An F2 Barley Population as a Tool for Teaching Mendelian Genetics

Abstract

In the context of a general genetics course, mathematical descriptions of Mendelian inheritance and population genetics are sometimes discouraging and students often have serious misconceptions. Innovative strategies in expositive classes can clearly encourage student’s motivation and participation, but laboratories and practical classes are generally the students’ favourite academic activities. The design of lab practices focused on learning abstract concepts such as genetic interaction, genetic linkage, genetic recombination, gene mapping, or molecular markers is a complex task that requires suitable segregant materials. The optimal population for pedagogical purposes is an F2 population, which is extremely useful not only in explaining different key concepts of genetics (as dominance, epistasis, and linkage) but also in introducing additional curricular tools, particularly concerning statistical analysis. Among various model organisms available, barley possesses several unique features for demonstrating genetic principles. Therefore, we generated a barley F2 population from the parental lines of the Oregon Wolfe Barley collection. The objective of this work is to present this F2 population as a model to teach Mendelian genetics in a medium–high-level genetics course. We provide an exhaustive phenotypic and genotypic description of this plant material that, together with a description of the specific methodologies and practical exercises, can be helpful for transferring our fruitful experience to anyone interested in implementing this educational resource in his/her teaching.

SIMHYB 2: a software tool to explore and illustrate evolutionary forces in Population Genetics teaching and research. Application to Conservation Genetics

“…These results are roughly consistent with other surveys regarding Genetics teaching and learning, as the one reported by Giménez et al (2021) for a practical approach to strengthen the learning of Mendelian genetics using an ad hoc obtained population of barley. Nevertheless, the students in the present survey were more favorable to the advantages of practical approaches than those form Giménez et al (2021). Students in advanced courses, who often combine their studies with paid jobs, tend to show a more proactive attitude, with a better use of the time dedicated to study (Cao, 2012;Yun et al, 2020).…”

“…These results are roughly consistent with other surveys regarding Genetics teaching and learning, as the one reported by Giménez et al (2021) for a practical approach to strengthen the learning of Mendelian genetics using an ad hoc obtained population of barley. Nevertheless, the students in the present survey were more favorable to the advantages of practical approaches than those form Giménez et al (2021). Maybe a more mature attitude can account for this feature: Giménez et al reported a survey among second course, undergraduate students, 19-20 years old, while the students in the present work were in the second course of a master's degree, at least 24-25 years old.…”

“…These results are roughly consistent with other surveys regarding Genetics teaching and learning, as the one reported by Giménez et al . (2021) for a practical approach to strengthen the learning of Mendelian genetics using an ad hoc obtained population of barley.…”

“…(2021) for a practical approach to strengthen the learning of Mendelian genetics using an ad hoc obtained population of barley. Nevertheless, the students in the present survey were more favorable to the advantages of practical approaches than those form Giménez et al . (2021).…”

Transgenerational Paternal Inheritance of TaCKX GFMs Expression Patterns Indicate a Way to Select Wheat Lines with Better Parameters for Yield-Related Traits

“…Therefore, it is important to know how yield-related traits are inherited. Moreover, traits, including stably integrated transgenes and edited genes, are inherited according to Mendelian rules [27][28][29][30]. An exception to Mendel's principles that encompass both groups of genes is epigenetic inheritance [31] or the polygenic nature of genomic architecture for the linked traits, which can be regulated by transcription factors [32][33][34] or other gene regulatory networks [35].…”