Reproduction Vocab Flashcards
What is an allele?
A variant, or version, of a gene.
What does dominant mean in genetics?
The genetic phenomenon in which one copy of a version of a gene (an allele) in an individual gives rise to an observed trait.
What is a recessive trait?
The genetic phenomenon in which a trait is not observed, or is ‘hidden,’ in the phenotype of a heterozygous individual.
What is a genotype?
An individual’s pair of alleles for a specific gene or group of genes that determine a trait.
What is a phenotype?
An observable trait of an organism.
What does homozygous mean?
An organism that has two identical alleles for a specific trait.
What does heterozygous mean?
An organism that has two different alleles for a specific trait.
What is sexual reproduction?
Process by which a sperm cell from a male unites with an egg cell from a female to produce offspring that inherit traits from both.
What is asexual reproduction?
The process by which organisms make exact copies of themselves without the union of gametes (sperm and egg cells).
What is heredity?
The passage of genetic information from one generation to the next.
What is a trait?
A specific version of a characteristic that varies from one individual to another.
What is a gene?
A specific sequence of DNA that determines one or more traits.
What is a mutation?
A change in the DNA of a gene that may lead to a different trait.
What is a Punnett square?
A diagram for showing the likelihood of each outcome of a breeding experiment.
What does genetics refer to?
Relating to genes or heredity of traits.
What is a clone?
An offspring produced by asexual reproduction, either naturally or through artificial processes, that is identical to the parent.
What is a chromosome?
A strand of DNA—and sometimes associated proteins—that contains the genes that transmit hereditary traits.
What is breeding?
The process of mating animals or crossing plants to produce offspring.
What does crossing mean in genetics?
Producing offspring by breeding parents with different traits.
What does inherited mean?
A trait that is passed from parent(s) to offspring.
What is fertilization?
The union of a male sperm and a female egg to form a fertilized egg.
