| Phenotype | physical appearance of genotype |
| Hetrochromatid | densely packaged chromosome |
| Euchromatin | loosely packaged chromosome |
| Chromatid | one strand of duplicated chromosome joined by centromere to it’s sister chromatid. |
| Sister chromatids | 2 chromatids joined by centromeres. Each carries identical genetic information. |
| Centromere | Heterochromatic region of a chromosome to which microtubule fibres attach. |
| Interphase | includes the S-phase- DNA is synthesised. Period of growth in between cell division. Up to 90% of the cells time in the cell cycle is spent in interphase. It appears dormant but the activity level is high. |
| G0 | a point in G1 of interphase where cells are non-dividing (leave the cell cycle) but still metabolically functioning. Cells like Heart cells are always in G0. |
| G1 | period prior to synthesis of DNA. For most cells this is where their major cell growth occurs. DNA in this phase is diploid (2n, 2 copies of the chromosomes) the genetic material is in the loose chromatin form. |
| G1 Restriction (R) point | present at the end of G1. Dependant of levels of nutrients and energy it decides if cells will enter the cell cycle or move to G0. |
| S-Phase | Period where DNA is synthesised, creates 2 identical semi conservative condensed chromosomes (2 sets of chromosomes in this phase) |
| G2 | final subphase of interphase. Right before mitosis. Microtubule formation, organelles produced, cytoplasmic volume increased. Replicated chromosomes are indistinct and nuclear envelope is intact. |
| G2 Restriction (R) point | final check point before mitosis. Prevents cells from entering mitosis with DNA damage. |
| Mitosis | one diploid cell divides into 2 diploid cells with the same genetic information. |
| Prophase | changes in nucleus, nucleosome disappears, chromosomes densify, spindle fibres begin to form, centrosome attaches to spindles and pull across forming an early form of the spindle bridge. |
| Prometaphase | nuclear membrane breaks apart, spindle fibres attach to condensed chromosomes, begin to pull chromosomes to centre. Microtubules make contact with each other from opposite polls. Some microtubules attach to kinetochore. Spindle proteins pull chromosomes to centre. |
| Metaphase | Highly condensed chromosomes align in middle (Centromeres converge on the metaphase plate). Fully formed spindle fibres. |
| Spindle checkpoint | monitors interaction between improperly connected kinetochores and tension. |
| Anaphase | Chromosomes move to opposite polls of cell. Initiated by protease which cleaves cohesion pulling sister chromatids apart. |
| Telophase | 2 daughter nuclei form in the cell, the chromosomes unwind back into loose chromatin, nucleus reforms. Daughter nuclear envelope are formed. |
| Cytokinesis | separate phase to mitosis, cytoplasm divides into 2 daughter cells, contractive ring formed by actin and myosin tightens around cytoplasm of cell and they are pinched apart. |
| Meiosis | makes 4 haploid cells containing only one copy of each chromosome. |
| Meiosis 1 | membranes of a pair of homologous chromosomes physically associate. Goes through same stages as mitosis for round 1. |
| Prophase 1 | crossing over occurs sharing genetic information from 2 parent cells. |
| Metaphase 2 | unpaired chromosomes align at cells middle. No synthesis has occurred. So only 1 replicated chromosome remains so in anaphase sister chromatids have separated. |
| Law of independent assortment | when one trait is concerned a 3:1 ratio is observed if 2 traits are concerned a 9:3:3:1 ratio is observed. |
| Autosomal recessive | for rare traits, most affective individuals will have unaffected parents, all children of an affected parent are affected, risk of an affected child with homozygous parents for the trait is 25% |
| Autosomal dominant | every affected personal has at least one affected parent. 2 affected individuals can have an unaffected child. |
| X linked recessive | affected males receive mutant allele form their mother and transmit it to ALL daughters but no sons. Daughters of affected makes are usually heterozygous. Sons of heterozygous females have 50% change of being affected. Effect males more than females. |
| X linked dominant | affected males produce ALL affected daughters and NO affected sons. A heterozygous female will transmit the trait to ½ her children. On average 2x as many daughters are affected. |
| Dominant lethal alleles | rarely detected because they are rapidly killed. E.g. Manx cat. |
| Incomplete dominance | both alleles blend effects together. |
| Codominance | both alleles show effects but do not blend. Neither are dominant both expressed. |
| Epistasis | a form of gene interaction where one gene masks the phenotypic expression of another. |
| Pleiotropy | one gene influences multiple phenotypic traits |
| Genetic heterogeneity | when a single phenotype is caused by any one of multiple alleles or loci |
| Allelic heterogeneity | different mutations with a single gene locus |
| Germline mosaicism | presence of 2 or more populations of cells with different genotypes in one individual who has developed form a single fertilised egg. |
| Linkage | 2 or more genes located on the same chromosome that do not show independent assortment and tend to be inherited together. |
| X chromosome | humans use X Y sex chromosomes, only one X chromosome can be expressed at a time. Any other X chromosomes are inactivated. |
| Karyotype | a complete set of chromosomes from a cell that has be photographed during cell division (usually at metaphase) |
| Centromere locations | Metacentric- centrally placed. Submetacentric- a but uneven. Acrocentric- close to one end. Telocentric- at one end of the chromatid. |
| Polyploidy | a chromosomal number that is multiple of the normal haploid number. More than one full chromosome set. |
| Aneuploidy | chromosomal number not exact multiple of haploid. |
| Triploploidy | 3 times copy of autosomes |
| Tetraploidy | four times copy of the autosomes. |
| Autoploidy | each set is identical to parent set. Diploid genome. 2 sperms fertilising one egg. |
| Allotetraploid | polyploid contains 4 haploid genes derived from separate species |
| Amphidiploid | Allotetraploid, where both original species are known |
| DNA | a right-handed double helix structure turning every 10 bases. With a phosphate group, a pentose sugar deoxyribose and a nitrogen containing base. A paring unstably with T and G pairing stably with C. 2 polynucleotides chains held together by hydrogen bonds. |
| Purine | the bases A and G |
| Pyrimidine | Bases C and T |
| Nucleoside | a nitrogen base and a sugar without a phosphate. |
| Nucleotide | a nucleoside plus a phosphate. |
| Polynucleotides | nucleotides are joined together to make a chain. Are directional. Work form the 5 prime end to the 3 prime end with the hydroxyl group. |
| Telomere | sequences at the end of chromosomes that play a critical role in chromosome replication. They keep chromosomes protected and prevent them from fusing into rings. |
| Aneuploidy | change in number of individual chromosomes. Can lead to reproductive failure and birth defects. |
| Monosomy | one member of the chromosome pair is missing. Is lethal in humans. |
| Trisomy | one chromosome is present in 3 copies. Relatively common, most autosomal are lethal (50%). Down-syndrome is trisomy of chromosome 21. |
| Nondisjunction | failure of homologues chromosomes to separate in meiosis, giving rise to aneuploidy. |
