Inheritance Flashcards
Inherited
the characteristics or traits passed down to the organism’s offspring
Genotype
the chemical composition of its DNA
Phenotype
observable characteristics of an organism
Allele
a specific variation of a gene
Gene
the basic physical and functional unit of heredity
Punnett square
a table or checkboard grid used to determine all possible genotypes from a particular cross or breeding event
Homozygous
having two identical alleles of a particular gene or genes
Heterozygous
having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes
Simple inheritance
the inheritance of traits controlled by a single gene with two alleles, where one allele may be completely dominant to the other
Chromosome
a string of DNA wrapped around proteins that carries part of the genetic code
DNA
the molecule that contains the genetic code of organisms
Ovum (egg)
a female reproductive cell
Sperm
a male reproductive cell
Fertilisation
the process when male and female reproductive cells fuse together to form a zygote (fertilised egg)
X chromosome
A sex chromosome in mammals. Decides the gender of an individual. A female has two X chromosome. A male has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
Y chromosome
A sex chromosome in mammals. Decides the gender of an individual. A male has one Y chromosome and one X chromosome. Females don’t have Y chromosomes.
Variation
any difference between cells
