Genetics Vocabulary

Genetics

the study of genes, heredity, and genetic variation in living organisms

Allele

a variant form of a gene

Dominant

a trait that will appear in the offspring if one parent contributes it

Recessive

a trait that is never expressed

Homozygous

When an individual has two of the same allele, they are _____________.

Heterozygous

a pair of genes where one is dominant and one is recessive

Genotype

an individual's collection of genes

Phenotype

an individual's observable traits like height, eye color, etc.

Law of Segregation

states that during the production of gametes the two copies of each hereditary factor segregate so that offspring acquire one factor from each parent

Hybrid

the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa

Law of independent assortment

states that when two or more characteristics are inherited, individual hereditary factors assort independently during gamete production, giving different traits an equal opportunity of occurring together