Download Genetics Vocabulary 2014-2015

Genetics Vocabulary
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reproduction – the production of offspring by a sexual or asexual process
fertilization – the joining of a sperm cell and an egg cell
zygote – a fertilized egg
sexual reproduction – the process by which a new organism forms from the joining of two sex
cells
egg – the female sex cell
sperm – the male sex cell
asexual reproduction – the process by which a single organism produces a new organism
identical to itself
heredity – the passing of traits from parents to offspring
trait – a characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes
genetics – the scientific study of heredity
offspring – the organism or organisms resulting from sexual or asexual reproduction
purebred – an organism that always produces offspring with the same form of a trait as the
parent
generation - the action or process of producing offspring
gene – the set of information that controls a trait; a segment of DNA on a chromosome that
codes for a specific trait.
allele – the different forms of a gene
dominant allele – an allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is
present
recessive allele – an allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present
hybrid – an organism that has two different alleles for a trait
phenotype – an organism’s physical appearance or visible traits
gentotype – an organism’s genetic makeup or allele combinations
homozygous – having two identical alleles for a trait
heterozygous – having two different alleles for a trait
codominance – a condition in which neither of two alleles of a gene is dominant or recessive
chromosome – found in the nucleus of a cell and is made up of segments of DNA in specific
patterns (called genes) They look kind of like white hot dogs and are usually found in pairs.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - A substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants
and animals. A gene is a section of a DNA molecule that contains the information to code for one
specific protein.
messenger RNA – RNA that copies the coded message from DNA in the nucleus and carries the
message into the cytoplasm
transfer RNA – RNA in the cytoplasm that carries an amino acid to the ribosome and adds it to
the growing protein chain
mutation – any change in a gene or chromosome
mitosis – the process in cell division in which the nucleus divides to produce two new nuclei,
each having the same number and type of chromosomes as the original.
meiosis – the process that occurs in the formation of sex cells (sperm and egg) by which the
number of chromosomes is reduced by half.
gamete – contains only a single (haploid) set of chromosomes, such as egg and sperm cells.
probability – the likelihood that a particular event will occur
Punnett square – a chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result froma
genetic cross.
34. Multiple alleles – three or more forms of a gene that code for a single trait
35. sex chromosomes - one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in each body cell that carry genes that
determine whether a person is male or female.
36. sex-linked genes – genes on the X and Y chromosomes
37. carrier – a person that has one recessive allele for a trait and one dominant allele
38. genetic disorder – an abnormal condition that a person inherits through genes or chromosomes
39. pedigree – a chart or “family tree” that tracks which members of a family have a particular trait.
40. Karyotype – a picture of all the chromosomes in a cell