Genetics Terms Flashcards
The science of the inheritance of traits
Genetics
The passing of traits from parents to offspring
Heredity
Sections of a chromosome, each of which contains one set of instructions
Gene
A specific characteristic of an individual
Trait
Two or more alternate forms of a gene. The alleles are located at the same position on one of the pairs of homologous chromosomes
Allele
The alleles an organism contains
Genotype
A genotype in which the alleles of a pair are different
Heterozygous
A genotype in which the alleles of a pair are the same
Homozygous
The chromosomes not involved in sex determination
Autosome
A pair of chromosomes that have a role in determining the sex of an organism
Sex chromosome
The observable traits of an organism that arise because of the interaction between genes and their environment
Phenotype
Alleles of this type determine the expression of the genetic trait in the offspring
Dominant
Alleles of this type are overruled by dominant alleles
Recessive
A situation in which neither allele for a trait is dominant over the other – blending
Incomplete dominance
Occurs when one allele is not dominant; both alleles are expressed equally
Condominance
Traits that are controlled by genes located on the sex chromosomes
Sex-linked traits (X-linked traits)
Three or more different alleles for a given trait
Multiple alleles
