Genetics Vocabulary List



Genetics Vocabulary List

1. Gregor Mendel: Father of genetics. Studied traits in pea plants.

2. Trait: Any characteristic that can be passed be inherited from parent to offspring.

3. Alleles: Alternative forms of a trait.

4. Gene: Section of chromosome (DNA) that codes for a specific trait.

5. Somatic cell : Body cell.

6. Gamete: Reproductive cell.

7. Pedigree: A diagram of the genetic history of an individual: can show how a trait is inherited over several generations of a family. (a genetic family tree)

8. Heterozygous: Genotype of an individual with two different alleles for a given trait.

9. Homozygous: Genotype of an individual with two of the same alleles for a given trait.

10. Dominant Allele: Masks the recessive allele in a heterozygous individual.

11. Recessive Allele: Allele that is masked by the dominant allele in a heterozygous individual

12. Law of Dominance: If two alleles in a gene pair are different, then one allele can control the and the other can be hidden.

13. Law of Independent Assortment: Alleles for a trait seperate randomly and independently of each other.

14. The Law of Segregation: Each pair of alleles segregates (seperates)during gamete formation. Each gamete contains one allele from each pair.

15. Punnett Square: A model used to show the probabilities of the results of a genetic cross.

16. Autosomes: All chromosomes with the exception of the sex chromosomes.

17. Sex Chromosomes: The pair of chromosomes that determine the gender of an individual.

18. Homologous Chromosomes: The pairs of chromosomes in a diploid individual that have the same overall genetic content (matching). One member of each homologous pair of chromosomes in inherited from each parent.

19. Incomplete Dominance: Occurs when neither allele is dominant. They both have an affect on the heterozygous individual which shows a phenotype between the two homozygous phenotypes.

20. Diploid: A cell that contains both chromosomes of a homologous pair . A set from each parent (body cells).

21. Haploid: A cell that contains one set of chromosomes (gametes).

22. Genome: The complete genetic material contained in an individual.

23. Biology: The study of life.

24. Genotype: The genetic make-up of an organism.

25. Phenotype: The external appearance of an individual determined by it’s genotype.

26. Genetics: Field of Biology devoted to understanding how traits are inherited through generations.

27. Carrier: An individual who has the allele for a trait or disease but does not have the disease or outwardly express the trait.

28. Clone: Genetically identical organism: a plant, animal, or other organism that is genetically identical to its parent

29. Gel electrophoresis: A process in which fragments of DNA are sorted by size. Used to determine relatedness among organisms

30. Genetic engineering: Process of making changes in the DNA code of living organisms

31. Plasmid: A circular piece of DNA found in bacteria that is routinely used in genetic engineering experiments

32. Hybrid: The offspring produced by crossing two individuals with different traits

33. Ratio: Proportional relationship of two numbers or things being measured

34. Recombinant DNA: Molecule formed when fragments of DNA from two or more different organisms are spliced together

35. Selective Breeding: The intentional breeding of organisms with desirable trait in an attempt to produce offspring with similar desirable characteristics or with improved traits.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download