Genetics Flashcards
What is a gene?
A unit of heredity that is passed from parent to offspring and determines some characteristic of the offspring.
True or False: Genes are made up of DNA.
True
What is a genotype?
The genetic makeup of an organism.
What is a phenotype?
The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism.
What is genetic variation?
Differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a population.
What is a dominant allele?
An allele that is expressed in the phenotype even if only one copy is present in the genotype.
What is a recessive allele?
An allele that is only expressed in the phenotype if two copies are present in the genotype.
What is a homozygous genotype?
When an individual has two identical alleles for a particular gene.
What is a heterozygous genotype?
When an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene.
What is a Punnett square used for?
To predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring in a genetic cross.
What is genetic drift?
A change in the frequency of alleles in a population due to random events.
What is a genetic mutation?
A permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene.
What is genetic engineering?
The manipulation of an organism’s genes to achieve a desired trait.
What is a transgenic organism?
An organism that has been genetically modified by introducing genes from another species.
What is selective breeding?
The process of choosing organisms with desirable traits to breed and pass on those traits to the next generation.
