key terms

Question 1

genetics

Answer 1

scientific study of genes and heredity
- how DNA controls what an organism looks like
- how certain qualities or traits are passed from parents to offspring

Question 2

transmission genetics

Answer 2

study of the transmission of genes from generation to generation

• experimental crosses
• selective breeding for desired traits
• pedigree analysis to trace diseases in families

Question 3

molecular genetics

Answer 3

study of the structure and function of genes at the molecular level

Question 4

population genetics

Answer 4

study of the genetic differences within and between populations or individuals

how those differences change over time = evolution

Question 5

quantitative genetics

Answer 5

study of the effects of many genes

Question 6

trait

Answer 6

characteristic feature of an organism

• tend to run in families predictably
• controlled by one or more genes
• may not be visible (just DNA sequences)

Question 7

genotype

Answer 7

genetic variant present at a given location in the genome

• variants of a genotype are alleles
• can be represented as symbols (Bb)

Question 8

phenotype

Answer 8

an individuals observable traits
- determined by interaction between their genotype and the environment

Question 9

chromosome

Answer 9

structure composed of DNA and proteins that bears genetic information

Question 10

gene

Answer 10

section of DNA that codes for a polypeptide or RNA

gene locus = specific location of a gene along a chromosome

Question 11

alleles

Answer 11

different molecular forms of the same gene
- may be many alleles at a locus

Question 12

ploidy

Answer 12

number of copies of a genome an organism has

haploid = single set of chromosomes
diploid = 2 sets of paired chromosomes