Unit A | Topic 4 | Genes and Alleles Flashcards
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Definition of:
Heredity
When a parents trait is passed off to its offspring
Definition of:
Genetics
An area of science that studies heredity
Definition of:
Heritable traits
Passed on from one generation to the next
Some examples of heritable traits
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Skin color
Definition of:
Non-heritable traits
Traits that cannot be passed on and are acquired throughout life
Some examples of non-heritable traits
- Scars
- Hair dye
- Physique
What are the two kinds of inherited traits?
- Continuous variation
- Discrete variation
Definition of:
Continuous variation
Traits that have a large range of variation and are strongly influenced by the environment
(i.e height, skin color)
Definition of:
Discrete variation
Traits that have a small range of variation (often only 2 options) that are unaffected by the environment
(i.e blood type)
Definition of:
Dominant traits
traits that will always be present in the offspring (if present in the parent)
Definition of:
Recessive traits
traits that will not show up in the offspring if a dominant trait is present
Definition of:
Gene
Segments of DNA that code for specific traits
Definition of:
Allele
Different forms and variations of genes
Definition of:
Genotype
A persons unique sequence of DNA (represented in capital or lower case letters)
Definition of:
Phenotype
How a persons Genotypes are expressed
