Term | Definition |
Heredity | The passing of traits from parent to offspring. |
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid | The genetic material of all organisms; made up of two twisted strands of sugar-phosphate molecules and nitrogen bases. |
RNA - Ribonucleic Acid | Carries codes for making proteins from the nucleus to the ribosomes. |
Gene | Section of DNA on a chromosome that contains instructions for making specific proteins. |
Mutation | Any permanent change in a gene or chromosome of a cell. |
Allele | An alternate form that a gene may have for a single trait. |
Multiple allele | More than two alleles that combine to determine a certain characteristic. |
Genetics | The study of how traits are inherited. |
Hybrid | An offspring that was given different genetic information for a trait from each parent. |
Purebred | An organism that produces the same traits generation after generation. |
Trait | Characteristics of an organism. |
Dominant Traits | Traits that cover or dominate a weaker form of that trait. |
Recessive Traits | Traits that are covered or dominated by a stronger form of that trait and seems to disappear. |
Punnett Square | A tool used to predict the probability of certain traits in offspring. |
Pedigree | A visual tool used for following a trait through generations of a family. |
Recombinant DNA | A segment of DNA that is used to create medications such as insulin. |
Genetic Engineering | Biological and chemical methods to change the arrangement of a gene's DNA to improve crops, create medicine and change how cells perform their normal functions. |
Gene Therapy | A normal allele is placed in a virus to stop the virus from harming the organism. |
Genotype | An organism's genetic make-up. |
Phenotype | An organism's physical appearance and behavior. The way it looks and acts. |
Homozygous | Describes an organism with two alleles that are the same for a trait. |
Heterozygous | Describes an organism with two alleles that are different for a trait. |
Incomplete Dominance | Production of a phenotype that is between the two homozygous parents. |
Polygenic inheritance | Occurs when a group of gene pairs act together and produces a specific trait. |
Sex Chromosomes | Chromosomes that determine the sex/gender of an organism. |
Sex-linked Gene | An allele inherited on the sex chromosome that can cause human genetic disorders such as color blindness or hemophilia. |
Watson & Crick | Made a 3-D model of the DNA molecule. |
Franklin | Proved that the large spiral in the DNA molecule is actually two small spirals. (double helix) |
Mendel | The first to trace a trait through several generations using pea plants. Father of Genetics. |
Chromosomes | Rod shaped structures that include traits/genes that are copied and pass from cell to cell. |