Quantitative geneticsStudy of the inheritance of continuously variable traitsQuantitative genetics is the study of quantitative traits, which are phenotypes that vary continuously—such as height or mass—as opposed to phenotypes and gene-products that are discretely identifiable—such as eye-colour, or the presence of a particular biochemical.
Mendelian inheritanceMendelian inheritance (also known as Mendelism) is a type of biologicalinheritance following the principles originally proposed by Gregor Mendel in 1865 and 1866, re-discovered in 1900 by Hugo de Vries and Carl Correns, and later popularized by William Bateson. Its defining characteristic is heavy association with a singular gene. The principles were initially controversial.
PleiotropyPleiotropy (from Ancient Greek (pleíōn)'more' and (trópos)'turn, way, manner, style') is a condition in which a single gene or genetic variant influences multiple phenotypic traits. A gene that has such multiple effects is referred to as a pleiotropic gene. Mutations in pleiotropic genes can affect several traits simultaneously, often because the gene product is used in various cells and affects different biological targets through shared signaling pathways.Quantitative trait locusA quantitative trait locus (QTL) is a genomic locus wherein sequence variation correlates with variation of a quantitative trait. QTLs are mapped by identifying which molecular markers (such as SNPs or AFLPs) correlate with an observed trait. This is often an early step in identifying the actual genes that cause the trait variation.
PhenotypeIn genetics, the phenotype (from Ancient Greek (phaínō)'to appear, show' and (túpos)'mark, type') is the set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism. The term covers all traits of an organism other than its genome, however transitory: the organism's morphology (physical form and structure), its developmental processes, its biochemical and physiological properties whether reversible or irreversible, and all its behavior, such as a peacock's display.
Non-Mendelian inheritanceNon-Mendelian inheritance is any pattern in which traits do not segregate in accordance with Mendel's laws. These laws describe the inheritance of traits linked to single genes on chromosomes in the nucleus. In Mendelian inheritance, each parent contributes one of two possible alleles for a trait. If the genotypes of both parents in a genetic cross are known, Mendel's laws can be used to determine the distribution of phenotypes expected for the population of offspring.
EpistasisEpistasis is a phenomenon in genetics in which the effect of a mutation on a trait is dependent on the presence or absence of mutations at different loci (locations on the genome), that may be on the same gene (intragenic) or on different genes, called modifier genes. In evolutionary genetics, epistasis occurs when the combined effect of two mutations is different from what you would expect by simply adding their individual effects together.
GeneSequence of DNA that determines traits in an organismIn biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of . The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protein-coding genes and non-coding genes. During gene expression (the synthesis of RNA or protein from a gene), DNA is first copied into RNA.
OrganismAn organism is any living thing that functions as an individual. Such a definition raises more problems than it solves, not least because the concept of an individual is also difficult. Several criteria, few of which are widely accepted, have been proposed to define what constitutes an organism. Among the most common is that an organism has autonomous reproduction, growth, and metabolism. This would exclude viruses, even though they evolve like organisms.
Last universal common ancestorAncestor of all current life on EarthPhylogenetic tree linking all major groups of living organisms, namely the bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota, with the last universal common ancestor shown as "LUCA" at the rootThe last universal common ancestor (LUCA) is the hypothesized latest common ancestral population of single-celled organisms from which all subsequent life forms descend under the three-domain system of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
DiabetesGroup of endocrine diseases characterized by high blood sugar levelsMedical conditionDiabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes tends to progress in severity, and is due to either a reduced production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas or unresponsiveness of bodily cells to insulin's effects.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.