NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Trait (biology)

In biology, a trait or character is a feature of an organism. The term phenotype is sometimes used as a Dildo for trait in common use, but strictly speaking, does not indicate the trait, but the state of that trait (e.g., the trait eye color has the phenotypes blue, brown and hazel). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Individuals in the mollusk species Donax variabilis show diverse coloration and patterning in their phenotypes. ... Eye color is a polygenic trait and is determined primarily by the amount and type of pigments present in the eyes iris. ...

Definition

A trait may be any single feature or quantifiable measurement of an organism. However, the most useful traits for genetic analysis are present in different forms in different individuals. Genetic testing allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and can also be used to determine a persons ancestry. ...

A visible trait is the final product of many molecular and biochemical processes. In most cases, information starts with DNA traveling to RNA and finally to protein (ultimately affecting organism structure and function). This is the Central Dogma of molecular biology as stated by Francis Crick. Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. ... Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes and transformations in living organisms. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... The central dogma of molecular biology (sometimes Cricks central dogma after Francis Crick who coined the term and discovered some of the principles) states that the flow of genetic information is DNA to RNA to protein. With a few notable exceptions, all biological cells conform to this rule. ... Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. ... Francis Harry Compton Crick OM FRS (8 June 1916 â€“ 28 July 2004) was an English molecular biologist, physicist, and neuroscientist, who is most noted for being one of the co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953. ...

This information flow may also be followed through the cell as it travels from the DNA in the nucleus, to the Cytoplasm, to the Ribosomes and the Endoplasmic Reticulum, and finally to the Golgi Apparatus, which may package the final products for export outside the cell. Drawing of the structure of cork as it appeared under the microscope to Robert Hooke from Micrographia which is the origin of the word cell. Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms. ... The eukaryotic cell nucleus. ... Organelles. ... Figure 1: Ribosome structure indicating small subunit (A) and large subunit (B). ... The endoplasmic reticulum or ER is an organelle found in all eukaryotic cells that is an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles and cisternae that is responsible for several specialized functions: Protein translation, folding, and transport of proteins to be used in the cell membrane (e. ... Diagram of the endomembrane system in a typical eukaryote cell Micrograph of Golgi apparatus, visible as a stack of semicircular black rings near the bottom. ...

Cell products are released into the tissue, and organs of an organism, to finally affect the physiology in a way that produces a trait. Biological tissue is a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism. ... In biology, an organ (Latin: organum, instrument, tool) is a group of tissues that perform a specific function or group of functions. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man, an important early achievement in the study of physiology. ...

Environmental origin

The environment plays a large role in the determination of traits. This is natural as all organisms must have input (and output) of energy and matter in order to maintain their overall elevated energy state. An energy level is a quantified stable energy, which a physical system can have; the term is most commonly used in reference to the electron configuration of electrons, in atoms or molecules. ...

Genetic origin of traits in diploid organisms

The heritable unit that may produce a trait is called a gene. A gene is a strand of DNA that is part of a very long and compacted string of DNA called a chromosome. An important reference point along this string is the centromere; the distance from a gene to the centromere is referred to as the gene's locus or map location. A chromosomal region known to control a trait while the responsible gene within not being identified is referred to as a quantitative trait locus. For other meanings of this term, see gene (disambiguation). ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms. ... Schematic representation of the assembly of the core histones into the nucleosome. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms. ... THERE ARE NOW 30 CHROMOSOMES!!!!!! Figure 1: A representation of a condensed eukaryotic chromosome, as seen during cell division. ... The centromere is a region of chromosomes with a special sequence and structure. ... Short and long arms Chromosome. ... Quantitative trait locus (QTL) is a region of DNA that is associated with a particular trait (e. ...

The nucleus of a diploid cell contains two of each chromosome, with homologous (mostly identical) pairs of chromosomes having the same genes at the same loci. In biology, two or more structures are said to be homologous if they are alike because of shared ancestry. ... The word locus (plural loci) is Latin for place: In biology and evolutionary computation, a locus is the position of a gene (or other significant sequence) on a chromosome. ...

Mendelian expression of genes in diploid organisms

A gene is only a DNA code sequence; the slightly different variations of that sequence are called alleles. Alleles can be significantly different and produce different product RNAs. RNA codons. ... For the hard rock band, see Allele (band). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Combinations of different alleles thus go on to generate different traits through the information flow charted above. For example, if the alleles on homologous chromosomes exhibit a "simple dominance" relationship, the trait of the "dominant" allele shows in the phenotype. An allele is any one of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given locus (position) on a chromosome. ... The central dogma of molecular biology (sometimes Cricks central dogma after Francis Crick who coined the term and discovered some of the principles) states that the flow of genetic information is DNA to RNA to protein. With a few notable exceptions, all biological cells conform to this rule. ... THERE ARE NOW 30 CHROMOSOMES!!!!!! Figure 1: A representation of a condensed eukaryotic chromosome, as seen during cell division. ... Individuals in the mollusk species Donax variabilis show diverse coloration and patterning in their phenotypes. ...

Gregor Mendel pioneered modern genetics. His most famous analyses were based on clear-cut traits with simple dominance. He determined that the heritable units, what he called "genes", occurred in pairs and could exhibit linkage. His tool was statistics: long before the molecular model of DNA was introduced by James D. Watson and Francis Crick. Gregor Johann Mendel (July 20, 1822[1] â€“ January 6, 1884) was a German-Czech Augustinian priest and scientist often called the father of modern genetics for his study of the inheritance of traits in pea plants. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other meanings of this term, see gene (disambiguation). ... Genetic linkage occurs when particular alleles are inherited jointly. ... Template:Otherusescccc A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms. ... Sir James Dewey Watson KBE(Hon) ForMemRS (born April 6, 1928) is an American scientist, best known as one of the discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule. ... Francis Harry Compton Crick OM FRS (8 June 1916 â€“ 28 July 2004) was an English molecular biologist, physicist, and neuroscientist, who is most noted for being one of the co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953. ...

Biochemistry of dominance and extensions to expression of traits

The biochemistry of the intermediate proteins determines how they interact in the cell. Therefore, biochemistry predicts how combinations of different alleles will produce varying traits. Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes and transformations in living organisms. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Philosophy of science studies the philosophical assumptions, foundations, and implications of science, including the formal sciences, natural sciences, and social sciences. ...

Extended expression patterns seen in diploid organisms include facets of incomplete dominance, codominance, and multiple alleles. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with dominance relationship. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with incomplete dominance. ... An allele is any one of a number of viable DNA codings of the same gene (sometimes the term refers to a non-gene sequence) occupying a given locus (position) on a chromosome. ...

See also

Category: Classical genetics For a non-technical introduction to the topic, please see Introduction to genetics. ... A skill is an ability, usually learned, to perform actions. ... Genetic linkage occurs when particular alleles are inherited jointly. ... Morphogenesis is also the name of a band. ... Individuals in the mollusk species Donax variabilis show diverse coloration and patterning in their phenotypes. ... The genotype-phenotype distinction refers to the fact that while genotype and phenotype of an organism are related, they do not necessarily coincide. ... In ecology and genetics, a norm of reaction describes the pattern of phenotypic expression of a single genotype across a range of environments. ... Gene-environment interaction is a term used to describe any phenotypic effects that are due to interactions between the environment and genes. ... Heritability, as used professionally in genetics, has a very precise definition. ... Quantitative genetics is the study of continuous traits (such as height or weight) and its underlying mechanisms. ... Genetic architecture refers to the underlying genetic basis of a phenotypic trait. ... It has been suggested that dominant allele be merged into this article or section. ... Epistasis takes place when the action of one gene is modified by one or more others that assort somewhat independently. ... Inheritance of quantitative traits refers to the inheritance of a phenotypic characteristic that varies in degree and can be attributed to the interactions between two or more genes and their environment (also called Polygenic inheritance). ... Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene influences multiple phenotypic traits. ... We dont have an article called Phenotypic plasticity Start this article Search for Phenotypic plasticity in. ... Norms of reaction for two genotypes. ... In evolutionary biology, fitness landscapes or adaptive landscapes are used to visualize the relationship between genotypes (or phenotypes) and replicatory success. ... In Biology, while the subject of genetics focuses on how organisms can inherit traits by inheriting genes from their parent(s), which encode information for cell function as sequences of DNA, epigenetics is sometimes used to refer to additional methods of biological inheritance that do not directly relate to the... A maternal effect, in genetics, is the phenomena where the genotype of a mother is expressed in the phenotype of its offspring. ... Dual inheritance theory, (or DIT), in sharp contrast to the notion that culture overrides biology, posits that humans are products of the interaction between biological evolution and cultural evolution. ... Vertebrates have a segmented vertebral column and brain. ... Many organisms consist of modules, both anatomically and in their metabolism. ... Evolvability is a concept in that relates ability of a particular phenotype to be robust to mutations. ... Mutational robustness describes the extent to which an organisms phenotype remains constant in spite of mutation. ... The evolution of sex is a major puzzle in modern evolutionary biology. ... Conrad Hal Waddington (1905 â€” 1975), known to his friends as Wad, was a developmental biologist, paleontologist, geneticist, embryologist and philosopher. ... Richard Lewontin Richard Charles Dick Lewontin (born March 29, 1929) is an American evolutionary biologist, geneticist and social commentator. ... The Nature vs Nurture debates concerns the relative importance of an individuals innate qualities (nature) versus personal experiences (nurture) in determining or causing individual differences in physical and behavioral traits. ... This is a list of topics in evolutionary biology and evolution. ...

Contents

Environmental origin

Genetic origin of traits in diploid organisms

Mendelian expression of genes in diploid organisms

Biochemistry of dominance and extensions to expression of traits

See also