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Biology Form IV BIO-F4-04 ✓ Verified TIE Syllabus

Genetics and Variation

Comprehensive introduction to classical and molecular genetics: DNA and RNA structure, Mendelian laws of inheritance, monohybrid crosses, codominance, sex determination, sex-linked traits, gene mutations, and phenotypic variation.

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🎯 Syllabus Competencies & Learning Objectives

Key Competencies

  • Main: 1.0 Demonstrate mastery of the concepts, principles and processes of Biology
  • Specific: 1.1 Describe the physiological, anatomical and ecological processes of living organisms

Specific Learning Objectives

  • Describe the structure of genetic material: nucleotides, DNA double helix, chromosomes, genes.
  • Differentiate between genotype and phenotype, homozygous and heterozygous alleles.
  • State and demonstrate Mendel's First Law of Segregation using Punnett squares.
  • Explain non-Mendelian inheritance patterns: codominance and incomplete dominance.
  • Explain sex determination in humans and sex-linked inheritance (hemophilia, red-green color blindness).
  • Differentiate continuous variation from discontinuous variation.
  • Explain causes and consequences of gene and chromosomal mutations.

📖 Comprehensive Study Notes Summary

### Genetics and Principles of Inheritance

#### Gregor Mendel's First Law (Law of Segregation)
During gamete formation, the alleles for each gene segregate from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene.

#### Standard Monohybrid Cross (Complete Dominance)
- Parents: TT x tt (Tall x Short)
- F1 Generation: All Tt (Phenotype: 100% Tall)
- F1 Self-cross: Tt x Tt
- F2 Genotypes: 1 TT : 2 Tt : 1 tt
- F2 Phenotypic Ratio: **3 Tall : 1 Short**

#### Sex-Linked Inheritance
Sex-linked genes reside on the X chromosome without corresponding alleles on the smaller Y chromosome. Examples: Hemophilia (X^h) and Red-green color blindness (X^c).
- Carrier female: X^H X^h
- Affected male: X^h Y (males need only one recessive allele to manifest the disorder).

#### Types of Variation
- **Continuous Variation**: Shows a gradual transition between extremes with normal distribution curve, influenced by multiple genes and environment (e.g. human height, weight, skin color).
- **Discontinuous Variation**: Distinct clear-cut categories with no intermediates, purely genetic (e.g. ABO blood groups, ability to roll tongue, earlobe attachment).

💡 Key Concepts & FAQs (Exam Questions)

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