Download genetic terminology

GENETIC
TERMINOLOGY
GENETICS

The study of inherited
traits
GENES

A set of instructions for
inherited characteristics
HEREDITY

The passing of physical
characteristics from parents
to offspring
CHROMOSOMES

Gene carrying bodies located
in the nucleus of a cell
TRAITS
A distinguishing characteristic
that can be passed on from
one generation to the next
 For example:


Dimples, freckles, cleft chin
ALLELE

A letter that represents the form
of a trait

CAPITAL LETTER-DOMINANT

lower case letter - recessive
DOMINANT
A trait that is visible in an
organism when at least one
DOMINANT allele is present
 If present, it masks the
recessive form of the trait

recessive
A form of a trait that is ONLY
visible when a dominant allele is
not present
 Must have 2 recessive alleles
for the recessive form of the
trait to be visible

GENOTYPE

Genetic make-up

For example:

TT; Tt; tt
PHENOTYPE

Observable physical
characteristics

For Example:

Tall plant; short plant
PUREBRED
Homozygous
 Both alleles are the same
 The offspring have exactly
the same form of a
characteristic as the parent

HYBRID
Heterozygous
 The alleles are different:

One DOMINANT
 One recessive


The DOMINANT form of
the trait is visible