Term | Definition |
genetics | scientific study of heredity |
fertilization | process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form a new cell |
true - breeding | term used to describe organisms that produce offspring identical to themselves if allowed to self-pollinate |
trait | specific characteristic that varies from one individual to another |
hybrid | offspring of crosses between parents with different traits |
gene | sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait |
allele | one of a number of different forms of a gene |
segregation | separation of alleles during gamete formation (Tt to T and t) |
Punnet Square | diagram showing the gene combinations that might result from a genetic cross |
homozygous | term used to refer to an organism that has two identical alleles for a particular trait |
heterozygous | term used to refer to an organism that has two different alleles for the same trait |
phenotype | physical characteristics of an organism |
genotype | genetic makeup of an organism |
incomplete dominance | situation in which one allele is not completely dominant over another |
independent assortment | independent segregation of genes during the formation of gametes |
codominance | situation in which both alleles of a gene contribute to the phenotype of the organism |
multiple alleles | three or more alleles of the same gene |
polygenic traits | trait controlled by two or more genes |
heredity | the passing on of characteristics from parents to offspring |
Law of Dominance | Some alleles are dominant and others are recessive
dominant are CAPITAL letters
recessive are lower case letters |
autosomal | |
recessive trait | |
dominant trait | |