Term | Definition |
trait | quality or characteristic of a living thing |
inherited trait | characteristic that a living thing gets from its parents; examples: eye color, finger length, plant flower color, dog fur type, bird building nest, tree large leaves |
acquired trait | characteristic that a living thing gets during its lifetime; child reads foreign language, child play instrument, plant's leaves have spots from disease, bird finds a feeder, tree's trunk bent by wind |
behavior | way in which a living thing acts or responds to its surroundings |
learned behavior | skill that an animal develops after it is born |
population | group of organisms of the same kind that live in the same area at the same time |
gene | a part of a cell that controls or influences the appearance, growth, etc., of a living thing |
heredity | the natural process by which physical and mental qualities are passed from a parent to a child |
off spring | a person's child; the young of an animal or plant |
parent | mother or father of a child; an animal or plant that produces a young animal or plant |
reproduce | to produce something that is the same or very similar |
dominant gene | describes a gene or trait that will always show itself |
recessive gene | a trait that is hidden |
punnett square | chart that shows possible gene combinations |