Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

1. Introduction to Genetics

History of Genetics

Genetics

1. Introduction to Genetics

History of Genetics

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1:14 minutes

Problem 14a

Textbook Question

Briefly describe the contribution each of the following people made to the development of genetics or genetic analysis.
Archibald Garrod

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Archibald Garrod was a British physician who made significant contributions to the field of genetics by studying inherited metabolic disorders.

He proposed the concept of 'inborn errors of metabolism,' suggesting that certain diseases are caused by defects in specific biochemical pathways due to genetic mutations.

Garrod's work on alkaptonuria, a condition where the body cannot properly break down homogentisic acid, demonstrated that this disorder followed Mendelian inheritance patterns.

He was one of the first to link genes to enzymes, laying the groundwork for the 'one gene-one enzyme' hypothesis later developed by Beadle and Tatum.

Garrod's research emphasized the importance of studying rare genetic disorders to understand broader principles of human genetics and biochemistry.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Archibald Garrod was a pioneer in the study of inborn errors of metabolism, which are genetic disorders caused by the absence or malfunction of specific enzymes. He proposed that these conditions were hereditary and linked to specific genes, laying the groundwork for understanding how genetic mutations can lead to metabolic diseases.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Garrod's work on phenylketonuria (PKU) was significant in demonstrating how a single genetic defect could lead to a specific metabolic disorder. He showed that individuals with PKU could not properly metabolize phenylalanine, leading to severe health issues, thus highlighting the relationship between genes and metabolic pathways.

Genetic Analysis and Mendelian Inheritance

Garrod's contributions also emphasized the importance of Mendelian inheritance in understanding genetic disorders. He was one of the first to apply Mendel's principles to human diseases, suggesting that certain traits and conditions could be inherited in predictable patterns, which was crucial for the development of genetic analysis.

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