Bio Defintions Flashcards
Define Sugars
Sugars are an essential structural component of living cells and a source of energy in many organisms.
Define Genes
A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity.
Define Chromosomes
Chromosomes are threadlike structures made of protein and a single molecule of DNA that serve to carry the genomic information from cell to cell
Define Amino Acids
An amino acid is the fundamental molecule that serves as the building block for proteins.
Define Nucleus
The structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes.
Define Diploid
The presence of two complete sets of chromosomes in an organism’s cells
Define Haploid
The presence of a single set of chromosomes in an organism’s cells
Define Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a cell replicates its chromosomes and then segregates them, producing two identical nuclei in preparation for cell division.
Define Meisosis
Meiosis is a type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes in gametes (the sex cells, or egg and sperm).
Define Mutation
A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism.
Define Gene Mutation
A genetic mutation is a change to a gene’s DNA sequence to produce something different.
Define Chromosome Mutation
A chromosome mutation refers to a heritable change in the structure of a chromosome,
Define Mutagen
A mutagen is a chemical or physical agent capable of inducing changes in DNA called mutations
Define Karyotype
A karyotype is an individual’s complete set of chromosomes.
Define Deletion mutation
A part of a chromosome or a sequence of DNA is left out during DNA replication
Define Insertion mutation
A type of mutation that involves the addition of one or more nucleotides into a segment of DNA
Define Substitution mutation
A type of mutation in which a single nucleotide is substituted with a different nucleotide
Define Genetics
Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.
Define hereditary Factors
A measure of how well differences in people’s genes account for differences in their traits
Define pure breeding
A group of identical individuals that always produce offspring of the same phenotype when intercrossed.
Define alleles
An allele is a variant form of a gene.
Define Dominant Alleles
When two copies of a gene are present a dominant allele will result in the associated phenotype being expressed
Define Recessive Alleles
A type of allele that when present on its own will not affect the individual
Define Homozygous
Having inherited the same versions (alleles) of a genomic marker from each biological parent
Define Heterozygous
Heterozygous, as related to genetics, refers to having inherited different versions (alleles) of a genomic marker from each biological parent.
Define Phenotype
The observable physical properties of an organism
Define Genotype
The genotype of an organism is its complete set of genetic material.
Define Species
A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.
Define Ecosystem
A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting together.
Define Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variability of life.
Define Independent Assortment
How different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop.
Define Recombination
Recombination is a process by which pieces of DNA are broken and recombined to produce new combinations of alleles.
Define natural selection
The process in which an organism adapts to its environment through selectively reproducing changes in its genotype.
Define Selective agents
The Selective Agent is the environmental factor acting on the population.
