Introductory to

Gregor Mendel

Mendel worked
out how traits can
be recessive

Random
Fertilization

Random
Assortment

The random combination of

chromosomes resulting from pairing
up 1 of the 8.4 million possible
chromosome combinations of a sperm
with 1 of the 8.4 million possibly
chromosome combinations of the egg
(due to independent assortment of
chromosomes during Meiosis. This
comes out to about 70 trillion
combinations, which does not even
factor in the crossing over of genetic
material during Meiosis.

Random assortment takes place within

single parent during meiosis but before
fertilization follows and individual
gametes created through meiosis have
one set of chromosomes. During
fertilization the zygote basically inherits a
mix of all four of its grandparents.

formulated the laws of

heredity based on his
careful breeding
experiments on garden
pea plants.
father of Genetics

Genetic Variation

Natural Selection
Natural selection is the result of the
interactions between genetic variations
in a population and the environment. The
environment determines which variations
are more favorable. More favorable traits
are thereby passed on to the population
as a whole

In genetic variation, the genes of organisms within a

population change. Gene alleles determine distinct
traits that can be passed on from parents to
offspring. Gene variation is important to the process
of natural selection. The genetic variations that arise
in a population happen by chance, but the process of
natural selection does not.

Both made important discoveries

that advanced understanding
of genetics.

Transformation

Conducted one of the first

experiments suggesting that
bacteria are capable of
transferring genetic information
through a process known as
transformation.

Mendel studied how through sexual reproduction

genes could be passed on sometimes skipping
generations and showing up later on in a second or
third generation.
He also relised that this reproduction
was random but occured in a predictable ratio.

DNA that is transferred

from one individual to
another in genetic
transformation

In this experiment, bacteria from the III-S strain were killed

by heat, and their remains were added to II-R strain
bacteria. While neither alone harmed the mice, the
combination was able to kill its host. Griffith was also able
to isolate both live II-R and live III-S strains of
pneumococcus from the blood of these dead mice. Griffith
concluded that the type II-R had been "transformed" into
the lethal III-S strain by a "transforming principle" that was
somehow part of the dead III-S strain bacteria.

temporary union of two single cells

(or hyphae in fungi) with at least
one of them receiving genetic
material from the other: the
bacterial equivalent of sexual
reproduction. A fragment of the
DNA from one bacterium is passed
along a thin tube, the pilus, into
another bacterium.

Eukaryotes
A eukaryote is any
organism whose cells
contain a nucleus and
other structures enclosed
within membranes.

Crossing Over
exchange of genetic
material between
homologous
chromosomes during
prophase I of meiosis

Asexual
Reproduction
reproduction without
the fusion of gametes

Sexual
Reproduction
Creating
Offspring
that differs
genetically

process in which
genetic material from
two parents combines
and produces offspring
that differ genetically
from either parent

reproducing
cells using
mitosis for repair
or replacement

Prokaryotes
reproduce asexually
using mitosis

Prokaryotes

Conjugation

Fredrick Griffith

Sexual Reproduction

Prokaryotes are
organisms without a cell
nucleus, or indeed any
other membrane-bound
organelles, in most cases
unicellular

Mutations

Viruses invade both

prokaryotes and eukaryotes
using transduction to
hijack their cell so that it can
reproduce

A mutation is a change in a
DNA sequence. Mutations can
result from DNA copying
mistakes made during cell
division, exposure to ionizing
radiation, exposure to
chemicals called mutagens, or
infection by viruses.

Transduction
The transfer of genetic
material from one organism
(as a bacterium) to another
by a genetic vector and
especially a bacteriophage.

Viruses can cause mutations

Viruses
(Bacteriaphage)
Method of invasion
so that a Virus
can reproduce

A virus is an infectious agent that

occupies a place near the boundary
between the living and the nonliving. It
is a particle much smaller than a
bacterial cell, consisting of a small
genome of either DNA or RNA
surrounded by a protein coat. Viruses
enter host cells and hijack the
enzymes and materials of the host
cells to make more copies of
themselves. Viruses cause a wide
variety of diseases in plants and
animals, including AIDS, measles,
smallpox, and polio.