Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Recessive Gene Determination 
Name: Lottie
Status: Student
Grade:  4-5
Location: N/A
Country: United States
Date: September 2006
Question:
How do we know that we have recessive genes in our genotypes?


Replies:
If one of your parents was homozygous for the recessive gene, then you would know you carry it. If the dominant gene codes for an enzyme (like Tay-Sachs for example), then a person that carries the gene will express about half the amount of the enzyme in their blood. If the gene is known, then it can be analyzed by DNA analysis to see if two different sequences (one dominant and the other recessive) of the gene are present in the person.

Ron Baker, Ph.D.


Click here to return to the Molecular Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory