glossary

Question 1

what is a chromosome

Answer 1

the form of DNA that is tightly wound around proteins before replication

Question 2

chromatid

Answer 2

one side of a chromosome

Question 3

centromere

Answer 3

the centre of a chromosome

Question 4

karotype

Answer 4

map of all chromosomes pairs in one person

Question 5

what does adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine have in common?

Answer 5

involved in the process of making proteins (RNA)

Question 6

DNA

Answer 6

a molecule that contains all the instructions for every job performed by the cell

Question 7

whats RNA

Answer 7

it is made of nucleotides and makes proteins with ammino acids

Question 8

complementary based pairs

Answer 8

form strong hydrogen-bonded complexes binding the double helix structure of nucleic acids.

Question 9

diploid

Answer 9

containing two complete sets of chromosomes

Question 10

gene

Answer 10

basic unit of genetic material passed on from parents to offspring

Question 11

genotype

Answer 11

the combination of alleles for a particular trait

Question 12

haploid

Answer 12

containing one complete set of chromosomes in each cell; one example is gametes

Question 13

heterozygous

Answer 13

having two different alleles for a particular trait; a carrier for a recessive trait

Question 14

homozygous

Answer 14

having two identical alleles for a particular trait

Question 15

meiosis

Answer 15

the process that results in the formation of gametes with half the genetic material of the parent cell

Question 16

mitosis

Answer 16

the process of cell division which results in two identical daughter cells; allows growth and repair

Question 17

nucleotide

Answer 17

a subunit of nucleic acid

Question 18

pedigree

Answer 18

a chart showing the phenotypes for an individual and there ancestors, usually over several generations; also known as a family tree diagram

Question 19

phenotype

Answer 19

the physical characteristics that result from an interaction between the genotype and the environment

Question 20

somatic cell

Answer 20

the body cells except gametes (egg and sperm)

Question 21

gametes

Answer 21

reproductive cell (egg and sperm)

Question 22

co-dominance

Answer 22

two different alleles that can both appear in the phenotype at the same time; both can appear with a single allele

Question 23

incomplete dominance

Answer 23

a form of Gene interaction in which both alleles of a gene at a locus (particular part or place) are partially expressed, often resulting in an intermediate or different phenotype.

Question 24

punnet square

Answer 24

the diagram used to predict the outcome of breeding organisms

Question 25

autosome

Answer 25

a chromosome that does not determine the sex of an orginism

Question 26

alleles

Answer 26

a version of a gene; a person inherits two alleles for each gene, one coming from each parent