Need Help Explaining…..

[Halley]

Okay, I’m trying to write a genetics page, for a website I hope to get up sooner or later. However I can’t really seem to find a good way to explain heterozygous, and homozygous. Here is the genetics page so far, the sad thing is I’ve been working on it for over a month, and I just can’t figure out how to word it.

Also I’m pretty sure the info is correct on here so far, but any tips, hits, suggestion, would get great.

Thanks in advance.

Okay so here is what I have.


Chromosomes
Chromosomes are stands of DNA, which contain all of the genetic information needed to build, repair, and maintain an organism. Leopard geckos have 38 chromosomes to hold all of their genetic information. However generally chromosomes appear in corresponding pairs, this mean that leopard gecko have 19 pairs of chromosomes, in most of their cells. However there are a few cells, called gametes, which only house 1 copy of each chromosome, instead of two. These cells are the sperm, and eggs cells. When they meet they combine, and then the new organism will have the 38 chromosomes, half from the mother, and the other half from the father.

Alleles
Alleles are pretty much just genes. It is just more of a scientific name for them.

Heterozygous (Het)
As stated above leopard geckos have two copies of chromosomes, which generally come in corresponding pairs. However although they will carry the same allele, doesn’t always mean that they carry the same copy of that allele. When an animal, carries two different copies of an allele, they are called heterozygous. (This is where I get stuck, does this make sense, or what can i do to improve it?)

Homozygous
( I can’t even get this part started, even though it is about the same, thing)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[jmlslayer]

pertains to an individual (or a condition in a cell or an organism) containing two copies of the same allele for a particular trait located at similar positions (loci) on paired chromosomes (see homologous chromosomes)

There you Nick

 

[Halley]

pertains to an individual (or a condition in a cell or an organism) containing two copies of the same allele for a particular trait located at similar positions (loci) on paired chromosomes (see homologous chromosomes)

Yeah, that definition makes perfect sense. But if I was a person trying to learn genetics from scratch. I don't think that would help me, just frustrate me. I think they need it more in plan English, then in technical terms at first. That is what I’m trying to hit.

 

[Halley]

Okay I think definition makes complete sense. Does it to everybody else?

Heterozygous (Het) & Homozygous
As stated above, there are two copies of each chromosome. Each of these chromosomes carries a varying number of alleles. Each allele has its spot on each chromosome. So there are two copies of each allele, one on each chromosome. Sometimes the copies are the same, and other times they are different. When the copies are different they the organism is called a het for that allele, when the copies are the same, the organism is called homozygous for that trait.

 

[Halley]

Or is this better?

Heterozygous (Het) & Homozygous
As stated above, there are two copies of each chromosome, which come in corresponding pairs. Each corresponding pair of chromosomes carry the same alleles. So there are two copies of each allele, one on each chromosome. Sometimes the copies are the same, and other times they are different. When the copies are different the organism is called a het for that allele, when the copies are the same, the organism is called homozygous for that allele.

 

[Halley]

I think that, that last definition is perfect. But I would love to hear everybody else’s opinions.

 

[paulnj]

last one sounds best to me

 

[jmlslayer]

:main_thumbsup: Yep the last one makes most sence to ppl just learning for the first time!