Gene Technologies

• What have gene technologies changed?

  The way genetic diversity is assessed
• What is genetic diversity?

  The number of different alleles in a population
• What were early estimates of genetic diversity made by doing?

  looking at the freq of measurable or observable characteristics in a poplation
• What indicates a high genetic diversity?

  • Since diff alleles determine diff characteristics, a WIDE VARIETY of each characteristic in a population indicates a high number of diff alleles = a high genetic diversity
• give 2 examples of gene technologies?

  • Comparing DNA base sequences
  • Comparing mRNA base sequences
• What are these new gene technologies can be used to do?

  Give a more accurate estimate of genetic diversity within a population/species

  • They ALSO allow the genetic diversity of different species to be compared MORE EASILY