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Genetics Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| chromosome | a thread-like strand of DNA and proteins inside the nucleus of eukaryotic cells |
| allele | a form of a gene |
| DNA | chemicals inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions (blueprint) for making living organisms |
| dominant trait | trait that will show up in the offspring if it is present; it is shown with a capital letter (B) |
| gene | segments of DNA that control the way an organism looks and behaves |
| genotype | actual genetic makeup of an organism |
| heredity | passing on of traits from parent to offspring |
| phenotype | the physical characteristics of an organism |
| recessive trait | will only show in offspring if the dominant trait is absent: written with a lower case letter (b) |
| trait | a quality or characteristic that makes one organism different from another |
| asexual reproduction | reproduction involving only one parent that produces offspring identical to the parent |
| sexual reproduction | reproduction involving two parents that produces offspring with genetic material from both parents |