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Ch. 1 - The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution
Sanders - Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach 3rd Edition
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 1, Problem 14a

Briefly describe the contribution each of the following people made to the development of genetics or genetic analysis.
Archibald Garrod

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Archibald Garrod was a British physician who made significant contributions to the field of genetics by studying inherited metabolic disorders.
He proposed the concept of 'inborn errors of metabolism,' suggesting that certain diseases are caused by defects in specific biochemical pathways due to genetic mutations.
Garrod's work on alkaptonuria, a condition where the body cannot properly break down homogentisic acid, demonstrated that this disorder followed Mendelian inheritance patterns.
He was one of the first to link genes to enzymes, laying the groundwork for the 'one gene-one enzyme' hypothesis later developed by Beadle and Tatum.
Garrod's research emphasized the importance of studying rare genetic disorders to understand broader principles of human genetics and biochemistry.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Archibald Garrod was a pioneer in the study of inborn errors of metabolism, which are genetic disorders caused by the absence or malfunction of specific enzymes. He proposed that these conditions were hereditary and linked to specific genes, laying the groundwork for understanding how genetic mutations can lead to metabolic diseases.
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Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Garrod's work on phenylketonuria (PKU) was significant in demonstrating how a single genetic defect could lead to a specific metabolic disorder. He showed that individuals with PKU could not properly metabolize phenylalanine, leading to severe health issues, thus highlighting the relationship between genes and metabolic pathways.

Genetic Analysis and Mendelian Inheritance

Garrod's contributions also emphasized the importance of Mendelian inheritance in understanding genetic disorders. He was one of the first to apply Mendel's principles to human diseases, suggesting that certain traits and conditions could be inherited in predictable patterns, which was crucial for the development of genetic analysis.
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