Behavioural Genetics - Glossary

Alternative form of a particular gene

Natural use of different sets of splice junction sequences in a gene, to produce >1 protein product from a single gene
Removing different sections of the gene produces different proteins

Non-random mating
Individuals may choose partners who are similiar to themselves or who are dissimilar

Chromosomes that do not vary with sex of individual

Bundles of proteins and DNA that carry genetic info and reside in the nucleus of the cell

Triplet of nucleotides that either specifies an aa or serves as a termination/STOP signal

Light sensitive cell in the retina
3 types
Colour recognised by comparing relative absorptions of these 3 types

Non-identical
Fraternal

DNase 1 hypersensitive sites are regions of chromatin that are sensitive to cleavage by the enzyme DNase 1
They serve as indicators of sites where transcription factors can potentially bind and control the expression of genes
Cumulatively they correspond to ~21% of the human genome

Dominanct allele produces same phenotype regardless of whether it is homozygous or heterozygous

Gene that encodes the D4 receptor for dopamine
Has variant forms within population
Notorious candidate gene for novelty seeking

Study of modifications (methylation and acetylation of DNA) that affects expression of genes without changing the seqence of DNA

Non-additive interaction between alleles at different loci
When expression of one gene depends on the expression of another gene
Complicates estimates of heritability in MZ and DZ twins

Coding part within gene, transcribed by mRNA
Sequence of aa encoded by exons

Protein produced from a gene
Transcription of DNA into mRNA

Offspring of the first and second generations following mating between 2 inbred strains

Reproductive cell
ie. sperm and egg cells

Basic unit of heredity
Sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and/or non-coding RNA

All DNA sequence of an organism
Coding or non coding
3bill base pairs in humans

Particular combination of alleles that an individual has at a particular locus

Proportion of variance in a particular trait that can be attributed to genetic variations in a given population

Individual who has 2 different versions of a given gene
Different alleles at the same locus

Individual who has same versions of a given gene on both chromosome
Same alleles at same locus

Non coding DNA sections within a gene
Transcribed into mRNA but spliced out before translation into a protein

Particular gene removed from an animal to infer the function of a gene

Degree to which genes are inherited independently
Genes that are physically close on the same chromosome are highly linked and are more likely to be expressed together

Refers to particular position on a chromosome for an individual gene or DNA sequence

RNA that carries a template for synthesis of a protein from nucleus to ribosomes

Identical
Identical genomes

Component of DNA corresponding to basic element of genetic code
Made up of sugar, phosphate and base

Observed characteristic or feature
Genotype + environment

Light absorbing pigment
Found in cones in retina
Also called 'opsins'
Heptahelical structure

Presence in a population of >1 form of a given feature or trait
OR
Presence in a population of >1 alleles of a given gene

Score based on alleles present at thousands of SNPs
Predict part of variance in a particular trait
Eg. personality, intelligence, SCZ

Region outside coding part of gene
Nearby and upstream from a gene
Controls amount, time and place of expression of a gene
RNA polymerase binds to promoter region to initiate transcription of the gene

Allele that only produces effect on phenotypes if homozygous

Process of exchanging corresponding part of homologous chromosomes
During formation of gametes

Genomic variant at a single base position in the DNA that is common in the population (>1%)
Substitution of a single nucleotide
Loci with alleles that differ at a single base, with the rarer allele having a frequency of at least 1% in a random set of individuals in a population
MUTATION : <1% of the total population
SNP : >1% of the total population
Alleles can be caused by SNPs

Feature / behavioural property in which a given species varies

Construction of mRNA from a section of DNA that serves as a template

Conversion from mRNA to protein from aa

Class of disorders where a specific sequence of 3 bases is expanded to a length that produces a dysfunctional phenotype
Eg. Huntington disease, Fragile X Syndrome

Research study where:
Individuals are scored for a phenotypic characteristic or medical condition
Genomes are probed at 1mill+ SNPs in order to establish correlations between certain characteristics and certain genetic variants