Understandings:
- Mendel discovered the principles of inheritance with experiments in which large numbers of pea plants were crossed.
- Gametes are haploid so contain only one allele of each gene.
- The two alleles of each gene separate into different haploid daughter nuclei during meiosis.
- Fusion of gametes results in diploid zygotes with two alleles of each gene that may be the same allele or different alleles.
- Dominant alleles mask the effects of recessive alleles but co-dominant alleles have joint effects.
- Many genetic diseases in humans are due to recessive alleles of autosomal genes, although some genetic diseases are due to dominant or co-dominant alleles.
- Some genetic diseases are sex-linked. The pattern of inheritance is different with sex-linked genes due to their location on sex chromosomes.
- Many genetic diseases have been identified in humans but most are very rare.
- Radiation and mutagenic chemicals increase the mutation rate and can cause genetic diseases and cancer.
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Theory of knowledge:
- Mendel’s theories were not accepted by the scientific community for a long time. What factors would encourage the acceptance of new ideas by the scientific community?
Utilization:
- Syllabus and cross-curricular links:
- Biology
- Topic 1.6 Cell division
Aims:
- Aim 8: Social implications of diagnosis of mutations, including the effects on the family and stigmatization.
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