inheritance Flashcards
Genetic trait
Is a specific characteristic of an individual
Inherited
Passed on to someone through their parents (e.g. hair colour, eye colour, etc)
Simple inheritance
Is when the appearance or absence of a trait is controlled by a single gene
Chromosome
Structure of DNA which has been passed from parents to offspring.
DNA
Is a molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism
Mendel
Gregor Mendel is a biologist known for discovering dominant and recessive traits
Ovum (egg)
Is a female reproductive cell that helps create an embryo. It contains 23 chromosomes
Sperm
Is a male reproductive cell that helps create an embryo. It contains 23 chromosomes
Fertilisation
Is when the ovum and sperm cells join together to form an embryo. Their chromosomes combine to create 23 pairs from 46 chromosomes
X chromosome
Is one of the two sex chromosomes, found in both males and females
Y chromosome
Is one of the two sex chromosomes, found in just males. The Y chromosome is much smaller than the X chromosome
Variation
Is the difference of traits within a population
Gene
Is a trait passed on to offspring through their parents
Allele
Is the variation of a gene
Homozygous
When both alleles are the same
Heterozygous
When two alleles are different
Dominant
Is a trait that shows up and is visible in an organism. You can have either one or two dominant traits for it to show up.
Recessive
Is a trait that recedes or hides in an organism. You must have two recessive traits for it to be visible.
Genotype
Is the set of genes carried by an organism the influence the appearance of its traits
Phenotype
Is the set of traits visible in an organism
Punnet square
A simple and clear method for determining the probabilities of different outcomes
