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Question

Two strains of mice which are genetically identical except for a single genetic locus or region are said to be:

The correct answer is

Congenic

Congenic Mouse Strains Explained

The question asks about two strains of mice that are genetically identical except for a single genetic locus or region. Understanding different types of mouse strains used in research is key to answering this.

Let's look at the options provided:

  • Syngenic: This term refers to individuals or strains that are genetically identical. For example, individuals from a highly inbred strain or identical twins are syngenic. While the strains start genetically identical in the process described in the question, the end state is not purely syngenic because there is a difference at a single locus.
  • Allogenic: This term refers to individuals or tissues that are genetically distinct within the same species. This is the opposite of what the question describes.
  • Congenic: This term specifically describes strains of animals (like mice) that are genetically identical to another strain (the background strain) except for a single genetic locus or a small chromosomal region that has been introduced from a different strain. These are typically created through a process of repeated backcrossing. This perfectly matches the description in the question.
  • Heterogenic: This term generally refers to having diverse genetic origins or composition, implying genetic variation rather than near genetic identity with a difference at a single locus.

Based on the definitions, the term that accurately describes two strains of mice that are genetically identical except for a single genetic locus or region is Congenic.

Creating Congenic Strains

Congenic strains are usually developed by repeatedly mating a donor strain (carrying the desired gene/locus) with a recipient inbred strain (the background strain). Offspring carrying the desired gene from the donor are selected in each generation and backcrossed to the recipient strain. After many generations (typically 10 or more), the resulting strain is genetically identical to the recipient background strain everywhere except for the small region containing the desired gene from the donor. This process isolates the effect of a specific gene or locus on a consistent genetic background.

Therefore, two strains of mice that are genetically identical except for a single genetic locus or region are called Congenic.

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Important Questions from Human genetics

  1. Mendel selected which of the following traits for his studies?  

  2. Interacting genes which are involved in producing continuous variation in phenotypes in a population are known as/constitute

  3. Sampling of 200 persons for their ABO blood group was done from an urban area. The types of blood group observed in the given population are as follows:

    A = 60, B = 32, AB = 10 and O = 98

    Which of the following gives the correct frequency of blood group determining alleles IA , IB and IO in the given population?

  4. The table given below shows the Lod score values of three different pairs of genes studied for assessing if they are linked pairs:

    Gene Pair '1'Gene Pair '2'Gene Pair '3'
    Lod Score123

    The following conclusions were made from the data given above:

    A. For gene pair 1 the probability of the genes being linked is 10 times more likely than them assorting independently.

    B. For gene pair 2, the Lod score 2 indicates that the probability of the genes being linked is twice more likely than assorting independently.

    C. The genes of pair 1 and 2, can both be considered as linked, while the genes of pair 3 exhibits independent assortment.

    D. The genes of pair 3 can be considered as linked.

    Which one of the following options represents statement(s) that is/are correct?

  5. Columns X and Y of the following table list some treatment methods, reagents, and events that are related to human lymphocyte culture, and banding/ karyotyping of human chromosomes.

    Column X

    Column Y

    A.

    5% barium hydroxide treatment at 50°C

    I.

    R-banding

    B.

    Trypsin treatment

    II.

    C-banding

    C.

    Phytohaemagglutinin

    III.

    Mitotic stimulation

    D.

    Phosphate buffer treatment at 80°C

    IV.

    Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NOR)

    E.

    Silver Staining

    v.

    G-banding

    Which one of the following options represents all correct matches between Column X and Column Y? 

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