Ch 1s

GENETICS 3000 Introduction to Genetics Dr. Kate Tsai Office: 151 P&A Email: ktsai@clemson.edu Phone: 656-2426 Office hours: TBD By appointment Textbook: Klug, et al. Essentials of Genetics, 9th Edition Exams: 4 in-class exams, 1 final Homework: MasteringGenetics Assignments due on Thursday (11:59pm) Computers will be allowed unless they become a distraction Genetics Experimental science of heredity The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics The branch of biology that deals with heredity, especially the mechanisms of hereditary transmission and the variation of inherited characteristics among similar or related organisms. The study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits; relating to genes and genetic information; Also known as heredity Blue-print of life!!!! Genetics Modern Society depends on Genetics Fuel & Fiber Food Modern Medicine and Genetics Biotechnology and Genetics Healthcare Costs Are Over $2 trillion/yr $8608/ person in U.S. (2007) or 17.9% of GDP (2011) Canis lupus familiaris Genetics through history Genetics through the Ages Principles of heredity first demonstrated 10-12,000 years ago (domestication) Artificial fertilization 2880 years ago (Assyrians) Hindu writings 2000 years ago suggest avoiding spouses w/undesirable traits Genetics grew out of a historical need 8000-1000 BC- domestication of animals 5000 BC - Plant cultivation 500 BC-300 BC - Aristotle 1856/1859-Darwin & Mendel 8000 BC 2000 AD 0 Ideas on Human Reproduction and Heredity Pangenesis - specific particles (gemmules) carry information from body to reproductive organs which are passed to embryo at conception (Very early concept) Inheritance of acquired characteristics - Greeks proposed traits acquired in life incorporated into hereditary info and passed on Ex. Artist would pass on art skills to offspring Robert Hooke - 1665, discovered cell using …the microscope Two early ideas: Preformationism- inside egg or sperm is a tiny version of an adult (homunculus) Blending inheritance - offspring are a blend of parents Schwann and Schleiden Proposed the cell theory (1839) Cells are the basic unit of all living things Cells arise from preexisting cells Charles Darwin 1809-1882 Theory of evolution through natural selection On the Origin of Species (1856) - heredity was the fundamental of evolution. Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) Discovered basic principles of heredity (1866) Crossed pea plants and analyzed patterns of transmission We will visit with Mendel later Walter Flemming – observed division of chromosomes (1879) 1885 – hereditary information contained in the nucleus August Weismann Cut off the tails of mice for 22 generations - tail length of descendants did not change Purposed Germ-plasm theory - cells of the reproductive system carry compete set of information Modern Genetics 1902 - Sutton proposed genes are on chromosomes 1953 - James Watson, Francis Crick, and Rosalind Franklin 3D structure of DNA 1966 - the chemical structure of DNA resolved Early 1970s - recombinant DNA technology 1977 - Gilbert and Sanger developed DNA seq. Techniques 1983 - PCR 1995 - complete sequence of an organism 2003 - human genome project is completed Concepts in Genetics Eukaryotes vs. Prokaryotes Genes are the fundamental unit of heredity Alleles - one of several forms of a gene Phenotype vs. Genotype Traits - not inherited, but reflect genotype + environment (= phenotype) DNA and RNA carry genetic info Genes are located on chromosomes Evolution is genetic change