Genetics Definitions Flashcards
A gene
Part of a chromosome that contains the code to make a particular protein
A diploid cell
Is diploid when it has a full set of chromosomes
Haploid
When it has half a set of chromosomes. Gametes are haploid
Artificial selection
A process that would humans breed plants and animals to ensure certain desirable traits
Alleles
Alleles are alternative forms of the same gene
Mendels law of segregation
Mendels law of segregation states that when gametes are formed only one allele from the pair alleles is carried in the gamete
Homozygous
The alleles present in the genotype are the same
Dominant
Expressed in the phenotype when present in the genotype and it is normally represented by a capital letter
Recessive
Expressed only when an individual has no dominant gene present and it is usually represented with a lower case letter
Heterozygous
That alleles present in the genotype are not the same
Incomplete dominance
Incomplete dominance occurs when two alleles are equally dominant and when both occur together in the genotype the resulting phenotype is a blend of the two
Multiple alleles
When a characteristic is controlled by two or more alleles, the alleles are called multiple alleles
Continuous variation
When a characteristic is controlled by a number of genes interacting with each other to give a range of phenotypes rather than two distinct groups
The law of independent assortment
The law of independent assortment states that during gamete formation members of a pair of alleles segregate and move into the gametes independently of any other pair of alleles
Sex linkage
A gene that is found on the X chromosome but there is no copy on the Y chromosome
