Chapter 13 Flashcards
Heredity
The transmission of traits from one generation to the next
Variation
Demonstrated by the differences in appearance that offspring show from parents and siblings
Genetics
the scientific study of heredity
Genes
the units of heredity and are made up of segments of DNA
Gametes
sperm and egg; the reproductive cells that pass genes to the next generation
Somatic cells
All the cells of the body except gametes and their precursors; these have 46 chromosomes in humans
Locus
A gene’s specific position along a chromosome
Asexual reproduction
a single individual passes all of its genes to its offspring without the fusion of gametes
Clone
a group of genetically identical individuals from the same parent
Sexual reproduction
two parents give rise to offspring that have unique combinations of gene inherited from the two parents
Life Cycle
the generation-to-generation sequence of states in the reproductive history of an organism; Develop -> survive -> reproduce
homologous chromosomes
or homologs; the two chromosomes in each pair
Sex chromosomes
These determine the sex of the individual and are called X and Y; females have a homologous pair of X (XX) and males have an X and a Y (XY)
Autosomes
the remaining 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes
Diploid cell
(2n) has two sets of chromosomes