TERMS IN GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING

 

 

 

Allele - A variant form of a gene at a specific locus.

Genotype - The genetic constitution of an individual.

Phenotype - The observable characteristics or traits of an individual.

SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) - A variation at a single nucleotide position in the DNA sequence among individuals.

Haplotype - A combination of alleles or genetic variants that are inherited together from a single parent.

Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) - Non-random association of alleles at different loci.

Heritability - The proportion of observed variation in a trait that can be attributed to genetic variation.

Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) - A region of the genome that is associated with a quantitative trait.

Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) - A study that involves scanning markers across the genomes of many individuals to find associations with traits.

Genomic Selection - A method of predicting the genetic potential of individuals using genomic data.

Polygenic Trait - A trait that is influenced by multiple genes.

Genetic Marker - A specific gene or DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome.

Segregation Analysis - The study of how genetic traits are inherited according to Mendelian principles.

Penetrance - The proportion of individuals with a particular genotype who exhibit the associated phenotype.

Expressivity - The degree to which a phenotype is expressed in individuals with the same genotype.

Mendelian Inheritance - The pattern of inheritance that follows the laws proposed by Gregor Mendel.

Inheritance Pattern - The manner in which genetic traits or disorders are passed from one generation to the next.

Recessive Allele - An allele that only expresses its phenotype when two copies are present.

Dominant Allele - An allele that expresses its phenotype even if only one copy is present.

Locus - The specific physical location of a gene or genetic marker on a chromosome.

Allelic Frequency - The proportion of a specific allele among all allele copies in a population.

Genetic Drift - The random fluctuation in allele frequencies in a population due to chance events.

Population Structure - The presence of subpopulations within a larger population that can affect genetic variation.

Linkage Map - A map of the relative positions of genetic markers on a chromosome based on recombination frequencies.

Genetic Association - The relationship between a genetic variant and a trait or disease.

Interaction Effects - The effects that arise when the influence of one gene on a trait depends on the presence of another gene.

Family-Based Study - A genetic study involving families to investigate the inheritance of traits.

Case-Control Study - A study comparing individuals with a trait (cases) to those without it (controls) to find genetic associations.

Bayesian Analysis - A statistical method that incorporates prior knowledge along with current data to make inferences.

Likelihood Ratio Test - A statistical test used to compare the fit of two models to the data.

Population Genetics - The study of genetic variation within and between populations and the forces that shape this variation.

Genetic Variation - The diversity in gene frequencies within a population.

Copy Number Variation (CNV) - Variations in the number of copies of a particular gene or DNA segment.

Epistasis - Interaction between genes such that the effect of one gene is modified by one or more other genes.

Homozygosity - The state of having two identical alleles at a given locus.

Heterozygosity - The state of having two different alleles at a given locus.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium - The principle that allele and genotype frequencies in a population remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

Genetic Load - The reduction in the average fitness of a population due to the accumulation of deleterious alleles.

Linkage Map Distance - The distance between genetic markers on a linkage map, measured in centimorgans (cM).

Genetic Recombinations - The process of exchanging genetic material between chromosomes during meiosis.

Association Mapping - The process of finding genetic variants associated with traits by scanning the genome.

Penetrance - The proportion of individuals with a specific genotype that actually exhibit the associated phenotype.

Population Stratification - Differences in allele frequencies between subpopulations that can confound genetic association studies.

Genomic Imprinting - Differential expression of an allele depending on whether it is inherited from the mother or father.

Molecular Marker - A DNA sequence used to identify genetic variations.

Recombination Rate - The frequency at which recombination occurs between two loci during meiosis.

Genetic Background - The overall genetic composition of an organism that affects the expression of a particular gene or trait.

Phenotypic Plasticity - The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental changes.

Genotype-Phenotype Map - The relationship between genetic variation and observable traits.

Mendelian Randomization - A method that uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to estimate causal relationships between risk factors and outcomes.

Genetic Linkage - The tendency of genes located close to each other on the same chromosome to be inherited together.

Single Marker Analysis - An analysis method that assesses the association between a single genetic marker and a trait.

Multimarker Analysis - An analysis method that assesses the combined effect of multiple genetic markers on a trait.

Population Genetics Models - Mathematical models used to study the genetic composition of populations and the forces of evolution.

Genetic Bottleneck - A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events or other pressures.

Founder Effect - Reduced genetic diversity resulting from a population descending from a small number of individuals.

Genetic Association Study - Research designed to identify genetic variants associated with traits or diseases.

Quantitative Genetics - The study of genetic control of traits that are influenced by multiple genes.

Genetic Linkage Equilibrium - The state where genetic variants are not associated with each other beyond what would be expected by chance.

Polygenic Risk Score - A score that quantifies an individual's genetic risk for a trait or disease based on multiple genetic variants.

Genetic Mapping - The process of determining the locations of genes on a chromosome.

Bioinformatics - The application of computational tools to analyze and interpret biological data.

Genome-Wide Scanning - A method to scan the entire genome for genetic variants associated with traits.

Variance Component Analysis - A statistical method to partition the variance in a trait into genetic and environmental components.

Epigenetics - The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.

Structural Variants - Large-scale changes in the structure of chromosomes, such as deletions, duplications, and inversions.

Genetic Correlation - The degree to which genetic factors that influence one trait also influence another trait.

Genetic Cross - A breeding experiment used to study the inheritance of traits by mating individuals with different genotypes.

Simulation Studies - Studies that use computer models to simulate genetic processes and predict outcomes.

Genomic Prediction - The use of genetic data to predict the performance or risk of traits in individuals.

Marker-Assisted Selection - A breeding method that uses molecular markers to select individuals with desirable traits.

Gene-Environment Interaction - The interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors that affect phenotype.

QTL Mapping - The process of identifying quantitative trait loci associated with a particular trait.

Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis - A method to identify regions of the genome linked to traits or diseases.

DNA Sequencing - The process of determining the nucleotide sequence of DNA.

Population Genetics Theory - The theoretical framework for understanding the genetic composition of populations and evolutionary processes.

Haplotype Block - A region of the genome where genetic variants are inherited together more often than expected by chance.

Selection Pressure - The force exerted by natural or artificial selection on a population's genetic makeup.

Genetic Equilibrium - The state in which allele and genotype frequencies remain constant in a population.

Functional Genomics - The study of the relationship between genes and their functions in the context of the whole genome.

Genotype Imputation - The statistical prediction of missing genotype data based on known genetic information.

Marker-Linked Gene - A gene that is located near a genetic marker used for mapping.

Recessive Inheritance - A pattern where a trait is expressed only when two copies of the recessive allele are present.

Dominant Inheritance - A pattern where a trait is expressed even when only one copy of the dominant allele is present.

Genomic Diversity - The variety of genetic differences within and between populations.

Fitness - The reproductive success of an individual relative to other individuals in the population.

Genetic Segregation - The separation of alleles during gamete formation, leading to their inheritance in offspring.

Mendelian Traits - Traits that are determined by a single gene with a simple inheritance pattern.

Polygenic Traits - Traits that are influenced by multiple genes and often show continuous variation.

Genetic Drift - The random fluctuation in allele frequencies due to chance events.

Molecular Evolution - The study of changes in genetic sequences over time and their evolutionary implications.

Genotype-Environment Interaction - The way in which genetic and environmental factors interact to influence phenotype.

Functional Annotation - The process of assigning functional information to genes or genetic variants.

Genetic Linkage Analysis - The study of the co-segregation of genetic markers with traits in families.

Statistical Genetics - The application of statistical methods to genetic data to understand genetic influences on traits.

Allelic Association - The correlation between genetic variants and traits or diseases.

Genomic Resources - Tools and databases that provide information about genetic sequences, markers, and traits.

Gene Mapping - The process of determining the locations of genes on chromosomes.

Variance Partitioning - The process of dividing the total variance of a trait into genetic and environmental components.

Phenotypic Variation - The diversity in observable traits among individuals in a population.