Null mutations are valuable genetic resources becausethey allow a researcher to determine what happens to anorganism in the complete absence of a particular protein. However, it is often not a trivial matter to determinewhether a mutation represents the null state of the gene.a. Geneticists sometimes use the following test forthe nullness of an allele in a diploid organism: If theabnormal phenotype seen in a homozygote for theallele is identical to that seen in a heterozygote(where one chromosome carries the allele in question and the homologous chromosome is known tobe completely deleted for the gene) then the alleleis null. What is the underlying rationale for thistest? What limitations might there be in interpreting such a result?b. Can you think of other methods to determinewhether an allele represents the null state of a particular gene?
Null mutations are valuable genetic
they allow a researcher to determine what happens to an
organism in the complete absence of a particular protein. However, it is often not a trivial matter to determine
whether a mutation represents the null state of the gene.
a. Geneticists sometimes use the following test for
the nullness of an allele in a diploid organism: If the
abnormal
allele is identical to that seen in a heterozygote
(where one chromosome carries the allele in question and the homologous chromosome is known to
be completely deleted for the gene) then the allele
is null. What is the underlying rationale for this
test? What limitations might there be in interpreting such a result?
b. Can you think of other methods to determine
whether an allele represents the null state of a particular gene?
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