Question

At the start of the lesson, Ms. Newman, the geneticist, wanted to answer Susan’s questions. You can help. Pick two questions, write each one below, and then answer each question in 150 to 250 words, applying what you learned from this lesson.

Answer 1

Geneticists study genotype to understand the genetic makeup determining an organism's hereditary characteristics and to predict traits, assess hereditary diseases, and trace ancestry.

Step-by-step explanation:

When geneticists look at genotype, they are really studying the complete set of genes, or the genetic makeup, of an organism. The genotype includes all the genes that contribute to an organism's hereditary characteristics. For instance, in humans, this would involve the sequences of DNA that dictate everything from eye color to the risk of certain diseases. Genotype is essential for understanding the link between inheritance and physical traits, called phenotype. Geneticists delve into the genotype not only to comprehend what is visibly expressed but also to predict future traits, assess the risk of inherited conditions, and conduct various types of genetic research.

Through studies of genotypes, geneticists can determine why certain traits are exhibited and others are not, what genetic permutations could lead to health issues, and they can trace lineage and ancestry. These insights are possible by looking at the specific combination of alleles present in an individual's DNA. If two individuals have the same genotype for a particular trait, they have inherited the same set of alleles for that trait from their parents.