Inheritance Flashcards
Define a gene
A gene is a unit of inheritance with a specific sequence of nucleotides as part of a DNA molecule containing information to synthesise a polypeptide
Define an allele
An allele is an alternative form of a gene
What is a dominant allele
An allele that can always be expressed in the phenotype
What is homozygous dominant
Having 2 identical dominant alleles
What is heterozygous
Having 2 different alleles
What is a recessive allele
An allele that can be expressed in the phenotype when it is homozygous
What is homozygous recessive
Having 2 identical recessive alleles
Define genotype
Genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism
Define phenotype
Phenotype is an observable trait of an organism
Define codominance
Codominance is when both alleles have equal effect on the offspring, so both alleles are expressed in the phenotype
Define monohybrid inheritance
Monohybrid inheritance is the inheritance of a single characteristic
How is genotype linked to phenotype
Phenotype is the expression of the genotype in a tangible form
What is Mendel’s Law of Segregation
Mendel’s Law of Segregation states that genes occur in pairs and that each gamete only receives 1 allele of each pair, so the 2 alleles of the organism are separated into different gametes to ensure variation
What are male sex chromosomes
XY
What are female sex chromosomes
XX