genetics vocab

Question 1

p-value

Answer 1

the probability that something occurring is due to randomness
- higher p-value means higher percentage that it’s due to randomness
- ≤ 0.05 means there is a significant difference

Question 2

claim

Answer 2

sentence that answers the question
- should come first

Question 3

evidence

Answer 3

factual information that supports the claim or conflicts with claim
- sufficient to be convincing, persuasive
- quantified if possible
- described (not listed)
- indicate magnitude of difference, direction (ex: greater than)
- indicate if there is a significant different, if relevant (p ≤ 0.05)

Question 4

reasoning

Answer 4

logical steps connecting evidence to claim

Question 5

somatic cells

Answer 5

all of the cells in your body other than eggs and sperm
- ex: liver, kidney, and skin cells

Question 6

centromere

Answer 6

constriction point
specialized region that microtubules attach to during mitosis and meiosis
- divides the chromosome into two sections/arms
- number of centromeres = number of chromosomes

Question 7

sister chromatids

Answer 7

chromatids that are connected at the centromere region
two identical pieces of DNA developed after DNA replication
- attached: chromatids
- separated: chromosomes

Question 8

chromosome

Answer 8

a structure composed of DNA and associated proteins

Question 9

chromatin

Answer 9

chromosomes with an interpase nucleus

Question 10

gene

Answer 10

segment of DNA that codes for a particular protein

Question 11

loci

Answer 11

location on chromosome

Question 12

alleles

Answer 12

different versions of the same gene
- arise due to mutations and/or changes in the sequence of nucleotides

Question 13

phenotype

Answer 13

observable characteristic of an organism

Question 14

autosome

Answer 14

non-sex chromosomes (numbered 1-22)

Question 15

sex chromosomes

Answer 15

not numbered, given letters

Question 16

ploidy

Answer 16

number of sets of chromosomes in a cell / number of chromosomes with the same shape

Question 17

diploid

Answer 17

two chromosomes in a cell with the same shaped and size

Question 18

haploid

Answer 18

one chromosome in a cell having a unique shape / each chromosome in the cell has its own shape/size

Question 19

polyploidy

Answer 19

more than two of the same size/shape chromosomes

Question 20

__ n = __

Answer 20

first blank: ploidy
n: haploid number = number of chromosomes in gamete = number of different chromosomes in somatic cell
second blank: total number of chromosomes in the cell

Question 21

homologous chromosome/homologs

Answer 21

a set of one pair of chromosomes (one inherited from each parent)
- same size
- have the same centromere location
- carry the same genes in the same locus
- isn’t guaranteed to carry the same alleles

Question 22

genotype

Answer 22

the set of alleles present at one or more specific loci

Question 23

homozygous genotype

Answer 23

two homologs that carry the same alleles at a specific locus
- ex: BB or bb

Question 24

heterozygous genotype

Answer 24

two homologs that carry two different alleles at the same locus
- ex: Bb

Question 25

genome

Answer 25

the complete set of DNA and its genes - typically measured in number of bases or base-pairs (bp or Mbp) - genome size is not necessarily a measure of complexity