AGB 121: Principles of Animal Genetics and Population Genetics (2+1)

DETECTION AND ELIMINATION OF LETHAL GENES

• Elimination of lethal genes from the population could be carried out by identifying the carriers (heterozygotes) and preventing them from further breeding.
• Intermediate lethal genes are much easier to detect because all the individuals will exhibit some phenotypic expression of the gene.
• Dominant lethals kill the individual either in homozygous or heterozygous conditions and therefore is eliminated from the population in the same generation in which it arises.
• Recessive lethals kill only when in homzygous stage. They are very difficult to eliminate from the population. Heterozygous carrier parents that produce a lethal effect could be used as testers to identify others in the population.