Genetics Flashcards
Genetics
Scientific study of heredity
Heredity
The passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next generation.
Gregor Mendel
Father of genetics, carried out genetic work with various plants
Allele
The different forms of a gene
Gene
A sequence of DNA that determines a trait and is passed from parent to offspring.
Traits
A specific characteristic that an organism can pass to its offspring through its genes.
Dominant Allele
An allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present.
Recessive Allele
An allele that is hidden whenever the dominant allele is present.
Phenotype
An organism’s physical appearance, or visible traits.
Genotype
An organism’s genetic makeup, or allele combinations.
Punnett Square
A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross.
Homozygous dominant
Having two identical dominant alleles for a particular gene.
Homozygous recessive
Having two identical recessive alleles for a particular gene.
Heterozygous
Having two different alleles for a particular gene.
Purebred
An offspring of many generations that have the same form of a trait.
