Operon
group of genes transcribed into one mRNA
Operator
site to which repressor binds.
Repressor
negative regulator
Trans-acting elements
can diffuse through the cytoplasms and act at target DNA sites on any
DNA molecule in the cell.
cis-acting elements
Can influence only the expression of adjacent genes on the same DNA molecule.
Reporter gene
Often fused to regulatory regions of genes whose expression is being monitored.
Repressors
bind to enhancers (prevent transcription initiation)
CpG
site of DNA methylation.
insulator
organizes enhancer/promoter interactions (DNA that forms loop from chromatin).
Enhancer
activates gene transcription temporal and tissue specifically.
Basal factors
bind to promoters.
Transgene
gene transferred by a scientist into an organism's genome
TALEN
synthetic restriction enzyme
Knockout mouse
loss-of-function mutant through gene targeting.
GM organism
plant or animal that carries a transgene
CRISPR/Cas9
genome editing technology ( Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short
Palindromic Repeats)
Green fluorescent protein
a tag used to follow proteins in living cells.
Genetic mosaics
individuals with cells of more than one genotype.
Segmentation genes
divide the body into identical units (segments) .
Homeotic genes
assign identity to body segments.
Morophogen
substance whose concentration determines cell fates.
Checkpoints
control progress in the cell cycle in response to DNA damage.
Growth Factor receptor
Protein that binds a hormone
oncogenes
mutations in these genes are dominant for cancer formation.
apoptosis
Programmed cell death.
cyclin-dependent protein kinases
cell cycle enzymes that phosphorylate proteins.
tumor-suppressor genes
mutations in these genes are recessive at cellular levels for cancer formation.
Fitness
ability to survive and reproduce.
Genetic drift
chance fluctuations in allele frequency
Fixation
p=1.0
gene pool
collection of alleles carried by all members of a population.
biological ancestors
who begat whom. two biological parents, four grandparents, 8 great
grandparents and so on....... This is a set number as long as they
weren't related.
complex traits
intelligence or personality. influenced by many factors, including
multiple genes , environment.
broad sense heritability
H^2=VG/Vp
genetic variation/ phenotypic variance
narrow sense heritability
proportion of total variance due specifically to variance of the
additive genetic component. VA/Vp=h^2
genetic variance/component of overall genetic variance.
heritability
proportion of total phenotypic variance attributed to genetic variance.
QTL
genes contributing to complex traits. (Quantitative trait loci)
NILs
nearly isogenic lines. first step in fine mapping procedures.