Genes

Topic 3.1: Genes

Essential Idea: Every living organism inherits a blueprint for life from its parents.

At SHS, Topic 3.1 is taught in the following class unit(s):

Genes and Genomes (unit 14)

Statements & Objectives:

3.1.U1 A gene is a heritable factor that consists of a length of DNA and influences a specific characteristic.

Define gene.

3.1.U2 A gene occupies a specific position on a chromosome.

Define gene locus.

3.1.U3 The various specific forms of a gene are alleles.

Define allele.
List two examples of genes with multiple alleles.
State a similarity between alleles of the same gene.

3.1.U4 Alleles differ from each other by one or only a few bases.

State the difference between alleles of the same gene.

3.1.U5 New alleles are formed by mutation.

State the source of new alleles of a gene.
Describe a base substitution mutation.

3.1.U6 The genome is the whole of the genetic information of an organism.

Define genome.
State the size in base pairs of the human genome.

3.1.U7 The entire base sequence of human genes was sequenced in the Human Genome Project.

Define “sequence” in relation to genes and/or genomes.
State the aim of the Human Genome Project.
Outline two outcomes of the Human Genome Project.

3.1.A1 The causes of sickle cell anemia, including a base substitution mutation, a change to the base sequence of mRNA transcribed from it and a change to the sequence of a polypeptide in hemoglobin.

State the cause of sickle cell anemia, including the name of differences in the Hb alleles.
State the difference in amino acid sequences in transcription of normal and mutated Hb mRNA.Outline the consequences of the Hb mutation on the impacted individual.

3.1.A2 Comparison of the number of genes in humans with other species.

State the number of genes in the human genome.
Describe the relationship between the number of genes in a species and the species complexity in structure, physiology and behavior.

3.1.S1 Use of a database to determine differences in the base sequence of a gene in two species.

Explain why cytochrome oxidase 1 is often used to assess the differences in the base sequences of a gene between two species.
Use NCBI to search for COX1 sequences for different species.
Use a computer software tool to create an alignment of the gene sequences between different species.
Outline information that can be determined given gene sequence alignment data.

3.1.NOS Developments in scientific research follow improvements in technology-gene sequencers are used for the sequencing of genes.

Outline the technological improvements that have sped the DNA sequencing process.
Determine a DNA sequence from an electropherogram.

In the News:

Scientists Finally Crack Wheat’s Absurdly Complex Genome (2018-08-16)
Mutation 'hotspots' in DNA: Research could lead to new insights on cancer risks (2018-07-30)
When a DNA Test Shatters Your Identity (2018-07-17)
The Lost Dogs of the Americas (2018-07-05)
New technique could help scientists create a gene in just 1 day (2018-06-18)
Routine DNA Screening Moves Into Primary Care (2018-05-22)
Trio of genes supercharged human brain evolution (2018-05-31)
DNA is not our destiny; it’s just a very useful tool (2018-04-05)
Research signals arrival of a complete human genome (2018-03-19)
Mutating DNA caught on film (2018-03-15)
What’s Behind Many Mystery Ailments? Genetic Mutations, Study Finds (2018-03-15)
Scientists find treasure trove of 110 genes linked to breast cancer (2018-03-08)
Scientists find single letter of genetic code that makes African Salmonella so dangerous (2018-02-27)
Quiescent cells also mutate (2018-02-26)
Complete genomes of extinct and living elephants sequenced (2018-02-26)
The Smiling Axolotl Hides a Secret: A Giant Genome (2018-02-01)
With ‘Downsized’ DNA, Flowering Plants Took Over the World (2018-01-11)
Genes identified that distinguish mammals from other animals (2017-12-04)
The most popular genes in the human genome (2017-11-22)
Rare genetic mutation found in Amish community could combat ageing (2017-11-15)
The Secret to Long Life? It May Lurk in the DNA of the Oldest Among Us (2017-11-13)
Breast cancer study uncovers new genetic variants for increased risk (2017-10-23)
Search Of DNA In Dogs, Mice And People Finds 4 Genes Linked To OCD (2017-10-17)
The future of DNA sequencing (2017-10-11)
FDA advisers back gene therapy for rare form of blindness (2017-10-12)
Gene that influences nicotine dependence identified (2017-10-10)
How this popular pet store bird got its sky-blue hue (2017-10-05)
BRCA1: Mystery of breast cancer risk gene solved, 20 years after its discovery (2017-10-04)
Medicine Nobel awarded for work on circadian clocks (2017-10-02)
'Chemical surgery' used to mend harmful mutations in human embryos (2017-09-28)
Fathers pass on four times as many new genetic mutations as mothers – study (2017-09-20)
First big efforts to sequence ancient African DNA reveal how early humans swept across the continent (2017-09-21)
Beating the Odds for Lucky Mutations (2017-08-16)
Eight genes that make us brainiacs (2015-01-21)
Gene turns female mosquitoes into males (2015-05-21)
Genetic clues to monobrows and bushy beards revealed (2016-03-01)
The Power Of Genes, And The Line Between Biology And Destiny (2016-05-16)
Five genes that give your nose its shape (2016-05-19)
Biologists identify the backup systems that ensure genes build limbs (2016-05-20)
The ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ Helped Scientists Discover a New Gene Tied to A.L.S. (2016-07-27)
Genes underlying dogs' social ability revealed (2016-09-29)
Key to zebra stripes may be found in African mouse (2016-11-02)
The genes that make seahorses so weird (2016-12-14)
We Unravel The Science Mysteries Of Asparagus Pee (2016-12-14)
Three genes could explain why some people are obese but healthy, say scientists (2016-12-21)
Early Alzheimer's Gene Is A Curse For Families, A Gift For Science (2016-12-27)
Why Are Dogs So Friendly? The Answer May Be in 2 Genes (2017-07-19)
Scientists finally pronounce Human Genome (2013-08-15, satire)
Why are some people left-handed? (2013-09-12)
Why a lucky few can eat to their heart's content (2013-10-25)
New contender for 'fat gene' found (2014-03-12)
New genetic variations discovered (2016-09-30)
How the pepper got Its kick (2014-01-19)
Ebola is rapidly mutating as it spreads across west Africa (2014-08-28)
Scientists implicate more than 100 genes in causing autism (2014-10-29)
A single gene may determine why some people get so sick with the flu (2015-03-26)
Spelling mutations and evolutionary advantages (2016-03-18)
Cause of rare immune disease identified (2016-03-30)
A radical revision of human genetics (2016-10-12)
Tiny DNA tweaks made snakes legless (2016-10-20)
The Genetics of Pooched-Out Pooches (2017-05-16)
How a Galapagos Bird Lost the Ability to Fly (2017-06-01)
Scientists Discover a Key Gene to a Longer Life in Male DNA (2017-06-16)
They Were Shorter and at Risk for Arthritis, but They Survived an Ice Age (2017-07-06)
‘We are all mutants now’: the trouble with genetic testing (2017-07-18)
What researchers are learning as they sequence, map, and decode species’ genomes (2014-07-28)
Stress-tolerant tomato relative sequenced (2014-07-28)
Generating a genome to feed the world: African rice sequenced (2014-07-28)
Next generation sequencing shakes up genotype/phenotype correlation, disease discoveries (2014-08-13)
Carrot genome paints picture of domestication, could help improve crops (2016-05-09)
Genome reveals why giraffes have long necks (2016-05-17)
A families shared defect sheds light on the human genome (2017-01-09)
New concerns raised over value of genome-wide disease studies (2017-06-15)
New analysis of rare Argentinian rat unlocks origin of the largest mammalian genome (2017-07-12)
Shrinking Bat DNA and Elastic Genomes (2017-08-01)
How to read the genome and build a human being (2016-02; TED talk)
Humans are still evolving—and we can watch it happen (2016-05-17)
Can New Technology Decode The Biggest Data Set Of All? (2016-09-09)
Big biological datasets map life's networks (2016-10-19)
Analysis of more than 50,000 genomes hints at new disease-causing genes (2016-12-22)
CRISPR deployed to combat sickle-cell anaemia (2016-10-16)
Sequencing at sea: Performing real-time DNA sequencing in the middle of Pacific Ocean (2014-08-19)
AstraZeneca launches project to sequence 2 million genomes (2016-04-22)
Surprisingly few new parents enlist in study to have baby’s genome sequenced (2016-10-19)
How bioinformatics tools are bringing genetic analysis to the masses (2017-02-28)
Routine DNA Sequencing May Be Helpful And Not As Scary As Feared (2017-06-26)