BIO 250 READING TASK 1
What is a Gene?
What is a gene?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Mendelian (classical genetical) concept: Discrete unit of
inheritance
Morgan (chromosome theory) concept: Locus on a chromosome
Watson and Crick (DNA structure) concept: sequence of
nucleotides – think BIO 110!!
Beadle and Tatum I (biochemical) concept: one gene-one
enzyme
Beadle and Tatum II (biochemical) concept: one gene-one
protein
Beadle and Tatum III (biochemical) concept: one gene-one
polypeptide
Modern I (transcriptional) concept: one gene-one RNA
Modern II (post-transcriptional) concept: one gene-more than
one type of RNA (especially in eukaryotic systems)
Reading Task
• The concept of a ‘gene’ means different things
to different individuals.
• Review the way the concept has evolved from
Mendelian to Modern II times.
• Write short notes, between 3 – 5 sentences on
each of the eight concepts of the gene, as
formulated above.
• Email your write-up by Thursday May 24, 2012
to [email protected]