Mendelian Genetics

Introduction

Mendelian genetics refers to the fundamental principles of inheritance that were first discovered by Gregor Mendel, a 19th-century monk and scientist. His work laid the foundation for our understanding of how genetic traits are passed from one generation to the next.

Mendel's Laws

Mendel's experiments with pea plants led to the discovery of three key principles of inheritance:

1. Law of Segregation: Each individual has two alleles for a given trait, and these alleles separate during the formation of gametes.
2. Law of Independent Assortment: Alleles for different traits are distributed to gametes independently of one another.
3. Law of Dominance: In a heterozygous individual, one allele will be expressed over the other.

Genotype and Phenotype

Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, while phenotype refers to the observable physical or biochemical characteristics resulting from the genotype.

Punnett Squares

Punnett squares are a useful tool for predicting the outcome of genetic crosses. They allow us to determine the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring based on the genotypes of the parents.

Study Tips

1. Understand the difference between genotype and phenotype.
2. Practice using Punnett squares to solve genetic problems.
3. Review the three laws of Mendelian genetics and understand how they apply to genetic inheritance.
4. Explore examples of Mendelian traits in humans and other organisms.