Introduction to Genetics: Science of Heredity

Introduction to Genetics: SCIENCE OF HEREDITY

PERGAMON PROGRAMMED TEXTS

A.J.S. McMILLAN

PERGAMON PRESS

OXFORD · LONDON · EDINBURGH · NEW YORK · TORONTO · PARIS · BRAUNSCHWEIG

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

THE COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY

CERTIFICATE OF VALIDATION

Copyright

VALIDATION CERTIFICATE

Author’s Preface

Editor’s Preface

This is not an ordinary book

Introduction

Chapter One: Gregor Mendel and the Laws of Heredity

Publisher Summary

Revision Test (1–54)

Revision Test (57–99)

Chapter Two: Chromosomes and Genes

Publisher Summary

Revision Test (103–154)

Chapter Three: The Chromosome Theory and Mendelism

Publisher Summary

Review Questions (163–225)

Chapter Four: Accidents in Mitosis and Meiosis

Publisher Summary

Haploids, Diploids and Polyploids

Chapter Five: What Genes Are, How They Work and Change

Publisher Summary

Chapter Six: Some Practical Aspects of Plant Breeding

Publisher Summary

Suggestions for Further Reading

Glossary

Additional Questions

Index

THE COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY

Joint Chairmen of the Honorary Editorial Advisory Board

SIR ROBERT ROBINSON, O.M., F.R.S., LONDON

DEAN ATHELSTAN SPILHAUS, MINNESOTA

Publisher: ROBERT MAXWELL, M.C., M.P.

PERGAMON PROGRAMMED TEXTS

General Editor: F. H. GEORGE

produced in association with Teaching Programmes Ltd.

Introduction to Genetics

SCIENCE OF HEREDITY

CERTIFICATE OF VALIDATION

The results in validating this text will be found on page vi

Copyright

Pergamon Press Ltd., Headington Hill Hall, Oxford 4 & 5 Fitzroy Square, London W.1

Pergamon Press (Scotland) Ltd., 2 & 3 Teviot Place, Edinburgh 1

Pergamon Press Inc, 44–01 21st Street, Long Island City, New York 11101

Pergamon of Canada, Ltd., 6 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario

Pergamon Press S.A.R.L., 24 rue des Ecoles, Paris 5e

Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlag, Postfach 185,33 Braunschweig, West Germany

Copyright © 1966 Pergamon Press Ltd.

First edition 1966

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-24226

Printed in Great Britain by Bell & Bain Ltd. Glasgow

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise disposed of without the publisher’s consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

(2215/66)

VALIDATION CERTIFICATE

hours over a period of two weeks.

The students were given a Pre-test to establish the amount of knowledge they already had of the subject matter contained in the programme. When the students had completed the programme a Post-test was given. This was the same as that given for the Pre-test. By subtracting Pre-test scores from Post-test scores a gain in learning was established.

hours.

Author’s Preface

This is a book of a special kind. It is a linear programmed book about heredity and genetics. It is intended for sixth form students and others who have some knowledge of biology, and who wish to learn more about this fascinating subject.

The approach is as direct and straightforward as possible. This has led, inevitably, to simplification and generalisation, especially in the earlier part of the book. Some of the statements will therefore not be true without qualification, but it has been thought more desirable to establish broad principles.

You will find directions on how to use the book at the beginning. The questions are intended to reinforce what you have learnt, and to carry you forward to the next frame.

There are revision questions at the end of each chapter. Try writing the answers and, if you have difficulty, turn to the frames numbered in brackets where the answer will be found.

Genetics, like most subjects, has its own special words. These are introduced and defined in the text, and there is a glossary at the end of the book. For your convenience, while you are getting used to the words, we have provided a bookmark with some of the more frequently used words and their meanings, briefly, on it.

The author would like to thank all those who have read the book in draft for their useful comments and criticisms, which have been of great assistance in clarifying a number of points.

Editor’s Preface

This new series of Programmed Books represents a major step towards the universal availability of programmed material. It is hoped ultimately to supply books for every subject that human beings may wish to learn.

The text of these programmed books is not arranged in the sequence to which we are accustomed in ordinary books. The reader follows the routing directions on each page, so that in the branching type of programme he will simply select, from among the alternatives offered to him at the foot of the frame, the number of the frame which he believes contains the right answer. This method has been evolved because it has great advantages from the instructional point of view, over the usual page-to-page sequence, and it will very soon be found to be equally easy to follow.

In the linear programme, the reader will generally proceed in the usual way to the frame on the immediately following page, unless he is specifically told to turn to some other frame.

The programmes are written in a manner which gives the reader the maximum clarity of exposition. He is taken through the subject step by step, and each step is reinforced with a question which must be answered correctly before he can proceed to the next step.

In addition to its value as an instructional work, each programmed text is followed by an Index; this not only enables the reader to refer to definitions of vital terms, but also serves the purpose of a reference book.

It is intended that this new library of programmed books will gradually accumulate texts in every subject, including science, the arts, engineering, mathematics, specialised topics such as digital computers, as well as subjects with the broad sweep of architecture and planning.

With the development of a large number of such programmed books, it is planned to supply programmed texts that will themselves offer integrating material, and such titles as Philosophy of Science, and Dynamic Planning, will appear in due course. These texts will be closely associated with guide books that can route the student through the sets of various texts, in pursuit of some particular goal. This can be done in much the same way as a student is routed through a single text.

A student wishing to achieve, say, A-level in three subjects, will be able to find, in the near future, the set of programmed books that he needs to carry him to the required standard—though a person who wants to understand some new branch of engineering, for example, may have to select his books carefully, to compile precisely the information he requires.

It is because this library hopes to satisfy people with vastly differing needs, that each volume will be autonomous. Each subject may be repeated in more than one text to give instruction appropriate to different sorts of requirements, such as different age groups, and research is being carried out on the possibility of catering for other individual differences.

It may be that the linear form of programming is more suitable for some subjects, and branching programmes more suitable for others. We shall, however, provide texts in both forms whenever there is a good case for so doing.

The first batch of programmed books—due to arrive on the market in 1966—contains texts on mathematics, science, and computers, as well as topics of general interest. These will be followed up by many more programmed books written at every level of complexity, for our scope is no less than the educational needs of the community as a whole. We are confident that they will have a wide appeal, and consequently they will be presented in a flexiback binding that is economical to produce, as well as being highly durable.

An important feature of these books is that they are all carefully checked and validated. This means that each text will have been read through by a number of experienced programmers, and tried out on a sample of the people for whom the book is intended. A statement to this effect appears on page vi. A note as to what has been assumed about the reader’s background will be found in the Author’s Preface.

It is considered that this series represents a major advance in publishing, in that it will gradually accumulate information, properly prepared in a specialised way, that may well revolutionise teaching facilities, both in this country and overseas.

In conclusion, we offer a word of warning. For the same reasons that it is impossible to achieve agreement among teachers as to the best approach to any particular subject, we do not expect that all our texts, however good, will meet with universal approval. Readers are individuals, with varying backgrounds and often with special needs, and this is why we must have many different treatments of the same subject in the field of programmed instruction.

F.H. GEORGE,     Educational and Scientific Developments Ltd., University of Bristol.

This is not an ordinary book

The reader should note that he starts at frame 1 where he is asked a question. He will find the answer above the thin line on frame 2. To get to frame 2, he merely turns the page and looks at the upper half of the next right-hand page. Again, the question on 2 will be answered, above the thin line, on 3.

In this way he will be taken through the book on the upper half of each right-hand page. On reaching the last frame of the upper half he must return to the beginning of the book, and look on the lower half for the next frame. When he has finished this, he turns the book upside-down and reads it through again in the same way. On reaching frame 382 he turns the book round again and turns towards the end of the book for Suggestions for Further Reading, Glossary, Additional Questions and Index.

This procedure is specially designed to keep the immediate answer from the reader, and to encourage him to think about the answer before he turns the page.

Introduction

Perhaps you have wondered sometimes at the diversity of life on this planet?

From the microscopically small bacteria, through the giant trees of the forest, to the intricately constructed and beautiful orchid.

From single-celled animals like amoeba, through the enormous variety of worms, insects, fishes, reptiles and birds to the many members of the class of mammals to which we belong.

There is an enormous variety of … on this planet.

life

In animals and plants that are alike there are, again, many differences.

A man can be an Andaman Islander, an African pygmy or a Chinaman. His skin can be black, white, yellow or brown, or of many shades in between. The colour of his hair can vary from palest blond to jet black, and there are many differences in other features.

Some men are naturally only three to four feet tall. The photograph on the next frame shows journalist Macdonald Hastings with a Kalahari bushman.

Within groups that are alike there are … between individuals.

differences