This session will explain how a collection of mutants with the same phenotype can be used to study a biochemical pathway. In effect, this session outlines how genetics can be used to study biochemistry. It includes a discussion of yeast as a model system. It outlines how to identify mutants with mutations in the same pathway, how to characterize the mutants into complementation groups, and how to use epistasis tests to infer details about a biochemical pathway.

Learning Objectives

• To be familiar with the life cycle of yeast.
• To understand the difference between a genetic screen and a genetic selection.
• To understand why mutants with mutations in different genes can have the same phenotype.
• To understand what a test of dominance is and why it is performed.
• To understand what a test of complementation is and why it is performed.
• To understand what a test of epistasis is and why it is performed.