Unit 5 - Genetics & Biotechnology Vocab

Question 1

Allele

Answer 1

multiple versions of a gene (ex. R or r)

Question 2

Amniocentesis

Answer 2

Small amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby is removed to analyze its DNA
- Used to detect birth defects BEFORE birth
- Cells from baby are in fluid

Question 3

Autosome

Answer 3

a non-sex chromosome; chromosomes # 1-44

Question 4

Bacterial/Genetic Transformation

Answer 4

process of inserting DNA from one species into another creating a transgenic organism

Question 5

Biotechnology

Answer 5

Changing individual genes of organisms to get a desired trait; aka genetic engineering

Question 6

Cloning

Answer 6

production of organisms with identical genes; vegetative propogation, grafting, or whole organism

Question 7

Co-dominance

Answer 7

equally dominant; results in both traits being shown (red + white = stripped or spotted)

Question 8

Color Blindness

Answer 8

sex-linked trait causing a failure to distinguish between certain colors; usually red and green

Question 9

Crossing Over

Answer 9

chromatids swap genetic info so each sex cell will have unique genetic material

Question 10

Cystic Fibrosis

Answer 10

autosomal recessive gene disease causing lots of mucus accumulates lungs and digestive tract

Question 11

Diabetes

Answer 11

Disease causing failure of the body to produce insulin (type I) or the development of insulin resistance over time (type II)

Question 12

DNA fingerprint

Answer 12

Pattern of bands in a gel created during electrophoresis that is unique for all of the members of a sexually-reproducing population

Question 13

Dominant

Answer 13

stronger allele that overshadows recessive (R or T)

Question 14

Down’s Syndrome

Answer 14

People that have 3 copies of chromosome #21; AKA trisomy 21

Question 15

Fertilization

Answer 15

Egg and sperm join

Question 16

Gel Electrophoresis

Answer 16

Technique used to separate DNA fragments according to their size using negative and positive charges

Question 17

Gene

Answer 17

Carries info that determines traits; basic unit of heredity

Question 18

Gene Therapy

Answer 18

replacing defective genes with normal ones to cure disease

Question 19

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

Answer 19

Organism whose genome has been changed by genetic engineering

Question 20

Genetics

Answer 20

study of heredity

Question 21

Genome

Answer 21

all genetic material in an organism

Question 22

Genotype

Answer 22

genetic description or sequence (ex. RR, Rr, rr)

Question 23

Hemophilia

Answer 23

sex-linked gene disease causing lack of a blood clotting protein; can bleed to death from a simple cut/bruise

Question 24

Heterozygous

Answer 24

2 different alleles (Rr)

Question 25

Homologous chromosomes

Answer 25

pair of chromosomes with the same genetic info

Question 26

Homozygous

Answer 26

2 same alleles (RR, rr)

Question 27

Human Genome Project

Answer 27

Project started in 1990 to sequence the 3 billion base pairs of human DNA (finished in 2001) and to map our 20,000 genes (still ongoing)

Question 28

Huntington’s disease

Answer 28

Autosomal dominant gene disease causing nerve cells to breaks down; starts around 35, death by 45

Question 29

Incomplete Dominance

Answer 29

neither gene is dominant; results in a blending of the two traits (ex. red + white = pink)

Question 30

Karyotype

Answer 30

Visual of an organisms chromosomes to analyze

Question 31

Meiosis

Answer 31

process that produces sex cells by dividing body cells twice

Question 32

Multiple Alleles

Answer 32

Different versions of a gene

Question 33

Nondisjunction

Answer 33

Failure of chromosomes to separate during meiosis causing genetic diseases like Down Syndrome

Question 34

Pedigree

Answer 34

Chart that shows the inheritance of traits in a family

Question 35

Phenotype

Answer 35

physical description of a trait (ex. red, spotted, tall)

Question 36

Plasmid

Answer 36

Tiny rings of DNA found in bacteria located outside their large circular chromosome, that often contain genes for antibiotic resistance and that we use to carry human genes in biotech, like the gene for insulin

Question 37

Polygenic Inheritance

Answer 37

trait with a lot of possible phenotypes are controlled by more than one gene (ex. height, skin color, weight, eye color, hair color)

Question 38

Punnett Square

Answer 38

used to predict genotypes of offspring
⁕must know parents genotypes

Question 39

Recessive

Answer 39

weaker allele; sometimes hidden (r or t)

Question 40

Restriction Enzyme

Answer 40

proteins that cut DNA into fragments; “molecular scissors”

Question 41

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

Answer 41

sex-linked recessive gene disorder causing lack of immune system; successfully treated in sometimes with gene therapy; AKA bubble boy syndrome

Question 42

Sex Chromosomes

Answer 42

Chromosomes that determine gender & gender related issues; X and Y

Question 43

Sex-Linked Traits

Answer 43

traits determined by genes in sex chromosomes

Question 44

Sickle Cell Anemia

Answer 44

Disease caused by mutation in DNA resulting in defective hemoglobin and leading to crescent-shaped red blood cells; carriers are immune to malaria

Question 45

Transgenic Organism

Answer 45

Genetically-modified organism (GMO) that contains DNA from another species (foreign DNA); (ex. glowing mouse or a frost-resistant strawberry plant)

Question 46

Variation

Answer 46

difference in genome

Question 47

Zygote

Answer 47

fertilized egg