Glossary

Question 1

Gamete

Answer 1

There are two different gametes a male (sperm) and a female (egg) one each containing half of the genetic information which will be passed onto the offspring. They are the sex cells of an organism

Question 2

Sperm

Answer 2

Sperm is the term for the male gamete.

Question 3

Egg

Answer 3

Egg is the term for the female gamete.

Question 4

Fertilisation

Answer 4

The combination of a female and male gamete which then produce a new organism.

Question 5

Zygote

Answer 5

As the male and female gametes come together it results in a zygote being created.

Question 6

Sexual Reproduction

Answer 6

Sexual reproduction is the creation of a new individual. It involves two gametes (sperm and egg) coming together and passing down genetic information creating a new offspring. Each parent contributes 50% of their genetic information.

Question 7

Asexual Reproduction

Answer 7

Asexual reproduction is the process in which a single parent organism forms a new offspring that is identical to itself this is by budding, cell division or splitting.

Question 8

Cell

Answer 8

Cells are the building blocks of all living organisms. Their main functions are to support the body’s structure and absorb nutrients from food so they can use this as energy.

Question 9

Nucleus

Answer 9

Contains important genetic information. It contains the DNA.

Question 10

DNA

Answer 10

A complex molecule that holds genetic information and instructs amino acids to configure in a certain way to create proteins.

Question 11

Double Helix

Answer 11

Two chains in a rung that twist around each other

Question 12

Base

Answer 12

Smaller molecules which make up the rungs of a DNA strand. Four different bases ( A, T and G, C)

Question 13

Base Pairs

Answer 13

The combination of A-T and G-C

Question 14

Gene

Answer 14

A gene is a section of a DNA molecule that provides instructions for building a specific protein.

Question 15

Nucleotide

Answer 15

The basic structural unit and building block for DNA. A nucleotide consists of 3 components nitrogenous base, sugar and phosphate.

Question 16

Chromosome

Answer 16

A chromosome is a bundle of all the genetic information that an organism possesses and is stored in the nucleus.

Question 17

Mitosis

Answer 17

One cell separating from the other to form a duplicate. They are genetically identical.
occurs when a cell divides into two identical daughter cells

Question 18

Meiosis

Answer 18

This process creates sex cells whereby two cycles of cell disvision will occur to produce four cells that genetically unique from the parents.
Forms gametes which only contain one set of chromosomes (23 in humans), a second cell division occurs which splits the number of chromosomes in half

Question 19

Haploid

Answer 19

A single set of chromosomes, for example, egg and sperm. Haploid organisms reproduce asexually.

Question 20

Diploid

Answer 20

A cell that has paired chromosomes and produces sexually.

Question 21

Chromosomal Abnormality

Answer 21

A chromosomal abnormality can occur through meiosis, it is when chromosomes don’t separate properly and appear on the same side making their not enough on the other side

Question 22

Phenotype

Answer 22

What trait is observed

Question 23

Genotype

Answer 23

What are the alleles

Question 24

Dominant

Answer 24

Dominant traits will always be expressed even if there is only one allele present. Use a capital letter

Question 25

Recessive

Answer 25

Recessive traits will only be expressed if all other alleles are recessive

Question 26

Allele

Answer 26

Different forms of a gene

Question 27

Homozygous

Answer 27

Both alleles are the same

Question 28

Heterozygous

Answer 28

Both alleles are different

Question 29

Incomplete Dominance

Answer 29

Neither of the alleles are dominant are the new offspring phenotype is completely different from the parents

Question 30

Codominance

Answer 30

Both alleles are dominant and are expressed in the phenotype

Question 31

Sex-Linked Inheritance

Answer 31

Sex-linked inheritance is when the sex chromosomes contain a gene that can be In different ratios depending if they are male or female.

Question 32

Pedigree

Answer 32

A pedigree operates just like a family tree but represents the inheritance patterns in humans that will be passed down on to the future generations

Question 33

Mutation

Answer 33

Changes to the genetic code (base pairs) produce new forms of a gene(allele)

Question 34

Natural Selection

Answer 34

When the environmental conditions ‘selected for’ a particular trait meaning it is advantageous. Individuals with this trait will be more likely to survive and reproduce and so its genetic information will be more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations

Question 35

Evolution

Answer 35

Any change in the heritable traits within a population across generations

Question 36

Adaption

Answer 36

The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment.

Question 37

Species

Answer 37

Members of the same species can reproduce and their offspring are fertile. When enough adaptations have occurred such that the offspring are no longer fertile, speciation has occurred