Glossary
Genetics
The study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits (genes) DNA Double-stranded nucleic acid that contains genetic information of cell growth, function, and division Cell Division The process by with a cell divides either to two identical cells or a cell with half the content of chromosomes Meiosis A form of cell division that results in the production of gametes (sex cells) Mitosis A form of cell division that results in the generation of two identical daughter cells Gene functional unit of heredity that codes of a particular trait Allele One factor of a pair of genes Gamete Sex cells that contain half the set of chromosomes than the parent. It could be either a sperm or an egg cell Genotype The set of alleles that determines the expression of a particular trait Phenotype The physical characteristic of an organism due to the interaction between the genotype and the environment Dominant Allele An allele that is expressed in an organisms phenotype Recessive Allele An allele who's phenotype is masked by the dominant allele Homozygous Two identical alleles that code for the same trait Heterozygous Dissimilar alleles that code for the same trait Monohybrid Cross A genetic cross which demonstrates the transmission of a single trait (made of two alleles) from both parents to offspring's. A monohybrid cross can be used to estimate the probability of an offspring carrying that particular trait. Dihybrid Cross A genetic cross which demonstrates the transmission of two independent trait (each trait made of two alleles) from both parents to offspring's. A dihybrid cross can be used to estimate the probability of an offspring carrying a variation of each trait independently of each other. Law of Segregation Mendel's law stating that allelic pairs separate during gamete formation and randomly unit during fertilization Law of Independent Assortment Mendel's law stating that every pair of alleles that make up a gene are passed independently of another gene from parents to offspring Hereditary The passing of genetic factors (alleles) from parent to offspring Punnett Square A tool used to organize allelic combinations of parental gametes to predict the probability of the genotype of the offspring's possessing certain alleles |