Term | Definition |
trait | distinguishing characteristics that are inherited |
genetics | study of biological inheritance patterns |
purebred | genetically uniform |
cross | mating of two organisms |
law of segregation | - organisms inherit two copies of each gene
- organisms donate one gene copy to gametes |
genome | all of an organism's genetic makeup |
gene | piece of DNA that provides a set of instructions for cells to release a certain protein |
genotype | genetic makeup of a specific set of genes |
allele | any alternative form of a gene that may occur at a certain locus |
dominant | allele always expresses |
homozygous | two of the same allele at a specific locus |
recessive | allele only expressed when two copies are present |
heterozygous | two different alleles at a specific locus |
monohybrid cross | examine inheritance of one specific trait |
testcross | cross between an organism with an unknown genotype and an organism with the recessive phenotype. |
law of independent assortment | states that allele pairs separate independently of each other during gamete formation, or meiosis |
phenotype | physical characteristics |
crossing over | exchange of chromosome segments between homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis I. |
genetic linkage | genes located together that are inherited together |
Punnett square | grid system that predicts all possible genotypes of a cross |
dihybrid cross | examine inheritance of two different traits |
probability | likelihood a particular event will happen |