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Topic 2: Genes & Heredity
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid; the genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring |
| protein synthesis | the process by which amino acids link together to form proteins |
| messenger RNA | type of RNA that carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids into proteins from DNA to ribosomes in the cytoplasm |
| transfer RNA | type of RNA in the cytoplasm that carries an amino acid to the ribosome during protein synthesis |
| variation | any difference between individuals of the same species |
| sex chromosomes | the pair of chromosomes carrying genes that determine whether a person is biologically male or female |
| autosomal chromosomes | the 22 pairs of chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes |
| mutation | any change in the DNA of a gene or a chromosome |
| sex-linked genes | a gene carried on a sex-chromosome |
| artificial selection | the process by which humans breed only those organisms with desired traits to produce the next generation; selective breeding |
| genetic engineering | the transfer of a gene from the DNA of one organism into another organism, in order to produce an organism with desired traits |
| gene therapy | the process of replacing an absent or faulty gene with a normal working gene to treat a medical disease or disorder |
| clone | an organism that is genetically identical to the organism from which it was produced |
| genome | the complete set of genetic information that an organism carries in its DNA |