Week 2 Vocab Flashcards
Gene
Functional unit of heredity. Distinct sequence of nucleotides that encodes a biological trait
Allele
A variation in the nucleotide sequence of a particular gene.
Chromosome
DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material (genome) of an organism
Chromatid
Specific form of a chromosome that usually refers to the chromosome structure that is formed from DNA replication
Homologous Chromosomes
A set of one maternal and one paternal chromosome that pair up with each other inside a cell during fertilization
Sister Chromatids
Refers to the identical copies formed by the DNA replication of a chromosome, with both copies joined together by a common centromere
Ploidy
Refers to the number of sets of chromosomes (humans are diploid)
Genotype
Genetic makeup of an individual, a way to visualize which alleles an individual has for a specific gene
Phenotype
The observable characteristics of an organism that results from the interaction between the genotype and the environment
Homozygous
Refers to a genotype in which homologous chromosomes contain identical alleles for a gene
Heterozygous
Refers to a genotype in which homologous chromosomes contain different alleles for a gene
Crossing Over
The exchange of genes between homologous chromosomes, resulting in a mixture of parental characteristics in offspring
Nondisjunction
Failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate
Recombinant Chromatids
Chromatids that have exchanged genetic material either between chromosomes or between different regions of the same chromosome
Linked Genes
Linked genes sit close together on a chromosome, making them likely to be inherited together. Genes on separate chromosomes are never linked
