L4 - Inheritance

Question 1

What is genetics?

Answer 1

Study of inheritance

Question 2

What is inheritance?

Answer 2

The passing of traits from one generation to the next. Science of genetics is the study of inheritance an natural variation in organisms. It seeks to explain the reason for these patterns. It predicts the characteristics of offspring from a cross between two different parents.

Question 3

What is a gene? (In depth)

Answer 3

A gene is a sequence of DNA (small section) that codes for a specific protein or trait. In individuals of the same species, it is found in the same location on a chromosome. Genes are made of two alleles.
Examples: Eye colour, hair colour, height

Question 4

What is an allele?

Answer 4

An allele is a different variation of a single gene. These versions of the same gene are found in identical positions on a pair of similar chromosomes.
Examples - brown, blue, green eyes, or tall, short height

Question 5

What is a genotype?

Answer 5

A genotype is the genetic make - up of an organism.
They are a pair of alleles that code for a specific trait
OR
The complete set of genes are present

They appear as two letters e.g BB, GG or TT
Dominant - BB
Dominant - Bb
Recessive - bb

Question 6

What are the two traits of a genotype?

Answer 6

Dominant
- The stronger of the two alleles
- Capital letter
- Masks the other traits so that it is physically visible

Recessive
- weaker of the two alleles
- lower case letter
- not visible unless both alleles are recessive

Question 7

What is a phenotype?

Answer 7

The physical appearance of an organism, influenced by the genotype and the environment