From pedigree cats to fluffy-bunnies

Jacob Dunningham1, Alexander Rau, Keith Burnett

  • 1Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 12, 2005
PubMed

Related Concept Videos

Pedigree Analysis01:35

Pedigree Analysis

Overview
Epistasis01:39

Epistasis

In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
Test Cross01:39

Test Cross

Alleles are different forms of the same gene. Humans and other diploid organisms inherit two alleles of every gene, one from each parent.
Non-nuclear Inheritance01:29

Non-nuclear Inheritance

Most DNA resides in the nucleus of a cell. However, some organelles in the cell cytoplasm⁠—such as chloroplasts and mitochondria⁠—also have their own DNA. These organelles replicate their DNA independently of the nuclear DNA of the cell in which they reside. Non-nuclear inheritance describes the inheritance of genes from structures other than the nucleus.
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Test Cross01:39

Test Cross

Alleles are different forms of the same gene. Humans and other diploid organisms inherit two alleles of every gene, one from each parent.