Agronomy and Horticulture, Department of
Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary
Resistance Genetics: Trait Expression
Document Type
Learning Object
Date of this Version
11-2025
Citation
Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary (PASSeL) Lessons.
Abstract
Overview
Overuse and reliance on pesticides to control agricultural pests has caused pest populations to evolve due to the application of artificial selection. Individuals with a higher tolerance for pesticides survive to reproduce – increasing resistant individuals that will eventually outnumber the ones that are controllable.
Resistance Genetics is a set of 4 lessons that teach about the genetic basis of pesticide resistance. These lessons can be used together or as separate lessons.
- Trait Expression
- Genotypic Inheritance and Connection to Phenotype
- Origin of Resistant Alleles
- Selecting Genes for Resistance – Evolution of Resistance to Pesticides in Populations
This is the Trait Expression lesson. In Trait Expression, we discuss the role of genetics in the development of pesticide resistance.
Learning objectives
At the completion of this module, each student should be able to:
- Describe a gene and its involvement in the basic steps of trait expression.
- Differentiate between the processes of transcription and translation.
- Reflect on the process of DNA replication and how it relates to mutations.
- Predict how mutations in genes and their expression can mean resistance to a pesticide that combats insect, disease, or weed pests.