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Some people prefer to eat Wagyu cattle because of the high level of marbling (fat) in the meat - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2009 - Paper 1
Question 5
Some people prefer to eat Wagyu cattle because of the high level of marbling (fat) in the meat. Four separate DNA markers are used to test for marbling in an animal.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Some people prefer to eat Wagyu cattle because of the high level of marbling (fat) in the meat - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2009 - Paper 1
Step 1
What does the use of four markers suggest about the inheritance of this characteristic?
Answer
The use of four markers indicates that the trait of marbling is likely controlled by multiple genes, making it an example of polygenic inheritance. This suggests that numerous alleles contribute to the overall expression of marbling, resulting in the observed scores from zero to eight.
Step 2
Given that the gene probe for a human works for the Wagyu, what can you infer about the chemical code for this allele?
Answer
The fact that the human gene probe can identify the allele in Wagyu suggests that the chemical code, or nucleotide sequences, for the CHS1 allele in both species are highly conserved. This indicates a close genetic relationship between the genes involved in the condition, implying that similar functions are preserved across these different species.
Step 3
Step 4
Bacterial plasmids lack a centromere. Why are YACs made with a centromere?
Answer
YACs are designed with a centromere to ensure proper segregation during cell division. Unlike bacterial plasmids, the inclusion of a centromere in YACs allows for equal distribution of the yeast artificial chromosome to daughter cells, enhancing stability and integrity of the genetic material during replication.