2.3.2 Biochemical characterization Biochemical characterization has been shown to give discrete

This report presents an overview to: meiosis, chromosomes, traits, genotypes, and phenotypes displayed in the evolution of fast plants. Studying how the genetic information can be passed along one generation to the following. Also, learning various techniques to determine the possible genotypes of the four Wisconsin Fast Plants provided by analyzing the offspring and observing the phenotypic variation within them. Predicting that the parent plant was heterozygous with the first generation also displaying heterogeneous characteristics of non- purple stem/ Green leaves. And discovering that the null hypothesis was rejected for the chi-square being less than 5% meaning the observed phenotypes were due by chance.

The black walnut, J. nigra has varying levels of disease resistance (Hefty et. al. preprint). Black walnut is native to eastern North America but is grown throughout the west for its nuts and wood in orchards. In its native range, the tree has a high degree of resistance to TCD. However, in its non-native range it has much higher levels of disease susceptibility. Genetic differences likely underlie this variation in disease resistance. I propose to conduct a population genetics study utilizing association mapping to determine if there is a genetic determinant behind this variation. If there is a genetic backing, the analysis will identify loci in the J. nigra genome that contribute to TCD resistance. The loci for resistance in J. nigra will likely be at a similar location in the genome in other species of Juglans. The discovery of the loci responsible for TCD resistance in walnut will allow for selective breeding of disease resistant trees.

Our hypothesis was that there would be no difference between the actual phenotypic ratio and predicted phenotypic ratio of the ear of corn labelled G. As each row of corn was being counted and recorded, a trend appeared, revealing that purple-smooth corn kernels were by far the most common, followed by purple-wrinkled and yellow-smooth corn kernels, with yellow-wrinkled corn kernels appearing the least. The corn kernels appeared in this pattern because the corn kernel with two dominant traits (purple being the dominant color, along with smooth being the dominant texture) would take precedence over the recessive yellow color and wrinkled

No one particular organism is an exact replica of another. Diversity in the world is key for future generations to adapt to the fast changing world. This lab observed the corn plant of the Zea mays species to determine the genotype for the gene of tall versus dwarf in unknown parent corn plants by observing the seedlings produced. It was hypothesized that one parent is heterozygous while the other is homozygous recessive. The predicted results were that half of the seedlings would contain the tall gene and the other half would have the dwarf gene. Plants were grown for two weeks under

The results of genetic crosses between teosinte and maize in the 1960’s suggested that the major morphological changes in maize are due to mutations in just five genes. The researchers of this gene hypothesized that the cause of phenotypic change in maize resulted at the regulatory region. The regulatory region is a segment of DNA in which proteins bind and thus control the gene expression of different aspects of the plant. Therefore, one goal of this study was to determine if the

Grain amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) consist three cultivated species namely, A. caudatus L., A. cruentus L., and A. hypochondriacus L. In ancient times, grain amaranths were basic and staple crops in the Americas, where these originated before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors (Sauer 1950). From the archaeological records, the history of their cultivation has been considered to be about 6,000 years (Sauer 1969). Thus, it is expected that these three grain species had accumulated genetic variation in their population throughout this long period. To evaluate genetic variation is important for genetic improvement of the crop. Local and exotic germplasm can be used as a source of genetic variation. At the same time, a large scale of analysis

Since the beginning of agricultural farming, farmers have utilized processes of selection and sorts of “cross-breeding” in order to improvise upon the quality of the crops that they farm. The process of selection consists of a very systematic means of selecting crops and plants that have fertilized in a superior mode than that of sister plants from the same crop. The utilization of these superior crops helps to ensure more consistent plants and crops that reflect that of the superior selection. Crop selection may also refer to the specific types of crops chosen for agricultural farming. These selections are based on the simplicity of farming that crop and it’s profitability (Bareja, 2011). “Cross-breeding” in farming and agriculture consists of the

Say you’re growing some corn and don’t want it to die from a disease that’s been spreading around recently. The first thing you’re going to want to do is select a trait you want, which in this case, is disease resistance (Powell 2015). 2. Next, you’re going to find a plant that has that disease resistance, and isolate that gene by using a comparative analysis, or looking side by side at the genes of a plant with the trait and one without it (Powell

In order to test whether the curry leaf possesses one of the 6 alleles and whether it has a Ruby gene promoter, PCR and gel electrophoresis was used. Primers, short DNA sequences designed specifically for each allele of the Ruby gene, were used to isolate the gene and amplify it for PCR. Multiple PCRs were performed, each using a different primer set. Primers attach to specific regions surrounding the gene and amplify only the region that is flanked. The forward primer is bound to a specific sequence before the Ruby promoter, found to precede the actual gene sequence, and the reverse primer is bound to the DNA after the gene. In order for visible bands for gel electrophoresis to be produced, a forward primer must bind to one strand of DNA and a reverse primer must bind to the strand complementary to the one the forward primer binds to. If both primers bind to the same strand, the PCR product formed will not produce a result after gel electrophoresis. The size of the gel band of the DNA amplified by the primer will determine the identity of the allele. Band sizes will

DNA barcoding uses standard genetic markers to compare DNA sequences among existing species by scanning for polymorphisms in standard sequences to differentiate between species (Hartvig, 2015). It is effective in differentiating between phenotypically similar species and is applicable to all organisms of life (Dudu, 2016). For DNA barcoding, the DNA is isolated from a sample and standard genetic markers are amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A polymorphism is differences in DNA sequence that accumulate over time (Albert, 2011). The main source of mutations occurs during DNA replication and, thus mutations can be inherited. When the frequency of the mutation increases, it can become fixed in a lineage (Albert, 2011). Polymorphisms can indicate common ancestry among individuals by comparing standardized sequences across a species (Stoneking, 2001). Specifically, one region in the

The main goal of our group project was to use a series of different laboratory techniques to build a phylogenetic tree, or a graphical representation of the evolutionary lineage and relations of a set of organisms. Essentially, we aimed to isolate the 5.8S rRNA (a small RNA molecule found in the ribosome) in a collected specimen. After collecting our samples on a field trip, we analyzed their physical characteristics. I chose to collect a sample of a purple flower. A few defining characteristics of my flower were its elliptic leaf shape, rounded leaf bases, petiolate attachment, and monochasium inflorescence type. After close analysis, I was able to identify my sample as a petunia. Next, we extracted and purified our samples using liquid nitrogen,

In order to become biologically literate one must ask questions of the many aspects of life (Daempfle, 2016). These questions will help the person to develop this way of thinking, or the power to think like a scientist. When one thinks like a scientist they can understand, interpret, and make meaning from the many aspects of life. All in order to make proper decisions with the use of biology and technology.

Using simulation, they showed that the breeding value could be predicted with an accuracy of 0.85 from marker data alone. The major limitation to the implementation of genomic selection has been the large number of markers required and the cost of genotyping these markers (Grapes et al. 2004). Recently both these limitations have been overcome in most livestock species following the sequencing of the livestock genomes, the subsequent availability of hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). As a result of these developments there are many livestock breeding companies planning to implement genomic selection in the near future (Grapes et al. 2004). Statistical analysis to calculate EBV from genome-wide DNA markers it is convenient to think of the process in three steps:

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers are analyzed by using PCR to amplify the segments of nuclear DNA. The use of a single primer (usually 8–10 bp long) that attaches to both strands of DNA and low annealing temperatures increases the likeli¬hood of amplifying multiple regions representing a particular locus (Welsh and McClelland, 1990). Although RAPD is a simple and inexpensive technique its major limitation is the inability to differentiate between homozygote and heterozygote; this marker is therefore regarded as a dominant type. This technique is based on the use of short, arbitrary primers in PCR reaction and can be used to produce relatively detailed and complex DNA profiles

Genetically modified crops (GMCs) are also referred to as biotech crops and are plants which are used in Agriculture. Their genes (DNA) are modified through genetic engineering methods with an objective of introducing a new trait that is not found in the natural species. Genetic engineering is the manipulation of the genes of the crop by use of biotechnology. First, genetic engineers select which genes they want to insert into the crop and then a genetic screen is done to determine the potential genes. Genomic sequencing technique is used to find the suitable gene that can be used in the process. The next stage is the isolation of the candidate gene whereby the cell containing the gene is