PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN GENETICS By Hailey Reiss

THE BEGINNING OF GENETICS

Why is Mendel known as the “Father

of Genetics”?

Gregor Johann Mendel

• Mendel was an Austrian monk who resided in a monastery in Brunn, Moravia

• He was born on July 22nd, 1822, and died in 1884

• He was made an Abbott in 1868 until his death.

He tracked specific traits through many different generations, and found the following three ratios: 100% had the trait, 75% had the trait, or 50% had the trait.

These results were similar, regardless if he was looking for height, color, texture, etc.

Mendel dedicated his life to discovering the secrets to genetics.

To find out about genetics, Mendel crossbred pea plants and then studied the following physical traits: the height of the pea plants (Tall/short), the flower color (White/purple), and the pea’s texture (Smooth/wrinkled).

Discovering Genetics

What Did Mendel Discover?

Phenotypes and Genotypes: how something appears, and an internal element that gives the external characteristic respectively.

Dominant and recessive genes

Heterozygous and homozygous genes

Some genes have only partial dominance

Every now and then, a new characteristic appeared in the pea plants. This is called a genetic mutation.

New Laws

Law of Segregation50% of sperm/egg cells carry on gene of a specific trait, and 50% carry the

other.

Law of Independent Assortment

Genes for different characteristics are passed on independently of one another. This is only true if the genes

are on different chromosomes.

GENETICS NOWIs genetic

engineering helping or endangering the agricultural world?

Genetic Engineering: A Brief OverviewGenetic engineering is the use of

technology to alter the genetic material of an organism.

o Genetic engineering really started to kick off in the 1980’s.

o It’s used in many fields, but has become a key role in agriculture and medicine.

Technique 1: Bacterial Vector

Technique 2: Biolistics

First Successes

• The first success was a tobacco plant in 1983, to make it resistant to an antibiotic

• The first food success was the Flavr Savr tomato in 1993. This tomato had a delayed ripening, so it remained firmer in transportation.

Positives

Genetic engineering is a possible solution for eliminating world hunger.

Genetically modified plants grow faster, produce more, and are resistant to pests.

Researchers are testing the possibility to grow plants that can survive in hot deserts and salt-rich soil.

Negatives

“Superweeds” could be created, and certain insects could become extinct.

Biodiversity has decreased.

GMO could produce substances that could be harmful to people with allergies to them.

Unpredictable outcomes for the plants are possible. It’s still a relatively new technology.

In Conclusion…

Opinions on genetic engineering are, unfortunately, clouded by political and economical views. But, we wouldn’t even be here, debating on whether or not genetic engineering is helpful or hurtful, if it wasn’t for Gregor Mendel using physical science to discover genetics.

WORK CITED

Freedman, Jeri. Everything You Need to Know About Genetically Modified Foods. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2003. Print.

Wanjie, Anne. The Basics of Genetics. New York: Rosen Group, 2014. Print.

Freedman, Jeri. How Do We Know About Genetics and Heredity. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2005. Print.