Mendelian genetics

Mendelian inheritance: This is the foundational principle that explains how traits are transmitted from one generation to the next.

Allele: A variant form of a gene that controls a particular trait.

Dominant and recessive traits: Dominant traits are expressed when a dominant allele is present, while recessive traits are only expressed when two recessive alleles are present.

Homozygous and heterozygous: Homozygous individuals have two identical alleles for a particular gene, while heterozygous individuals have two different alleles.

Punnett square: A diagram that predicts the probability of the offspring inheriting a particular trait from their parents.

Test cross: This is a breeding experiment to determine if an individual is homozygous or heterozygous for a particular trait.

Incomplete dominance: This is when neither allele is completely dominant, and the phenotype of the heterozygote is intermediate between the two homozygotes.

Codominance: This is when both alleles are expressed equally in the phenotype of the heterozygote.

Multiple alleles: Some genes have more than two possible alleles.

Sex-linked inheritance: This is when a gene is located on a sex chromosome (usually the X chromosome) and is inherited differently in males and females.

Pedigree analysis: This is a diagram that shows the inheritance pattern of a particular trait within a family.

Linkage and recombination: This is when genes that are located close together on a chromosome can be inherited together, or may be separated by recombination during meiosis.

Genetic counseling: This is the process of helping individuals and families understand the risks and benefits of testing and the implications of the results.

Simple Dominance: This is the most basic type of Mendelian inheritance, where one allele is dominant over another. If an individual inherits even one dominant allele, they will express that phenotype. The recessive allele will only be expressed in the absence of any dominant alleles.

Incomplete Dominance: In incomplete dominance, neither allele is dominant over the other. Instead, the phenotype of the heterozygote is a blend or mixture of the two homozygous phenotypes.

Co-Dominance: Co-dominance is a type of inheritance in which both alleles of a gene are expressed equally in the phenotype of the heterozygote. In other words, neither allele is dominant over the other; instead, both are expressed.

Multiple Alleles: This is when there are more than two alleles for a particular gene in the population.

Sex-Linked Inheritance: This is when a gene is located on the X or Y chromosome, and its inheritance pattern differs depending on the sex of the individual.

Polygenic Inheritance: Polygenic inheritance involves the interaction of multiple genes to determine a single phenotype.

Linked Genes: Linked genes are located on the same chromosome and tend to be inherited together. However, recombination events can result in new allele combinations.

Epistasis: Epistatic interactions occur when the expression of one gene affects the expression of another gene.

Pleiotropy: Pleiotropy is when a single gene has multiple effects on the phenotype.