GENETICS

 Genes- A gene is in effect a section of

chromosomal DNA that gives the code for
particular characteristics. A gene is always
found in the same location on a given
chromosome, but the genes themselves can
take different forms. For example, one gene
determines whether you are right or left
handed.
 Alleles- This gene has two different forms or
alleles.The allele for right – handedness in
humans is denoted by R while the gene is for
left- handedness is denoted by r.

NB: Each chromosome in a pair carries one

allele for each particular characteristic. In
a pair of chromosomes you can either have
two identical alleles ( RR or rr) or you can
have two different alleles (Rr or rR)
 Dominant- Usually one of the alleles is
stronger. This allele is said to be dominant and
it controls what happen when the characteristic
is passed on. For example , R is dominant , so a
right- handed person would have either the
RR alleles or the Rr alleles.
 Recessive- only people with the rr
combinations of alleles will be left handed. We
say that the allele for left-handedness is
recessive.
 Genotype- This describes the genetic make-up
of all the genes of an individual. (When you
write down the kinds of alleles on a
chromosome for example RR)
 Phenotype- The physical appearance of each
individual is known as the phenotype ( for
example right- handed)
 Homozygous- when an individual carries two
identical alleles (RR or rr), we say that the
individual is homozygous.
 Heterozygous- When an individual carries two
different alleles (for example Rr) we say the
individual is heterozygous.
Each cell in the body has a specific number of
chromosomes, arranged in homologous pairs. In
humans, each cell of the body contains 23 pairs of
chromosomes to give 46 chromosomes in all. Gametes
(sperm, i.e. spermatozoa in males, and eggs, i.e. ova in
females) have only 23 chromosomes. This is half the
number of chromosomes in each body cell.

Each living organism has a specific number of

chromosomes in each cell. Different species have
different numbers of chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs,
cats have 19 pairs, chickens have 18 pairs etc.
When a new organism is formed, the chromosome
number in each cell must remain the same.
 CELL DIVISION BY MITOSIS
You have seen that each new daughter cell formed by cell
division must have the correct number of chromosomes.
In the cells of the body, which have 46 chromosomes,
cell division takes place by mitosis.

Mitosis divides the chromosomes of the parent cell into

two identical groups. Cells that divide through mitosis to
receive the full number of chromosomes from their
parent cells and, in turn, pass these on to their daughter
cells are described as having diploid (2n) number of
 Cont’d
Chromosomes.
 IMPORTANCE OF MITOSIS
Because daughter cells each receive an identical full
(diploid) set of chromosomes from the parent cell,
daughter cells and the parent cell are genetically
identical. This is why mitosis is the way in which living
things repair damage to the body, grow and reproduce
asexually. For example:
▪ Parent cheek cells divide by mitosis into identical
daughter cheek cells.
▪ Parent skin cells divide by mitosis into identical
daughter skin cells
 Parent root cells divide by mitosis into identical
daughter root cells.