Download Genetics Vocabulary Review2

Genetics Vocabulary Review
Allele
The different forms of a gene.
Chromosomes
These carry genes
that determine the
sex of offspring as well
as other traits; it is
made up of DNA and
protein
genes
instructions for an
inherited trait; an
organisms inherited
combination of
alleles; these are
located on
chromosomes
mutation
Changes in the DNA
DNA
The directions or
blueprints of life; made
up of subunits called
nucleotides
heredity
the passing of traits
from parents to
offspring
genetics
the study of heredity
recessive
Kind of trait that
seemed to vanish in the
offspring produced in
Mendel’s first
experiment; the trait
that seems to reappear
in the second
generation; usually
indicated by a lower
case letter
Punnett Square
A tool used to visualize all the possible
combinations of alleles from parents
dominant
Kind of trait that
always appeared in
the offspring
produced in
Mendel’s first
experiment; that
trait that appears
more often.
Genetic Engineering
Manipulating the
genes within an
organism.
heterozygous
The combination of
two different
alleles for an
inherited trait
Selective breeding
When breeders mate
organisms with
desirable
characteristics
homozygous
The combination of
two of the same
alleles for an
inherited trait
phenotype
An organism’s
inherited physical
appearance
probability
that mathematical
chance that an
event will occur
Ratio: 3:1 or percent: 75% or fraction 1/4