Genetics Flashcards
Genetics
To describe how the characteristics of living things are transmitted from one generation to the next
Heredity
Used to describe the particular characteristics that are transmitted from parents to their offspring
Inheritance
The basic principle of genetics and explains how characteristics are passed from one generation to the next
Dominant
The greater influence by one of a pair of genes that affect the same inherited character
Recessive
The heritable characteristics controlled by genes which are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parent
Allele
The pairs of genes on a chromosome that determine hereditary characteristics
Mitosis
The process of cell duplication, resulting in the two daughter cells using the same DNA from the parent cell
Gene
A unit of heredity which is transferred by a parent to modify characteristics of their offspring
Chromosomes
A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein that are found in most living cells
Nucleus
An organelle found within eukaryotic cells which contains the majority of the cell’s genetic material
Mitosis
The process where a single (parent) cell divides which results in two identical cells that each contain the same number of chromosomes
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
A double helix structure which contains sets of nucleotides that contains genetic information
Homologous
Chromosomes that carry the same type of genetic material
Non-homologous
Chromosomes that do not belong to the same pair
Genotype
A set of genes in our DNA which is responsible for a particular trait
Phenotype
A set of observable characteristics of a person resulting from the genotype and environment
Autosomes
A chromosome that is not an allosome (sex chromosome) which makes up for the first 22 pairs of chromosomes
Meiosis
The form of cell division that produces gametes
Trisomy
A chromosomal disorder where 47 chromosomes are present instead of 46 and can lead to diseases such as ‘down syndrome’
Monosomy
Refers to the presence of only one chromosome opposed to two, causes diseases such as ‘turner syndrome’
Karyotype
A process in which a cytogeneticist observe photographs of an individual chromosome to determine characteristics
Telomerase
An enzyme within a eukaryote that repairs the telomeres of the chromosome so that it can prevent it from becoming smaller over time
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A long, single-stranded chain of cells that processes protein and carries information from DNA to the ribosome
