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Genetics Vocabulary Name: ________
Gene - a segment of DNA that
represents the information used to
make a particular protein or trait.
Trait - a characteristic feature of
an organism. Such as eye color,
ability to produce insulin, height,
curly or straight hair.
Allele - a letter used to represent the
presence of a trait.
Dominant allele – a capital letter
representing the major influencing
gene for that trait. Example: B for
the brown eye trait.
Recessive allele – a lower case
letter representing the minor or
non-influencing gene for that trait.
Example: b for the blue eye trait.
Genome – the total of all genes in
an organism, the blueprint of that
individual.
Zygote - a fertilized egg
containing 46 chromosomes.
Heterozygote – a zygote or
individual having different genes /
alleles for a trait. Ex. B b
Homozygote – a zygote or
individual having the same
genes / alleles for a trait.
Ex. B B or b b
genotype – the complete set of
both genes for a trait. B b
phenotype – the observable trait,
not taking into account all the
genes. Ex. Blue eyes.
Punnet Square – a visual
representation of inheritance of alleles.