Inheritance

Question 1

Inherited

Answer 1

The inherited traits are transferred from parents to their offspring and these traits are encoded in the genes that are transferred from the parent cell to the progeny cell.

Question 2

Genetic Trait

Answer 2

In genetics, traits are characteristics about humans and other living organisms that can be described or measured. Traits can be physical or behavioral.

Question 3

Simple inheritance

Answer 3

Simple (or Mendelian) inheritance in biology refers to the inheritance of traits controlled by a single gene with two alleles, where one allele may be completely dominant to the other.

Question 4

Chromosome

Answer 4

A chromosome is a threadlike structure made of DNA wrapped around associated proteins.

Question 5

DNA

Answer 5

DNA is an organic chemical of complex molecular structure that is found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and in many viruses.

Question 6

Mendel

Answer 6

Mendelian inheritance, also called Mendelism, refers to the principles of heredity formulated by Austrian-born botanist, teacher, and Augustinian prelate Gregor Mendel in 1865. Mendel formulated the important principles, known as Mendel’s laws, that form the basis of modern genetics. He determined these laws through experiments with garden peas.

Question 7

Ovum (egg)

Answer 7

ovum, in human physiology, single cell released from either of the female reproductive organs, the ovaries, which is capable of developing into a new organism when fertilized (united) with a sperm cell.

Question 8

Sperm

Answer 8

Sperm is the male reproductive cell or gamete produced in the testes of most animals. It unites with the female ovum (egg) to produce a new offspring.

Question 9

Fertilization

Answer 9

Fertilization is the process by which male and female gametes are fused together, initiating the development of a new organism.

Question 10

X Chromosome

Answer 10

The X chromosome is one of the two sex chromosomes in many organisms, including mammals, and is found in both males and females.

Question 11

Y Chromosome

Answer 11

The Y chromosome is one of the sex chromosomes, the other being the X chromosome. Typically, individuals have a pair of sex chromosomes.

Question 12

Variation

Answer 12

Variation, in biology, any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences (genotypic variation) or by the effect of environmental factors on the expression of the genetic potentials (phenotypic variation).

Question 13

Gene

Answer 13

gene, unit of hereditary information that occupies a fixed position (locus) on a chromosome. Genes achieve their effects by directing the synthesis of proteins.

Question 14

Allele

Answer 14

An allele is a variant of a gene that may occur alternatively at a given site (locus) on a chromosome.

Question 15

Homozygous

Answer 15

Having two identical copies of alleles in the DNA gene sequence for a particular trait

Question 16

Heterozygous

Answer 16

Having inherited different versions (alleles) of a genomic marker from each biological parent

Question 17

Dominant

Answer 17

An allele, gene, or trait that is expressed and masks the effect of the recessive allele

Question 18

Recessive

Answer 18

A gene, allele, or organism based on dominance.

Question 19

Genotype

Answer 19

The genotype of an organism is the chemical composition of its DNA, which gives rise to the phenotype, or observable traits of an organism.

Question 20

Phenotype

Answer 20

In biology, phenotype refers to the observable and measurable characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genes, environmental factors, and random variation.

Question 21

Punnett Square

Answer 21

A Punnett square is a graphical representation of the possible genotypes of an offspring arising from a particular cross or breeding event.