Question:
what causes recessive genes to not be expressed? what causes the
different kinds of expression to occur? how are genes inherited
through different types of dominences (ineritance) patterns? what
determines how genes are inherited (through what patterns).
Replies:
Genes code for proteins. You inherit two copies of each gene-one from your
mother and one from your father. Some genes code for proteins that are
structural (ie. collagen), some that are informational (ie. a hormone), and
some that are enzymes. If you inherit a dominant form of the gene you
usually inherit the instructions for making the product. For some genes, you
only need one copy to make enough of the protein to get the job done. In
others, one copy of the gene gives you half the amount you need but that's
enough to keep you healthy. If you inherit the recessive copy, sometimes you
don't make the protein at all. Sometimes it causes you to make a defective
protein that doesn't work as well or not at all. Many times that causes
problems.
NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.