heredity Flashcards
heredity
the passing of genetic traits from parent to offspring
dominant trait
the trait observered in the first generation when parents that have a different traits are bred
recessive trait
a trait that reappears in the second generation after disappearing in the first generation when parents with different traits are bred
gene
one set of instructions for an inherited trait
allele
one of the alternative forms of a gene that governs a characteristic, such as hair color
phenotype
an organisms appearance or other detectable characteristic
genotype
the entire genetic makeup of an organism; also the combination of genes for one or more specific traits
probability
the likelihood that a possible future event will occur in any given instance of the event
meiosis
a process in cell division during which the number of chromosomes decreases to half the original number by two division of the nucleus, which results in the production of sex cells
sex chromosomes
one of the pair of chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual
pedigree
a diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that is present in all living cells and that contains the information that determinants the traits that a living thing inherits and needs to live
nucleotide
in a nucleic-acid chain a sub unit that consists of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base
RNA
ribonucleic acid, a molecule that is present in all living cells and that plays a role in protein production
mutation
a change in the nucleotide-base sequence of a gene or DNA molecule
