Mendelian error

Mendelian error is a mistake that can happen when we look at genes from parents and their children. Every person has two copies of each gene, one from their mom and one from their dad. Mendelian error happens when the genes that should be passed down from the mom and dad do not match up correctly in the child.

Think of it like getting a puzzle piece from your mom and dad. If your mom gives you a puzzle piece with a blue sky on it, and your dad gives you a puzzle piece with green grass, those pieces should fit together to make a pretty picture. But if they don't fit together right, you might end up with a puzzle that doesn't look like it should.

In genetics, this can cause problems when we try to figure out what caused a certain disease or condition in a family. If we think that a certain gene is the cause of the problem, but there is a Mendelian error, we might be looking in the wrong place. It's like trying to find a puzzle piece that isn't there.

Scientists work really hard to try to avoid Mendelian errors, but they can still happen. It's important for them to pay close attention to the genes they are studying and make sure that they fit together like they should.