Hereditary and behaviour terminology

Question 1

behavioural genetics

Answer 1

studies the influence of genetic factors on behavioural traits.

Question 2

chromosomes

Answer 2

• threadlike strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic information
• 46 non-sex cells
• 26 sex cells

Question 3

genes

Answer 3

DNA segments used in hereditary transmission
- dominant vs recessive
- homozygous vs heterozygous

Question 4

polygenic traits

Answer 4

• characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes (Ex: eye colour)

Question 5

genotype

Answer 5

• refers to a person’s genetic makeup
• is fixed (Ex: Brown hair)

Question 6

phenotype

Answer 6

• refers to the ways a person’s genotype is manifested in observable characteristics
• is changeable (Ex: genotype presents brown hair but you can change your phenotype by dying your hair blonde)

Question 7

epigenetic

Answer 7

the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve modifications to the DNA sequence

Question 8

dominant gene

Answer 8

• is stronger than recessive gene.
• will determine the trait that is expressed even if there is only one copy of that gene.
• masks the recessive gene

Question 9

recessive gene

Answer 9

• the “masked” gene
• only shows its trait when 2 copies of that gene are present.

Question 10

homozygous gene

Answer 10

pairs of genes that are the same (ex: AA)

Question 11

heterozygous gene

Answer 11

pairs of gene that are different (Aa)