Download Heredity and Genetics Vocabulary (Part 1)

Heredity and Genetics Vocabulary (Part 1)
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Chromosome: The structure in a cell that contains the cell’s genetic material.
DNA: The genetic material found in all living cells that contains the
information needed for an organism to grow, maintain itself, and reproduce.
DNA stands for a long word: Deoxyribonucleic acid
(pronounced dee-AKH-see-RY-boh-noo-KLEE-ihk).
Gene: The basic unit of heredity that consists of a segment of DNA on a
chromosome.
Image showing Cells, Chromosomes, DNA, and Genes
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Genetic variation: The variation (different versions) of genes that occurs in
a population.
Asexual reproduction: The process by which a single organism (only one
parent cell) produces offspring that have the same genetic material.
Budding: A process in which an organism develops tiny buds on its body.
Each bud forms from the parent’s cells, so the bud’s genetic material is the
same as the parent’s. The bud grows until it forms a new organism that is
genetically identical to the parent.
Mitosis: The phase in the cell cycle during which the nucleus divides. Mitosis
is a type of asexual reproduction (only one parent cell; one cell splits to
become two cells with the same genetic information).
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Sexual reproduction: A type of reproduction in which male and female
reproductive cells combine to form offspring with genetic material from both
cells.
Meiosis: A part of sexual reproduction in which cells divide to form sperm
cells in a male and egg cells in a female. Meiosis occurs only in reproductive
cells.
Fertilization: Part of the process of sexual reproduction in which a male
reproductive cell and a female reproductive cell combine to form a new cell
that can develop into a new organism.
Gamete: A sperm or egg cell, containing half the usual number of
chromosomes of an organism, which is found only in the reproductive organs
of a plant or animal.